I-49 in Arkansas

[US71]

According to Wikipedia, there are two proposed exits in Texas (with Arkansas-based mileage)

I-369 south — Houston  (Exit 44)

CR 2320 / Hush Puppy Road  (Exit 46)

[The Ghostbuster]

How would Interstate 369 be extended to connect with future Interstate 49? Given the amount of development immediately north of 369's present northern terminus at Interstate 30, there seems to be quite a few homes and businesses to tear down. Once you get past the University of Texas A&M/Texarkana campus, constructing a freeway would be easier.

[abqtraveler]

How would Interstate 369 be extended to connect with future Interstate 49? Given the amount of development immediately north of 369's present northern terminus at Interstate 30, there seems to be quite a few homes and businesses to tear down. Once you get past the University of Texas A&M/Texarkana campus, constructing a freeway would be easier.

Which would probably explain why TxDOT is proposing an alignment further to the west of Loop 151 for I-369 to eventually run, so it will ultimately be able to comnect with both I-30 and I-49. The westward shift would take I-369 through a less-developed area and avoid a lot of the issues mentioned with simply extending it northward from the I-30/Loop 151 interchange.

[Anthony_JK]

How would Interstate 369 be extended to connect with future Interstate 49? Given the amount of development immediately north of 369's present northern terminus at Interstate 30, there seems to be quite a few homes and businesses to tear down. Once you get past the University of Texas A&M/Texarkana campus, constructing a freeway would be easier.

Which would probably explain why TxDOT is proposing an alignment further to the west of Loop 151 for I-369 to eventually run, so it will ultimately be able to comnect with both I-30 and I-49. The westward shift would take I-369 through a less-developed area and avoid a lot of the issues mentioned with simply extending it northward from the I-30/Loop 151 interchange.

Ummm...no, that would be the Outer Texarkana Loop, now no longer part of I-369. TXDOT is now officially studying a direct connection and upgrade of US 59 (with new terrain segments) to Loop 151.

Details here in this other thread:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=10684.msg2344394#msg2344394

[US71]

The bid for updating the signs from Alma to Bella Vista is Oct. 24th.

Creative Design Concepts of Van Buren, Arkansas received the contract worth $9.981 million. Includes gantry signage, better wayfinding signs, plus message boards and additional traffic cameras.
(I never knew we had a sign contractor in the area.)

https://talkbusiness.net/2018/10/more-than-63-million-in-interstate-rehab-signage-set-for-fort-smith-metro-nwa/

[GreenLanternCorps]

The bid for updating the signs from Alma to Bella Vista is Oct. 24th.

Creative Design Concepts of Van Buren, Arkansas received the contract worth $9.981 million. Includes gantry signage, better wayfinding signs, plus message boards and additional traffic cameras.
(I never knew we had a sign contractor in the area.)

https://talkbusiness.net/2018/10/more-than-63-million-in-interstate-rehab-signage-set-for-fort-smith-metro-nwa/

Will they be updating the exit numbers and mile markers to I-49's instead I-540?

[US71]

The bid for updating the signs from Alma to Bella Vista is Oct. 24th.

Creative Design Concepts of Van Buren, Arkansas received the contract worth $9.981 million. Includes gantry signage, better wayfinding signs, plus message boards and additional traffic cameras.
(I never knew we had a sign contractor in the area.)

https://talkbusiness.net/2018/10/more-than-63-million-in-interstate-rehab-signage-set-for-fort-smith-metro-nwa/

Will they be updating the exit numbers and mile markers to I-49's instead I-540?

No idea. I asked them a while back and they never responded.

[edwaleni]

I picked up on this news blurb.

Arkansas is working on an inland port in Fort Smith with Union Pacific to support intermodal.  This means more effort for I-49.

Per Trains:

VAN BUREN, Ark. – Progress is "going pretty well"  on a study of what Union Pacific calls a Northwest Arkansas Regional Port on the Arkansas River, according to Arkansas State Rep. Mathew Pitsch, R-Fort Smith. Functioning as a consultant on the project for the Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority, Pitsch says "a few [potential] customers are interested"  in the proposed 2,000-acre facility.

In April, UP posted on its website that Ports America, the country's largest port operator, had signed a memorandum of understanding with the state authority to conduct a "six-month exclusive diligence process to evaluate the commercial potential"  for such a facility. It would be a multi-modal, multi-commodity site designed for storage and for import and export.

