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[txstateends]

Take a look at this archived video I found from a local Kansas City area news agency.   View the whole video, and then tell me what is so wrong about it as a big error has been committed in it?  No its not the photography or anything to do with broadcasting.  Care to see what it is?

Only thing I could think of was 'wrong freeway' but not sure what else it could be.  The related vids list on the side had an archived one from KC Fox 4 about the coming conversion, the video included the Paseo Bridge redo at freeway level--even though that bridge isn't or won't be part of I-49.

[Ned Weasel]

Take a look at this archived video I found from a local Kansas City area news agency.   View the whole video, and then tell me what is so wrong about it as a big error has been committed in it?  No its not the photography or anything to do with broadcasting.  Care to see what it is?

"71 Highway...that will no longer be 71 Highway...."

*Facepalm* (And I use that sparingly.)

[Ned Weasel]

Take a look at this archived video I found from a local Kansas City area news agency.   View the whole video, and then tell me what is so wrong about it as a big error has been committed in it?  No its not the photography or anything to do with broadcasting.  Care to see what it is?

Only thing I could think of was 'wrong freeway' but not sure what else it could be.  The related vids list on the side had an archived one from KC Fox 4 about the coming conversion, the video included the Paseo Bridge redo at freeway level--even though that bridge isn't or won't be part of I-49.

No, the video has the right freeway.  It's clearly in Grandview, a few miles south of the Interchange Formerly Known as the Grandview Triangle.

Also, the Paseo Bridge could be part of I-49 if (1) US 71 between the Triangle and Downtown is finally made into a full freeway and (2) I-29 is renumbered as I-49 (yeah, we wish, right?).

[roadman65]

Actually, I was referring to the fact that the reporter implied that US 71 was being changed to I-49.  In fact, US 71 is not going anywhere and is still staying where its at.  Only a number has been added to it, not being replaced by another.

[txstateends]

Actually, I was referring to the fact that the reporter implied that US 71 was being changed to I-49.  In fact, US 71 is not going anywhere and is still staying where its at.  Only a number has been added to it, not being replaced by another.

I've seen/heard that phrasing several times in newspapers and KC TV news reports; few in the media seem to get the situation right when they try to convey it to the reader/viewer.

[apjung]

Take a look at this archived video I found from a local Kansas City area news agency.   View the whole video, and then tell me what is so wrong about it as a big error has been committed in it?  No its not the photography or anything to do with broadcasting.  Care to see what it is?

Only thing I could think of was 'wrong freeway' but not sure what else it could be.  The related vids list on the side had an archived one from KC Fox 4 about the coming conversion, the video included the Paseo Bridge redo at freeway level--even though that bridge isn't or won't be part of I-49.

No, the video has the right freeway.  It's clearly in Grandview, a few miles south of the Interchange Formerly Known as the Grandview Triangle.

Also, the Paseo Bridge could be part of I-49 if (1) US 71 between the Triangle and Downtown is finally made into a full freeway and (2) I-29 is renumbered as I-49 (yeah, we wish, right?).

Well, this comment would probably end up in the fictional highways list but I-29 should be renumbered to I-35. This would instantly create another Mexico to Canada Interstate. All I-x29 3di routes would also be renumbered to I-x35 3di routes.

I-35 from Kansas City Northwards would be renamed as I-49. All I-x35 3di routes North of Kansas City would also be renumbered to I-x49 3di routes. Also, I-35E and I-35W in Minneapolis/St. Paul would be renumbered to I-49E and I-49W.

[NE2]

And I-59 would be renumbered I-81. Because Georgia.

[ShawnP]

Called it the Triangle instead of 3 trails crossing.

[NE2]

Called it the Triangle instead of 3 trails crossing.

The question was what they did wrong, not right.

[US71]

Actually, I was referring to the fact that the reporter implied that US 71 was being changed to I-49.  In fact, US 71 is not going anywhere and is still staying where its at.  Only a number has been added to it, not being replaced by another.

Some of the media got it wrong, including a couple newspapers.

[Grzrd]

As Gordon has already noted in the other thread, MoDOT has posted its Draft 2014-2018 Highway and Bridge Construction Schedule and the Bella Vista Bypass Award Date has been moved up from 2015 to Fall 2014 (page 14/26 of pdf (McDonald County))

This PowerPoint presentation from the July 24, 2013 AHTD Commission Business Meeting contains the entire CAP Schedule and here is a snip of the three Bella Vista Bypass projects (page 47/61 of pdf):

(bottom quote from I-49 in AR (Bella Vista, Fort Smith) thread)

I recently emailed MoDOT and asked whether, in light of AHTD's announcement regarding the Bella Vista Bypass, they are considering moving up the tentative Fall 2014 letting for their portion of the Bella Vista Bypass. The response:

We just found out about Arkansas's schedule ... We will need to see their comprehensive plan for the entire bypass.  I doubt that we will move ours forward, but rather stick with the schedule in our program.  Arkansas has much more work to accomplish than we do so they should get a quicker start.

Since it looks like AHTD does not intend to have the US 71/BVB interchange completed until the end of 2016, I'm guessing that MoDOT will not see a need to move up their letting.

[O Tamandua]

Was at the Route 66 Festival yesterday in Joplin and went looking for an article on that in the Joplin Globe, but instead found this:

“The design of the highway is complete,” he said. “The acquisition of property is complete. All we have been waiting on is the funding. It is basically ready to go.’’

