I-49 in Arkansas

[Road Hog]

The site they picked for the first Arkansas location is pretty good (I-30 Exit 114, US-67 & AR-229). It's one exit East of the US-70 interchange with I-30. They'll catch plenty of customers driving back and forth between Little Rock and Hot Springs (as well as all the other thru traffic on I-30).

The problem is, there's no end in sight to construction on that little 3-mile stretch between the 70 cutoff and the proposed Buc-ee's. The previous contractor cocked it up and the replacement contractor has been busy fixing it. ARDOT says it'll be done by the end of this year but I'm doubtful.

[TheBox]

Buc-ee's locations built over the past 10 or so years are huge, but they really don't have very many of them. There are less than 70 Buc-ee's stores total, including the dozen or so smaller stores in the Houston region.

With that being said, I don't think Buc-ee's can sustain more than one "big store" on a given stretch of Interstate highway between two big/major-sized cities.

For instance, if Buc-ee's were to build a location in Oklahoma odds might go against one getting built in the Yukon or El Reno area since there is already a big location going up on the East side of Amarillo. If they built on I-40 in Oklahoma I think such a store would go East of OKC, perhaps near Shawnee. Really in the case of Oklahoma they ought to build a location where I-44 and I-35 overlap on the North side of the OKC metro.

Then again

There's 2 big Buc-ee's between Houston-San Antonio, Houston-Dallas, and now Austin-Dallas/Fort Worth

I'll end my take on the discussion here

[Bobby5280]

The Texas Triangle is an exception versus how Buc-ee's is expanding elsewhere. The Houston region is Buc-ee's home market. The largest cluster of stores is there.

On I-10 the big stores in Katy and Luling are in key locations. Katy is a booming suburb and Luling is the junction with US-183/TX-80 to go to San Marcos.

On I-35 the San Antonio and Austin metros are bleeding together thanks to growth in New Braunfels and San Marcos (along with Buda, Kyle, Hunter, Selma, etc). Naturally there would be at least one or more Buc-ee's stores on that stretch. North of Austin the Temple & Waco areas are nothing to sneeze at. The new Buc-ee's at Hillsboro is at the South junction of I-35E & I-35W.

Given the pattern of Buc-ee's locations around the DFW metroplex I'm kind of surprised they're not yet planning one on I-20 West of Fort Worth, like maybe around Weatherford.

[Alex]

Unless it is related to Interstate 49 in Arkansas, please make Buc-ee's related posts in an appropriate thread such as Buc-ees outside of Texas

[Razorback19]

I-49 NEWS:

The first of four projects to construct the next portion of I-49 between Highway 22 in Barling and I-40 in Alma (the I-49 Extension), was awarded to Manhattan Road & Bridge for $282.5 million.

Phase 1 will construct 3.1 miles between Highway 22 and Gun Club Road.

https://x.com/myARDOT/status/1846944275281371153

[Bobby5280]

When is construction supposed to begin? Will the bridge across the Arkansas River be built in its full 4-lane configuration or will they (somehow) build as a 2-lane road and add onto it later? I like the idea of them getting the river bridge built first; I just hope it's the full enchilada rather than a partial, interim thing.

[Razorback19]

When is construction supposed to begin? Will the bridge across the Arkansas River be built in its full 4-lane configuration or will they (somehow) build as a 2-lane road and add onto it later? I like the idea of them getting the river bridge built first; I just hope it's the full enchilada rather than a partial, interim thing.

Everything that I've seen on it says full bridge. Construction from current end of 549 towards river starting in 2025.

[MikieTimT]

The price would seem to indicate that it's all 4 lanes.  Over $500M would seem to be exorbitant for 3.1 miles.

[Road Hog]

The Gun Club Road extension doesn't include the bridge. The bridge is probably the last of the 4 phases of the project based on cost. It'll be cheaper to build it now rather than in 10-12 years, but that's how ARDOT rolls. Penny wise and pound foolish.

[Bobby5280]

Are you sure? Upwards of $300 million just for a freeway with NOT-complete bridge approaches and no bridges would seem to be an exorbitant rip-off. The renderings of the proposed bridge are not exactly showing anything tall or anything fancy. It's just an ordinary river bridge crossing. Why should something like that cost a billion dollars?

[razorback0308]

The Gun Club Road extension doesn't include the bridge. The bridge is probably the last of the 4 phases of the project based on cost. It'll be cheaper to build it now rather than in 10-12 years, but that's how ARDOT rolls. Penny wise and pound foolish.

The quote at the bottom of the article from Lorie Tudor clearly states the bridge is included in this phase of construction.

https://www.ardot.gov/news/24-281/

[Road Hog]

Sorry, must have missed that part of the story. I'm glad to be wrong in this instance because I'm ready for a bridge.

[abqtraveler]

The Gun Club Road extension doesn't include the bridge. The bridge is probably the last of the 4 phases of the project based on cost. It'll be cheaper to build it now rather than in 10-12 years, but that's how ARDOT rolls. Penny wise and pound foolish.

The quote at the bottom of the article from Lorie Tudor clearly states the bridge is included in this phase of construction.

https://www.ardot.gov/news/24-281/

And it looks like they are funding the full 4-lane buildout instead of building just 2 lanes at a time.