The new port would link UP, river barge traffic, and Interstates 40 and 49. Efforts to develop such a facility have been underway for several years. Van Buren is adjacent to Fort Smith which is on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border. Besides UP, both are served by short line Arkansas & Missouri and Kansas City Southern.

[Henry]

Will the short segment of I-49 in Texas have any exits?

Some plan variants show the off-and-on-planned western Texarkana loop intersecting the main line of I-49 within TX; but there's always the chance that one or another surface road may be extended north or northeast to provide access to I-49 if that western loop doesn't materialize.  But since there will be about 7-8 miles of the route within the state, anything could happen by the time final plans are nailed down.   

Since I-369 will go to Texarkana anyway, are there plans to extend it up the loop to I-49, or will an I-x49 number be used instead? I like the idea of having an I-249 come around the southern and western sides of town.

[sparker]

Will the short segment of I-49 in Texas have any exits?

Some plan variants show the off-and-on-planned western Texarkana loop intersecting the main line of I-49 within TX; but there's always the chance that one or another surface road may be extended north or northeast to provide access to I-49 if that western loop doesn't materialize.  But since there will be about 7-8 miles of the route within the state, anything could happen by the time final plans are nailed down.   

Since I-369 will go to Texarkana anyway, are there plans to extend it up the loop to I-49, or will an I-x49 number be used instead? I like the idea of having an I-249 come around the southern and western sides of town.

If the present plans to retain the current I-369/US 59 west side freeway as the northern end of the full I-369 corridor, there's little chance of it extending north of its present I-30 terminus (although I would expect upgrades to the 30/369 interchange over time).  Any connection to the short TX segment of planned I-49 would most likely have to be part of an additional outer loop crossing I-30 well west of the current 369/59 and curving back to I-369 at some point TBD.  It would be nice if it could tie in to Loop 151 to, with I-49, form a full loop around greater Texarkana -- but development around where 369 will likely intersect 151 (nothing is a given at this point) might render such a connection problematic in much the same way as a direct northern extension of I-369 would; it may instead intersect I-369 several miles south of town simply to avoid significant taking of developed properties.   

Given the delays/procrastination/funding shortfalls that have plagued the I-49 project north of Texarkana, it appears that "Plan A" of the Alliance for I-69/Texas and their cohorts is simply to get the corridor completed from Houston to I-30 to provide the long-desired northeast Interstate-grade egress from the Houston area.  A connection of I-49 would be "gravy" -- another corridor to an additional set of destinations (NWA + MO metro areas).  As I've stated upstream, if the 151 loop is added to the area's Interstate network (or not; it's already in full service), that would effectively serve as the I-49 connection for the time being.     

[Gordon]

The Arkansas Department of Transportation will explore other options after a study revealed that using tolls to finance the construction and operation of a stretch of Interstate 49 River Bridge project wouldn't raise the needed revenue."The next task is to break it into reasonable jobs and something that would make a little bit of a difference," he said. "Of course, the biggest cost of this is the river bridge. But you could build it from highway to highway, or highway to local road. We can build it as a two-lane facility.https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/nov/19/state-looks-away-from-tolls-to-pay-for--1/?news-arkansas

[vdeane]

So basically, they plan to build it as something other than I-49.  Tell me: why are we letting AR designate new interstate corridors like I-57 when they can't even finish the ones they have?

[Tomahawkin]

Good question. My only guess is that its a helluva lot cheaper to finish 57 than 49. I don't see 49 construction starting until 2024 after hearing that recent press release. SMFH

[sparker]

So basically, they plan to build it as something other than I-49.  Tell me: why are we letting AR designate new interstate corridors like I-57 when they can't even finish the ones they have?

Good question. My only guess is that its a helluva lot cheaper to finish 57 than 49. I don't see 49 construction starting until 2024 after hearing that recent press release. SMFH

My guess is that what's going to happen is that outside of the Arkansas River bridge, which will need to be 4 lanes in any case, much of the remainder of I-49 in AR will follow the Bella Vista model -- originally do 2 lanes of I-grade carriageway in any location where the alignment doesn't overlay the existing route -- and for those overlain sections, where ROW acquisition would be less in any case, perform whatever upgrades are necessary for 2 lanes of Interstate geometrics while eliminating private access points.  Add freeway bypasses of the major towns along the route (Mena, De Queen, Ashdown) and you have a project that may take time to complete but which can be broken up into sections -- with the full-length buildout to occur later.  Essentially the upper-Midwest expressway format with lengthy 2-lane segments (complete with passing lanes deployed in hill country) as interim improvements to US 71.  It's also the answer to how you eat an elephant: one bite at a time.  If spread out along the full incomplete corridor, it could also enhance political feasibility by providing developmental activity segment by segment.  An approach such as this one is necessary considering the topographical difficulty of the project, particularly in the Waldron to Mena segment that "tops out" the corridor. 

