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[US71]

http://contribute.modot.mo.gov/newsandinfo/District0News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=58364

August 04, 2010 I-49 Coming to Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) today approved highway construction resulting in the upgrading of the US 71 corridor between Kansas City and Joplin to interstate standards by the end of 2012.

"Improving US 71 between I-435 in Kansas City and I-44 near Joplin enhances economic development opportunities and freight movement," said Missouri Department of Transportation Interim Director Kevin Keith.  "We are excited about getting closer to an I-49 designation in Missouri."

The original intent was to fund a four-lane bypass of Bella Vista, Ark., creating an interstate from Joplin to Fort Smith, Ark.  However, recent correspondence from the Arkansas State Highway Commission indicates that due to funding shortfalls it intends to construct a two-lane Bella Vista bypass in phases over six years.

pdf map: http://www.modot.mo.gov/southwest/documents/I-49CorridorMap.pdf

[bugo]

A TWO LANE Bella Vista bypass?  What is AHTD smoking?  I'm guessing it's crack.

[rickmastfan67]

Nah, it must be that high quality weed. lol.

[US71]

A TWO LANE Bella Vista bypass?  What is AHTD smoking?  I'm guessing it's crack.

Watch them try to toll the thing: no one will drive it.

[Revive 755]

A TWO LANE Bella Vista bypass?  What is AHTD smoking?  I'm guessing it's crack.

Watch them try to toll the thing: no one will drive it.

I might, depending upon how high the toll is and how many annoying, uncoordinated, possibly photo enforced stoplights there are in Bella Vista.  I'd be happy to pay 75 cents to $1.50 for a super-two (the freeway type, not the other type many states seem to define) bypass of Hannibal, MO.

EDIT:  In case anyone's wondering, I have never been through Bella Vista.

[US71]

A TWO LANE Bella Vista bypass?  What is AHTD smoking?  I'm guessing it's crack.

Watch them try to toll the thing: no one will drive it.

I might, depending upon how high the toll is and how many annoying, uncoordinated, possibly photo enforced stoplights there are in Bella Vista.  I'd be happy to pay 75 cents to $1.50 for a super-two (the freeway type, not the other type many states seem to define) bypass of Hannibal, MO.

EDIT:  In case anyone's wondering, I have never been through Bella Vista.

It is against Arkansas law to have automated traffic enforcement (Red Light Cameras, etc).
That being said, US 71 through Bella Vista is expressway quality, but suffers from too much traffic and too many businesses close to the roadway (and too many traffic signals). IIRC, the roadway was built (upgraded from 2 lanes) in the early 1970's. I'm sure at that time, no one expected the high traffic volume now passing through the area. But AHTD is not renowned for foresight. 

[triplemultiplex]

A TWO LANE Bella Vista bypass?  What is AHTD smoking?  I'm guessing it's crack.

C'mon, we're talking about Arkansas, so it's obviously crystal meth.

Hopefully the feds don't pull some nitpicky crap about a discontinuous I-49 for Missouri.
Assuming the interchange with current US 71 gets upgraded, I wonder what the prospects are for a 3di for that MO 249/MO 171 loop that Joplin has?  Looks like a nice little I-249 to me.

[ShawnP]

A super two for the Bella Vista Bypass oh lord STUPID!!! Super says 140mph combined accident speeds to me. Is Arkansas purposely planning to build a road to kill people? You have the toll authority spend the money Arkansas toll it and build it right and SAFELY. BTW I see no bridge projects on Missouri's upgrade and there will still be sub standard bridges on their upgraded portion. Plus it if I remember right you can't end a Two Digit Interstate at a Three Digit Interstate so Missouri looks foolish by calling it I-49 when it won't get approval from the feds until Bruce Watkins is upgraded to Interstate standards. Bruce Watkins has been discussed many times here and will only get worse with more traffic from a upgraded US-71 being dumped into it. Why not spend the extra money to upgrade the Watkins and not play along with Arkansas's bastardized plan for a super dieway errrrrrr super two.

[agentsteel53]

Is Arkansas purposely planning to build a road to kill people?

you may be on to something here.

[US71]

Is Arkansas purposely planning to build a road to kill people?

Well, there is precedence  :

The original 1970's US 71/ Fayetteville Arkansas Bypass was 2 Lanes at-grade, including 2 railroad crossings. Within 10 years, it was all upgraded to expressway standards due to all the accidents at the cross-roads.

PLUS just past where the US 71 Freeway ends at Bella Vista (becoming an expressway), there is a traffic signal.

Oh, but let's not forget Business 71 at Pineville, MO either 

[Brandon]

Plus it if I remember right you can't end a Two Digit Interstate at a Three Digit Interstate

I-88 ends at I-290.
I-69 ends at I-465.
I-97 ends at I-895 (I-695?).
I-64 currently "ends" at I-270.
I-64 also ends at I-264 and I-664.
I-87 ends at I-278.

Therefore, I-49 can end at I-435 and I-470.

[bugo]

Hopefully the feds don't pull some nitpicky crap about a discontinuous I-49 for Missouri.
Assuming the interchange with current US 71 gets upgraded, I wonder what the prospects are for a 3di for that MO 249/MO 171 loop that Joplin has?  Looks like a nice little I-249 to me.

I think I-49 is going to follow MO 249 instead of 71 through Joplin and Carthage.  Unless something has changed.

