I-49 in Arkansas

[US71]

I was through there yesterday. The crossbeams are up on the overpasses over AR 22, but the bridge walls are still under construction.

Here's a (somewhat dated) overview of the area:
http://maps.google.com/maps?client=opera&q=barling,+AR&oe=utf-8&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Barling,+Sebastian,+Arkansas&gl=us&ei=2k91TJzxIIGB8gbtr6G-Bw&ved=0CBoQ8gEwAA&ll=35.32064,-94.293487&spn=0.010505,0.016458&t=h&z=16

[Grzrd]

AASHTO (along with other organizations) will present a report Aug. 30 in Little Rock re interstate funding.  I-49 mentioned "briefly".  A little far for me to go, but is anyone planning to attend? [everything I know about the meeting is contained in this article]

http://www.thecitywire.com/?q=node/11489

New report to make case for rural interstate funding
Submitted by The City Wire staff on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 2:43pm.

A study to be released Monday (Aug. 30) is meant to remind federal officials to not forget about rural America when allocating federal highway dollars, said Glenn Bolick, a spokesman with the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department.
Bolick said the report includes a "brief"  mention of Interstate 49.
"Connecting Rural and Urban America"  is the title of the third in a series of reports from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Officials from AASHTO and the AHTD will present the report at 1:15 p.m., Aug. 30 in the Arkansas Ballroom of the Little Rock Peabody Hotel.
The "Transportation Reboot"  series by AASHTO seeks to "identify the need to increase capacity in our transportation system to unlock gridlock, generate jobs, deliver freight, and connect rural and urban America."
John Horsley, AASHTO executive director, AHTD Director Dan Flowers, Mississippi Department of Transportation Director and AASHTO President Butch Brown, and The Poultry Federation of Arkansas-Missouri-Oklahoma President Marvin Childers will be involved in the report discussion.
"Arkansas is typical Rural America,"  Horsley noted in the AHTD statement. "Every American is important to the national economy, whether they raise poultry or cattle, harvest wheat, deliver wind turbines or manufacture goods."
The report advises that reauthorization of federal transportation legislation should:
- Continue to fund rural portions of the Interstate Highway System and other federal-aid highways that connect America;
- Double federal investment in rural transit systems to meet rising demand; and,
- Expand the existing capacity of the Interstate system, upgrade rural routes to Interstate standards and connect newly urbanized areas to the Interstate system.
"This report reveals the challenges that rural states like Arkansas face,"  Flowers said in the statement. "We have many more highway needs than funds to meet those needs. We have over 16,000 highway miles in our system – 12th largest in the nation.
Bolick said the report may be considered another piece of evidence to use in lobbying for more federal dollars for I-49 when Congress gets around to considering the next highway bill.
"It's not just Arkansas highway officials and the officials on I-49 asking for that (funding). ... It's a national organization saying, "˜Hey, don't forget about projects here (rural America),"  Bolick explained.
The I-49 route stretches from Texarkana, up through Dequeen, Mena and Waldron, into Fort Smith and on through Northwest Arkansas. All that stands in the way of this interstate reality is several small segments (Bella Vista bypass) at the Arkansas-Louisiana and Arkansas Missouri borders and a large 185-mile segment between Texarkana and Fort Smith that posts a price tag of around $3 billion.
Of the $352 million Arkansas recently received as part of the federal stimulus package, $71.6 million was dedicated to portions of I-49.

[Grzrd]

I just noticed that AHTD now has a page devoted to the Bella Vista Bypass (with links):

http://www.arkansashighways.com/BVB/bellavista.aspx

[US71]

I just noticed that AHTD now has a page devoted to the Bella Vista Bypass (with links):

http://www.arkansashighways.com/BVB/bellavista.aspx

DARN IT! How did you find that before me? 

[Grzrd]

Serendipity.  I was looking to see if AHTD had awarded the "I-69 Innovative Financing Study" project yet (submissions were due July 30).  Just stumbled upon it.

[ShawnP]

Ahhhh road geeks!!!!!!!

Yes a favorable term I fully use for myself.

[US71]

Ahhhh road geeks!!!!!!!

Yes a favorable term I fully use for myself.

I prefer Road Scholar  

[ShawnP]

Checked that Arkansas site on BVB and nothing really new that we didn't already know. Still leaving us guessing on what building will or won't occur.

[Grzrd]

Ahhhh road geeks!!!!!!!

Yes a favorable term I fully use for myself.

I prefer Road Scholar  

Checked that Arkansas site on BVB and nothing really new that we didn't already know. Still leaving us guessing on what building will or won't occur.

Sounds like a need for a scholarly roadgeek email campaign to AHTD with suggestions for improvement to the BVB page.  

[Grzrd]

AASHTO (along with other organizations) will present a report Aug. 30 in Little Rock re interstate funding.  I-49 mentioned "briefly"...

Here is part of AASHTO report talking about I-540 (described as part of Future I-49):

http://expandingcapacity.transportation.org/states/AR_Unlocking_Gridlock_0410.pdf

No mention of I-49 from I-40 to Texarkana.

[US71]

Checked that Arkansas site on BVB and nothing really new that we didn't already know. Still leaving us guessing on what building will or won't occur.

According to the District Engineer, the "Hiwasse Bypass" will be first (basically starting & ending at AR 72), built as a Super 2. Next will (maybe) be from Hiwasse to the MO State Line, either grading & structures or just grading.
--
As far as I-40 to Texarkana, there is already work underway near Ft Chaffee in Barling. The biggest hang-up seems to be crossing the Arkansas River: there's no money for it.