And yes -- if backers in NE AR keep up any sort of pressure, I-57 will likely be built within the state before I-49 is developed much farther than the Arkansas River bridge -- principally because of those same topographic issues.

[JREwing78]

The toll road study should be for the entire stretch between Fort Smith and Texarkana. Obviously, just tolling the I-49 bridge doesn't make financial sense. They need to think bigger.

[Plutonic Panda]

There shouldn't be any tolls period. The state needs to step up its game along with the entire country and get our roads properly funded. I'm not against toll roads, just not for interstate corridors.

[edwaleni]

The Ohio River Bridge is having the same issues for I-69 between Evansville IN and Hendersonville KY.

Inadequate funding and AADT.

If they toll it, worried that too much traffic will divert to the US-41 bridge nearby.  Considering tearing down one half of the US-41 bridge for local traffic or using license plate detection to allow local residents to pass toll free.

They have bigger issues trying to get I-49 finished down to DeQueen.

[Tomahawkin]

I'm guessing it will be built in 15-20 mile sections like IH 22 was built in NW Alabama. They had the same funding and topographical issues that 49 is facing...

[Bobby5280]

There shouldn't be any tolls period. The state needs to step up its game along with the entire country and get our roads properly funded. I'm not against toll roads, just not for interstate corridors.

The problem is fuel taxes can be misdirected to other things. Here in Oklahoma the extra revenue from the first fuel tax increase in over 25 years was put into teacher pay raises. The teachers certainly needed a raise, but the funding should not have come from fuel taxes. We have a lot of idiot voters and shameless politicians willing to pander to the worst tendencies of voters. Politicians come up with stupid schemes to avoid actually dealing with a problem, kicking the can down the road to the next administrations in the future.

Toll gates are annoying. But if anyone did a broad poll of the public I'd bet the vast majority of them would say they already pay way too much in fuel taxes and would say no to any increase.

[Plutonic Panda]

There shouldn't be any tolls period. The state needs to step up its game along with the entire country and get our roads properly funded. I'm not against toll roads, just not for interstate corridors.

The problem is fuel taxes can be misdirected to other things. Here in Oklahoma the extra revenue from the first fuel tax increase in over 25 years was put into teacher pay raises. The teachers certainly needed a raise, but the funding should not have come from fuel taxes. We have a lot of idiot voters and shameless politicians willing to pander to the worst tendencies of voters. Politicians come up with stupid schemes to avoid actually dealing with a problem, kicking the can down the road to the next administrations in the future.

Toll gates are annoying. But if anyone did a broad poll of the public I'd bet the vast majority of them would say they already pay way too much in fuel taxes and would say no to any increase.

Which is exactly why they should pass a law ensuring gas tax can't be redirected.

[US71]

There shouldn't be any tolls period. The state needs to step up its game along with the entire country and get our roads properly funded. I'm not against toll roads, just not for interstate corridors.

The problem is fuel taxes can be misdirected to other things. Here in Oklahoma the extra revenue from the first fuel tax increase in over 25 years was put into teacher pay raises. The teachers certainly needed a raise, but the funding should not have come from fuel taxes. We have a lot of idiot voters and shameless politicians willing to pander to the worst tendencies of voters. Politicians come up with stupid schemes to avoid actually dealing with a problem, kicking the can down the road to the next administrations in the future.

Toll gates are annoying. But if anyone did a broad poll of the public I'd bet the vast majority of them would say they already pay way too much in fuel taxes and would say no to any increase.

Our governor is now talking a half-cent gas tax increase, after opposing any tax increases. He must want better roads to lead to the new casinos.

[edwaleni]

There shouldn't be any tolls period. The state needs to step up its game along with the entire country and get our roads properly funded. I'm not against toll roads, just not for interstate corridors.

