I-49 north Texarkana thoughts

[bugo]

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=texarkana+ar&hl=en&ll=33.488869,-93.998852&spn=0.064853,0.15398&sll=33.019477,-93.90152&sspn=0.007988,0.013711&vpsrc=6&hnear=Texarkana,+Miller,+Arkansas&t=h&z=13

I-49 north and east of Texarkana looks to be nearly complete.  I have a few thoughts on this road.

What number will it be when it opens?  AR 245?  AR 549?  I-130?  I-49?  US 71?

I-49 in Texarkana will consist of three separate freeways: the new northeast loop under construction, the AR 245 overlap, and AR 549.  It seems like older interstates weren't patched together like I-49 will be.

The 3/4 cloverleaf at I-30 and I-49 is disappointing.  I was hoping for some sort of stack.

How will the interchange with AR 245 be configured?  Will the current AR 245 be cut off from the mainline?

[US71]

For now, I'm going to guess AR 549, though there has been discussion in the past of I-130 between I-30 and AR 245. 130 would probably be short-lived, but I'd love to see it...at least long enough for us Roadgeeks/Road Scholars to get photos

I'm guessing 245 will continue northward to 296. How it will intersect with I-49, I've not seen any plans. Maybe I'll take a look around if I get down there.

As far as "patching in", 540 was patched in at Fayetteville, both north and south, though the south section was done a lot smoother.

[Alex]

Apparently there were Future I-130 signs posted in 2001, but when we drove through in 2003 they were gone. I guess no one in the road community snapped a photo?

[Gordon]

The last contract shows the signs will be 549. Job # 030325 sheet 71. Hwy. 245 will end at Arkansas Blvd. Just north of Arkansas Blvd is where the new road will tie  together with the new 549 to Interstate 30. I will try and get some pictures soon. Concrete road bed is pretty much complete but they still have to do the shoulders.

[US71]

The last contract shows the signs will be 549. Job # 030325 sheet 71. Hwy. 245 will end at Arkansas Blvd. Just north of Arkansas Blvd is where the new road will tie  together with the new 549 to Interstate 30. I will try and get some pictures soon. Concrete road bed is pretty much complete but they still have to do the shoulders.

That may hurt the businesses currently at I-30 and 245

[codyg1985]

If you look closely at the interchange with Arkansas Blvd it looks like the portion of AR 245 to be cut off will be relocated to the west of the interchange along the frontage road.

If the new segment is to be called AR 549 then you have to wonder if AR 549 will be cosigned with AR 245 or if it will be a split route?

[US71]

If you look closely at the interchange with Arkansas Blvd it looks like the portion of AR 245 to be cut off will be relocated to the west of the interchange along the frontage road.

If the new segment is to be called AR 549 then you have to wonder if AR 549 will be cosigned with AR 245 or if it will be a split route?

I doubt 549 would be split: it's too important a roadway, IMO. I would bet on either a 549/245 duplex OR truncating 245 at 549 "south". That's IF 245 gets deleted north of Arkansas Ave.

[Gordon]

I have a copy of the highway departments job that Interstate Highway Inc. is working off of. It shows that Hwy 245 will relocated West from about 44th street to Arkansas blvd. to the west. You will be able to access 549 from Ramps at Ark. blvd. At the Ark. blvd bridge the existing Hwy 245 will curve east and connect to the new 549. All the signs show it will be 549 for the Interstate road and Hwy 245 for the relocated road. So the the Dwgs. show it will be 549 from Hwy 71 North to the existing 549. Hwy 245 will end at Ark. Blvd.

[Alps]

Sounds like a concurrency to me

[dariusb]

I have a copy of the highway departments job that Interstate Highway Inc. is working off of. It shows that Hwy 245 will relocated West from about 44th street to Arkansas blvd. to the west. You will be able to access 549 from Ramps at Ark. blvd. At the Ark. blvd bridge the existing Hwy 245 will curve east and connect to the new 549. All the signs show it will be 549 for the Interstate road and Hwy 245 for the relocated road. So the the Dwgs. show it will be 549 from Hwy 71 North to the existing 549. Hwy 245 will end at Ark. Blvd.

Hello Gordon, I'm trying to understand what you guys are saying concerning AR 245. When you say it will be relocated are they going to build a whole new roadway? Also the old 245 that crosses I-30 with homes and businesses alomg it, what will happen to that? Will it receive a whole new street name?Thanks in advance for your response.

[Henry]

Looks like the AR 549 signs will go up, and stay there until I-49 is completed south of Fort Smith and north of Shreveport. I was hoping for Future I-49 signs to go up as well, but I'm thinking that they won't be added until construction of the two sections get pretty close to town.