[MikieTimT]

The Gun Club Road extension doesn't include the bridge. The bridge is probably the last of the 4 phases of the project based on cost. It'll be cheaper to build it now rather than in 10-12 years, but that's how ARDOT rolls. Penny wise and pound foolish.

The quote at the bottom of the article from Lorie Tudor clearly states the bridge is included in this phase of construction.

https://www.ardot.gov/news/24-281/

And it looks like they are funding the full 4-lane buildout instead of building just 2 lanes at a time.

It'll make it much easier to justify federal grants for the remaining 11 miles having 1 of the 2 major projects completed, the other being the stack on I-40.  The way they're doing it will make the bridge usable by a fair amount of local and through traffic until the remaining miles are built.  It will make for a chunk of traffic getting off at the AR-59 exit on I-540 and using it as the connector, but the through traffic likely already does that, so probably won't result in a congested AR-59 in the interim.  It isn't likely there's a ton of AR-549 traffic period until they do the Super-2 from Ft. Smith to Y-City, unless some huge factory goes in at Chaffee Crossing.  It is a pretty desirable area for manufacturing, especially with the UP railroad and MKARNS for transloading freight at Van Buren, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

[Road Hog]

Bring on the bridge, as I said. But something iconic like a cable-stayed bridge would be ideal.

The only two iconic things to come out of Arkansas got screwed in 1964 football and 1998 lame-duck impeachment.

[edwaleni]

Bring on the bridge, as I said. But something iconic like a cable-stayed bridge would be ideal.

The only two iconic things to come out of Arkansas got screwed in 1964 football and 1998 lame-duck impeachment.

Lou Holtz doesn't qualify?

I am looking forward to the new bridge. While I won't be able to use it right away, the next ride through Bentonville will bring me down.

[dariusb]

Buc-ee's locations built over the past 10 or so years are huge, but they really don't have very many of them. There are less than 70 Buc-ee's stores total, including the dozen or so smaller stores in the Houston region.

With that being said, I don't think Buc-ee's can sustain more than one "big store" on a given stretch of Interstate highway between two big/major-sized cities.

For instance, if Buc-ee's were to build a location in Oklahoma odds might go against one getting built in the Yukon or El Reno area since there is already a big location going up on the East side of Amarillo. If they built on I-40 in Oklahoma I think such a store would go East of OKC, perhaps near Shawnee. Really in the case of Oklahoma they ought to build a location where I-44 and I-35 overlap on the North side of the OKC metro.

Then again

There's 2 big Buc-ee's between Houston-San Antonio, Houston-Dallas, and now Austin-Dallas/Fort Worth

I'll end my take on the discussion here

I think it'd be a good idea if Buc-ees built a store somewhere in the Texarkana area.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Buc-ee's locations built over the past 10 or so years are huge, but they really don't have very many of them. There are less than 70 Buc-ee's stores total, including the dozen or so smaller stores in the Houston region.

With that being said, I don't think Buc-ee's can sustain more than one "big store" on a given stretch of Interstate highway between two big/major-sized cities.

For instance, if Buc-ee's were to build a location in Oklahoma odds might go against one getting built in the Yukon or El Reno area since there is already a big location going up on the East side of Amarillo. If they built on I-40 in Oklahoma I think such a store would go East of OKC, perhaps near Shawnee. Really in the case of Oklahoma they ought to build a location where I-44 and I-35 overlap on the North side of the OKC metro.

Then again

There's 2 big Buc-ee's between Houston-San Antonio, Houston-Dallas, and now Austin-Dallas/Fort Worth

I'll end my take on the discussion here

I think it'd be a good idea if Buc-ees built a store somewhere in the Texarkana area.

It might happen... Buc-ee's just announced a second location in Arkansas in West Memphis on I-40/55!

[LilianaUwU]

why did this devolve into a conversation about the beaver cult

[Rothman]

why did this devolve into a conversation about the beaver cult

Because the general consensus is to just let the forum slowly go to pot.

[LilianaUwU]

why did this devolve into a conversation about the beaver cult

Because the general consensus is to just let the forum slowly go to pot.

It's been going downhill ever since May 29, 2020 at 3:16:50pm.

[vdeane]

why did this devolve into a conversation about the beaver cult

Because the general consensus is to just let the forum slowly go to pot.

It's been going downhill ever since May 29, 2020 at 3:16:50pm.

Now I'm curious which post specifically appeared then.

[edwaleni]

why did this devolve into a conversation about the beaver cult

Because the general consensus is to just let the forum slowly go to pot.

It's been going downhill ever since May 29, 2020 at 3:16:50pm.

Now I'm curious which post specifically appeared then.

Around Page 107. It appears to have been deleted.

[Rothman]

why did this devolve into a conversation about the beaver cult

Because the general consensus is to just let the forum slowly go to pot.

It's been going downhill ever since May 29, 2020 at 3:16:50pm.

Now I'm curious which post specifically appeared then.

Around Page 107. It appears to have been deleted.

Dang.  I missed it.  I thought UwU was just being arbitrary.

[Bobby5280]

Bring on the bridge, as I said. But something iconic like a cable-stayed bridge would be ideal.

A cable-stayed bridge is not needed in that location. The bridge only needs to be high enough to give clearance to barges. Project illustrations show a more conventional design.