The problem is fuel taxes can be misdirected to other things. Here in Oklahoma the extra revenue from the first fuel tax increase in over 25 years was put into teacher pay raises. The teachers certainly needed a raise, but the funding should not have come from fuel taxes. We have a lot of idiot voters and shameless politicians willing to pander to the worst tendencies of voters. Politicians come up with stupid schemes to avoid actually dealing with a problem, kicking the can down the road to the next administrations in the future.

Toll gates are annoying. But if anyone did a broad poll of the public I'd bet the vast majority of them would say they already pay way too much in fuel taxes and would say no to any increase.

Which is exactly why they should pass a law ensuring gas tax can't be redirected.

Bankrupt Illinois just passed a constitutional amendment that taxes for transportation can't be redirected. The General Assembly had DOT in maintenance mode due to income redirection to prop up the states union employees.

Now they go into a lockbox.

Hopefully the GA doesn't pull a stunt by borrowing against itself using the lockbox as collateral. That is what the Feds have done with the Social Security "lockbox" for 30+ years.

As for people saying they pay too much in fuel taxes, is a bit of a laugh. People pay less now for road fuel taxes relative to income than their parents or grandparents did.

The Fed tax is still set at 1996 levels. Many states haven't moved since before that.

Many people prefer unlimited data cell phones then paying more fuel taxes, even if the taxes on their cell phone are higher on a monthly basis.

[Henry]

So basically, they plan to build it as something other than I-49.  Tell me: why are we letting AR designate new interstate corridors like I-57 when they can't even finish the ones they have?

Good question. My only guess is that its a helluva lot cheaper to finish 57 than 49. I don't see 49 construction starting until 2024 after hearing that recent press release. SMFH

My guess is that what's going to happen is that outside of the Arkansas River bridge, which will need to be 4 lanes in any case, much of the remainder of I-49 in AR will follow the Bella Vista model -- originally do 2 lanes of I-grade carriageway in any location where the alignment doesn't overlay the existing route -- and for those overlain sections, where ROW acquisition would be less in any case, perform whatever upgrades are necessary for 2 lanes of Interstate geometrics while eliminating private access points.  Add freeway bypasses of the major towns along the route (Mena, De Queen, Ashdown) and you have a project that may take time to complete but which can be broken up into sections -- with the full-length buildout to occur later.  Essentially the upper-Midwest expressway format with lengthy 2-lane segments (complete with passing lanes deployed in hill country) as interim improvements to US 71.  It's also the answer to how you eat an elephant: one bite at a time.  If spread out along the full incomplete corridor, it could also enhance political feasibility by providing developmental activity segment by segment.  An approach such as this one is necessary considering the topographical difficulty of the project, particularly in the Waldron to Mena segment that "tops out" the corridor. 

And yes -- if backers in NE AR keep up any sort of pressure, I-57 will likely be built within the state before I-49 is developed much farther than the Arkansas River bridge -- principally because of those same topographic issues.

IMHO, doing an expanded version of what is being done around Bella Vista would be a great idea, with or without tolls. As I-57 has much less mileage to complete on the other side of the state, I agree that it should be AR's main priority (and MO's too, for that matter); once that's done, then I-49 can be the main focus.

[sparker]

^^^^^^^^^
If ARDOT is broken up into districts like most similar state agencies, then "toggling" from one project (I-49) to the other (I-57), with one or another being the focus at any given time, probably won't happen.  Instead, the likelihood is that some activity (ROW acquisition, initial surveying/grubbing) might occur at one site, followed by similar activity at the other end of the state.  Public agencies tend to go to great lengths to not antagonize one group of project activists by solely concentrating their efforts on another; this CYA attitude isn't going to change anytime soon.  The districts normally hear the rumblings well before the full agency does -- although, that being said, the autonomy level of each district in a smaller state such as AR is probably less than out here in CA, where the 12 Caltrans districts tend to promulgate their own policies and schedules as long as they basically correspond to the current working STIP.  But in either case projects are normatively spread around the districts.   

[Gordon]

Missouri has Awarded the Building removal job for future I49 last segment today and ARDOT has one project on going to build additional lanes on the Bella Vista Bypass. With ARDOT has 2 projects to finish their part and MODOT has the final project to finish their part I believe there is a good Situation to get the Build Grant from Federal Transportation. Senator Tom Cotton is also helping. They have until December 18 to award the grants. Lets hope the do nothing congress funds the upcoming funding gap so it doesn't get delayed.