[Gordon]

I have a copy of the highway departments job that Interstate Highway Inc. is working off of. It shows that Hwy 245 will relocated West from about 44th street to Arkansas blvd. to the west. You will be able to access 549 from Ramps at Ark. blvd. At the Ark. blvd bridge the existing Hwy 245 will curve east and connect to the new 549. All the signs show it will be 549 for the Interstate road and Hwy 245 for the relocated road. So the the Dwgs. show it will be 549 from Hwy 71 North to the existing 549. Hwy 245 will end at Ark. Blvd.

Hello Gordon, I'm trying to understand what you guys are saying concerning AR 245. When you say it will be relocated are they going to build a whole new roadway? Also the old 245 that crosses I-30 with homes and businesses alomg it, what will happen to that? Will it receive a whole new street name?Thanks in advance for your response.

I apologize for your inability to quote properly. No, I don't.
[I apologize for not answering your question sooner. AR 245 will still be from Hwy 296 which is north of I 30 to Arkansas Blvd. The future signs show from Arkansas Blvd to the Texas State line to be renamed 549. Also the new roadway to 71 North.]

[dariusb]

I have a copy of the highway departments job that Interstate Highway Inc. is working off of. It shows that Hwy 245 will relocated West from about 44th street to Arkansas blvd. to the west. You will be able to access 549 from Ramps at Ark. blvd. At the Ark. blvd bridge the existing Hwy 245 will curve east and connect to the new 549. All the signs show it will be 549 for the Interstate road and Hwy 245 for the relocated road. So the the Dwgs. show it will be 549 from Hwy 71 North to the existing 549. Hwy 245 will end at Ark. Blvd.

Hello Gordon, I'm trying to understand what you guys are saying concerning AR 245. When you say it will be relocated are they going to build a whole new roadway? Also the old 245 that crosses I-30 with homes and businesses alomg it, what will happen to that? Will it receive a whole new street name?Thanks in advance for your response.

I apologize for your inability to quote properly. No, I don't.
[I apologize for not answering your question sooner. AR 245 will still be from Hwy 296 which is north of I 30 to Arkansas Blvd. The future signs show from Arkansas Blvd to the Texas State line to be renamed 549. Also the new roadway to 71 North.]

Thanks for your reply and as you can see I've now mastered how to quote properly.

[US71]

[I apologize for not answering your question sooner. AR 245 will still be from Hwy 296 which is north of I 30 to Arkansas Blvd. The future signs show from Arkansas Blvd to the Texas State line to be renamed 549. Also the new roadway to 71 North.]

So 245 will be truncated, but not eliminated? That should please Truman Arnold (owner of Road Runner).

[Gordon]

The last 4 miles of I 49 for Ar. between Doddridge and La line. Went thru there Yesterday and They just got started digging for the pilings for the 71 Hwy Bridges, East Fork Kelly Bayou Bridges. The picture marked 71 hwy is what both sides of the embankment looks like for both. Only 1 track hoe at that work site. The Bridges for West Fork Kelly bayou have not been started. County road 4 bridge is open and the contractor removed the old recently is putting rip rap on the sides. look like another month or 2 to finish. County road 2 has not been finished and where I took the picture is the old road, it will have to removed and rip rap put the sides. Also from La overpass bridge close the line I could see a track so they are not thru yet there. Looks like in the summer to finish.

[US71]

Hey Gordon:

Looks like your photos didn't make it through.

[Gordon]

Hey Gordon:

Looks like your photos didn't make it through.

I guess I need help because thought they were on there

[US71]

Hey Gordon:

Looks like your photos didn't make it through.

I guess I need help because thought they were on there

Well, the forum won't let you direct post. You'll have to link them from another site like Photobucket or Flickr. If you have any questions, me or any of the other Forum can probably help

[Gordon]

Hey Gordon:

Looks like your photos didn't make it through.

I guess I need help because thought they were on there

Well, the forum won't let you direct post. You'll have to link them from another site like Photobucket or Flickr. If you have any questions, me or any of the other Forum can probably help

O.K. I am not on either site so maybe later will try that. I might put them on I 49 Face book.

[US71]

Hey Gordon:

Looks like your photos didn't make it through.

I guess I need help because thought they were on there

Well, the forum won't let you direct post. You'll have to link them from another site like Photobucket or Flickr. If you have any questions, me or any of the other Forum can probably help

O.K. I am not on either site so maybe later will try that. I might put them on I 49 Face book.

Please feel free to! I look forward to seeing them

[Gordon]

Please feel free to! I look forward to seeing them

[I posted one of the pictures on I 49 facebook,looks like I have to do one at a time.]

[codyg1985]

^ Which facebook page is it? There are several of them for different sections of the road.

[US71]

^ Which facebook page is it? There are several of them for different sections of the road.

This is the best one (IMO)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Build-I-49/288089113623

[dariusb]

^ Which facebook page is it? There are several of them for different sections of the road.

This is the best one (IMO)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Build-I-49/288089113623

Lots of good info. Thanks for sharing.

[ShawnP]

Fan of that FB page..............good info with lots of pics.