[ShawnP]

If it does follow MO 249 then there will have to be major rework at the Interchange with US-71 which has a actual light.
Post Merge: August 05, 2010, 10:25:44 PMPlus I am so strong on this as I have seen many lives lost on the Bruce Watkins and know it will only get worse with more traffic from a I-49 upgrade coming online. I also noticed MODOT did speed up things by a year as the Cass County portion was coming online until the FY-2013 budget originally. I think with the recession bids are coming in lower these days plus the power of bidding multiple work packages helps lower costs.

[US71]

If it does follow MO 249 then there will have to be major rework at the Interchange with US-71 which has a actual light.

I would much rather see it follow I-44 to the Diamond exit, then north. Of course, that exit is antiquated. 
Post Merge: August 05, 2010, 10:26:06 PM

Plus I am so strong on this as I have seen many lives lost on the Bruce Watkins and know it will only get worse with more traffic from a I-49 upgrade coming online.

Wasn't a state law passed preventing the upgrade of Bruce Watkins?

[ShawnP]

A court order is effect but a certain Congressman who helped broker the deal could really help avoid neighborhood hassles associated with a upgrade. The upgrade itself could physically easily be done in a two year time span as their would be a Interchange at Gregory and a double Interchange at the two the further north lights. Plenty of room in the medians to do the upgrades and if a upgrade occured I would recommend 3 laning from Bannister Road up to the northern lights as both north and south of the area 6 lanes or more. A bottleneck would occur if a upgrade happened. Also to smooth over ruffles the upgraded Intersections could be designed with plenty of asthetic upgrades aka all of the other Interchanges on the Bruce Watkins. If 49 went thru to 44 and then switched over I would also upgrade I-44 to six lanes between the two sections of I-49.

[brownpelican]

Kansas City's WDAF has a report showing mixed reaction to the plan.
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-us71-i49-change-080510,0,237844.story

[US71]

Kansas City's WDAF has a report showing mixed reaction to the plan.
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-us71-i49-change-080510,0,237844.story

Leave it to FOX to put a negative spin.  HOWEVER, a couple people sounded a bit disappointed at the inconvenience of the at-grade intersections being eliminated but seemed happy overall that a potential safety hazard was being eliminated.

[bugo]

A court order is effect but a certain Congressman who helped broker the deal could really help avoid neighborhood hassles associated with a upgrade. The upgrade itself could physically easily be done in a two year time span as their would be a Interchange at Gregory and a double Interchange at the two the further north lights. Plenty of room in the medians to do the upgrades and if a upgrade occured I would recommend 3 laning from Bannister Road up to the northern lights as both north and south of the area 6 lanes or more. A bottleneck would occur if a upgrade happened. Also to smooth over ruffles the upgraded Intersections could be designed with plenty of asthetic upgrades aka all of the other Interchanges on the Bruce Watkins. If 49 went thru to 44 and then switched over I would also upgrade I-44 to six lanes between the two sections of I-49.

To be honest, the area around Blue Parkway and Flush Creek is nicer looking with the elevated freeway than the area around the at grades is.  The freeway is very aesthetically pleasing.

[bugo]

Kansas City's WDAF has a report showing mixed reaction to the plan.
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-us71-i49-change-080510,0,237844.story

The video claims it will become I-49 in 2012.  I'll believe that when I see it.

[Scott5114]

Yeah, the only 100% guarantee that I-49 in Missouri will be designated will be when the Texarkana–Fort Smith section is open, and that's not even in the draft stages, is it? Alternatively, someone could pull shenanigans like has been done with I-73 and I-74 to get I-49 designated on the north half, but that's undesirable...

[ShawnP]

Agree with the elevated road way at Brush Creek and MODOT could do a joint intersection like they did with the BLVD's on both side of Brush Creek. This could save money on the two northern lights and do less damage to the neighborhood. A few very bad high speed wrecks have happened at those Cass County intersections.

[US71]

Agree with the elevated road way at Brush Creek and MODOT could do a joint intersection like they did with the BLVD's on both side of Brush Creek. This could save money on the two northern lights and do less damage to the neighborhood. A few very bad high speed wrecks have happened at those Cass County intersections.

Here are some considerations (from another list): some theorize the median would be better used for high speed rail. ALSO, any bridges built would have to conform to a certain decorative standard and some of the "exits" there are would have to be modified (67th St, 50th St).

CAN it be done? Probably. WILL it be done? No time soon. Where will the additional money come from?

[bugo]

Agree with the elevated road way at Brush Creek and MODOT could do a joint intersection like they did with the BLVD's on both side of Brush Creek. This could save money on the two northern lights and do less damage to the neighborhood. A few very bad high speed wrecks have happened at those Cass County intersections.

Here are some considerations (from another list): some theorize the median would be better used for high speed rail. ALSO, any bridges built would have to conform to a certain decorative standard and some of the "exits" there are would have to be modified (67th St, 50th St).

CAN it be done? Probably. WILL it be done? No time soon. Where will the additional money come from?

Nobody is going to ride the high speed rail line.  Rail lines don't go to individual homes.  There could be a park and ride, but what's the point?

[Scott5114]

Yeah, Kansas City is one of the few places that I can think of that would be a worse place for a rail line than Oklahoma City.

[ShawnP]

KC isn't supporting any high speed now or ever. Put that crack pipe down Mike Sanders.