South of the Ft Smith area, I've heard nothing about plans for I-49.

[ShawnP]

How much would a crossing roughly cost? If the crossing is built I can see the pressure for I-49 going further south increasing by alot. While we all want it quicker but we have to patient and I always tell myself in 20 years it will probably be almost complete.

[US71]

How much would a crossing roughly cost?

As of December 2009, it was estimated at $1 Million
http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices-regional-local/13536201-1.html



I've also found some routing plans for I-49 from the Arkansas River to near Waldron (courtesy of Greenwood High School's website)
http://ghsweb.k12.ar.us/Proposed/I49maps.htm

[froggie]

I've also found some routing plans for I-49 from the Arkansas River to near Waldron (courtesy of Greenwood High School's website)
http://ghsweb.k12.ar.us/Proposed/I49maps.htm

Note their "proposed exits on I-49", and where it came from...

I have some of the earlier documents/maps for I-49 between Texarkana and Fort Smith...a few of the items I insisted on salvaging from Katrina.  Might have to scan those maps in sometime...

[US71]

I've also found some routing plans for I-49 from the Arkansas River to near Waldron (courtesy of Greenwood High School's website)
http://ghsweb.k12.ar.us/Proposed/I49maps.htm

Note their "proposed exits on I-49", and where it came from...

Yeah, I saw that

[Grzrd]

I've also found some routing plans for I-49 from the Arkansas River to near Waldron (courtesy of Greenwood High School's website)
http://ghsweb.k12.ar.us/Proposed/I49maps.htm

Great find.  To paraphrase the old Smith Barney commercial: "'Road Scholar' finds a nugget the old-fashioned way, he eaarrrrrrns it"

For younger members of the forum, below link helps explain paraphrased quote:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=smith+barney+commercial&aq=0
[just click the "Bump-out + Smith Barney" video]

[Grzrd]

I've also found some routing plans for I-49 from the Arkansas River to near Waldron (courtesy of Greenwood High School's website)
http://ghsweb.k12.ar.us/Proposed/I49maps.htm

Note their "proposed exits on I-49", and where it came from...

Professor emeritus, thank you for the lesson!  

[US71]

Great find.  To paraphrase the old Smith Barney commercial: "'Road Scholar' finds a nugget the old-fashioned way, he eaarrrrrrns it"

For younger members of the forum, below link helps explain paraphrased quote:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=smith+barney+commercial&aq=0
[just click the "Bump-out + Smith Barney" video]

John Houseman, "Professor Kingsfield" on The Paper Chase

[Grzrd]

Professor emeritus, thank you for the lesson! 

John Houseman, "Professor Kingsfield" on The Paper Chase

Ever seen Froggie and Kingsfield in the same room?     

[US71]

Ever seen Froggie and Kingsfield in the same room?     

Kingsfield is dead, but I think Froggie is still with us.

[Grzrd]

No mention of I-49 from I-40 to Texarkana.

Upon further inspection:

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/business/story.aspx?storyid=115424&catid=119

... It's an example that could improve under two proposed changes in this report. One targets a four lane expansion of Highway 167 from El Dorado to Little Rock at Interstate 530.
The second idea targets the western part of Arkansas between Texarkana and Fort Smith. It would be part of an extended Interstate 49 traveling from Shreveport to Kansas City. It would overlap Highway 71 and I-540 in the Arkansas part...

Looks like either an updated report exists or there was supposed to have been an "Unlocking Freight" button for Arkansas on the AASHTO map [I have already noticed that Georgia "Unlocking Gridlock" button sends you to South Carolina "Unlocking Gridlock" page].  AASHTO map: http://expandingcapacity.transportation.org/state_examples.html

[Grzrd]

I ran across this while looking at I-10 in Mobile:

http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2000/chapter7/movement_of_military_forces_and_materiel_map.html

Looks like STRAHNET follows I-49 corridor in Arkansas on up to Kansas City.  Is there a supplementary pot of money for STRAHNET corridors that could assist in funding I-49 from Fort Smith to Texarkana?

[Grzrd]

Snail's pace: another 0.269 miles to be let Sept. 29:

http://www.arkansashighways.com/ProgCon/General/JOBS_include.aspx

Currently Advertised Projects & Announcements

Notices for September 29, 2010 Letting
090
040479
040479-A 040479-B
MASSARD RD.-ROBERTS BLVD. (STRS.) (F)
SEBASTIAN
71
10:30 a.m.

http://www.arkansashighways.com/ProgCon/notices/040479%20NOTICE%20TO%20CONTRACTORS.doc

[froggie]

Looks like STRAHNET follows I-49 corridor in Arkansas on up to Kansas City.  Is there a supplementary pot of money for STRAHNET corridors that could assist in funding I-49 from Fort Smith to Texarkana?

Not since the STRAHNET corridors got rolled into NHS.

[Grzrd]

Not since the STRAHNET corridors got rolled into NHS.

With ALDOT looking for money for I-10 in Mobile area, any monetarily relevant reason why would they mention STRAHNET here?:

http://expandingcapacity.transportation.org/unlocking_freight/states/AL_Unlocking_Freight_0610.pdf

Or, is it simply to be "critical to defense", thus higher priority in general competition for $$$?