Rob Smith, communications and policy specialist for the Northwest Arkansas Council, which supported the Connecting Arkansas Program, said, “The importance of the Bella Vista bypass project and the other two major highway projects in Northwest Arkansas that will occur because voters approved Issue No. 1 cannot be overstated.

“Research commissioned by the NAC and conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute last year showed our two-county area of Northwest Arkansas loses $103 million annually due to traffic congestion,’’ he said in an email statement. “The researchers told us major projects, such as the Bella Vista bypass, will help reduce that figure.”

The council is a private, nonprofit organization that was founded in 1990 to work on issues, such as infrastructure, education, economic development and community vitality. The council has about 100 members.

Said Smith: “For Northwest Arkansas and for Southwest Missouri, there’s no highway project more important than the Bella Vista bypass.’’

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1664877140/Arkansas-to-seek-bids-for-initial-two-lanes-of-Bella-Vista-bypass/?state=taberU

Sure would have been good if Arkansas had their act together back in 2005 when Missouri was ready to build it then.  The Natural State might not have been losing some of that $103 million annually.  But, better late than never...

[Grzrd]

this article reports that a public open house was held on May 9 (the online meeting will continue until May 23) to share the plans and receive comments about a possible new interchange at 211th Street and Interstate 49 near Peculiar

MoDOT now has an A New Interchange at I-49 and 211th Street in Peculiar webpage, which indicates that there will be an Open house public hearing on August 20 and that construction is scheduled to start in Spring 2015.  The page also has an Aerial view of the project.

To be honest I don't approve of a new interchange at this point ... Some very bad cross overs have occurred there over the years ...

I lost two cousins to such an accident near the C/J interchange in Peculiar.

that median there is just way too narrow ... Something more's needed.

As far as I can tell, the project does not include a safety component for the I-49 median.

[route56]

As far as I can tell, the project does not include a safety component for the I-49 median.

Not even Missouri standard wait-a-minute cables?

* route56 puts my friend Ali's number on speed dial....

[Grzrd]

I spoke with a MoDOT individual today and he confirmed that the above 2015 project in the Draft STIP is for the Bella Vista Bypass. However, it is contingent on whether Arkansas will have construction under way to the state line by that time. As he put it, there is no need to build it to a dead-end and have it sit for a long time. MoDOT already has the money set aside and will build the entire four lanes even if Arkansas has to stay at two lanes for a while.

I recently emailed MoDOT and asked whether, in light of AHTD's announcement regarding the Bella Vista Bypass, they are considering moving up the tentative Fall 2014 letting for their portion of the Bella Vista Bypass. The response:

We just found out about Arkansas's schedule ... We will need to see their comprehensive plan for the entire bypass.  I doubt that we will move ours forward, but rather stick with the schedule in our program.  Arkansas has much more work to accomplish than we do so they should get a quicker start.

This article reports that MoDOT is currently approximately $25 million short of having its section of the Bella Vista Bypass fully funded:

Dan Salisbury, the assistant director of the southwest district of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDoT), spoke about the progress made by his state, which recently opened a large stretch of I-49 from Kansas City to just six miles north of the Arkansas state line in Pineville, Mo.
Salisbury said his state had made progress to take the interstate as far as they had, though funding to complete the state's I-49 corridor in a section known as the Bella Vista Bypass was not currently in place.
"And today, we have the plans done. They've been done for many years. We would have to go in and refresh those plans, but that would be a relatively minor task. We purchased the land but we have one challenge," he said. "Considering all the work we did north of there, we no longer have enough money to complete that. So at this time, we can't commit to a schedule in Missouri to do that."
The shortfall in funding amounts to about $25 million, though he said Missouri transportation officials were working to find a funding source to complete the state's portion of the project.

Maybe MoDOT became tired of waiting for AHTD and used the BVB funds for other projects at some point during the past year.  Nevertheless, I think that they will identify a source for the $25 million during this upcoming year.

edit

This post in another thread discusses an additional article about MoDOT's money woes and lack of a Bella Vista Bypass construction schedule.

[US71]

Maybe MoDOT became tired of waiting for AHTD and used the BVB funds for other projects at some point during the past year.  Nevertheless, I think that they will identify a source for the $25 million during this upcoming year.

Wasn't most of that money was used for upgrading US 71 to I-49 from Carthage to KC ?

[Grzrd]

This article .... MoDOT also makes it clear that they are waiting on Arkansas before they build Missouri's section of the Bella Vista Bypass:

The section of highway south of Joplin is complete and ready for interstate designation as far as the small town of Pineville, about five miles from the Arkansas border. At that point, the highway is supposed to connect someday to a bypass around the town of Bella Vista, just across the state line in Arkansas.
Missouri was prepared to build its portion of the bypass, estimated at $40 million, until Arkansas said it did not have the money to do its part. That’s when the Missouri highway commission decided to shift its focus and money to the section north of Joplin.
“We do not want to build a four-lane freeway that dead-ends at the state line,” said Sean Matlock, MoDOT’s manager for the I-49 project.

MoDOT has posted its Draft 2014-2018 Highway and Bridge Construction Schedule and the Bella Vista Bypass Award Date has been moved up from 2015 to Fall 2014 (page 14/26 of pdf (McDonald County)):

I think that they will identify a source for the $25 million during this upcoming year.

Wasn't most of that money was used for upgrading US 71 to I-49 from Carthage to KC ?

Yes, you're right; the article in the top quote indicates that the money was shifted from the BVB to the Pineville-to-KC upgrade of US 71.  I may have had a simple miscommunication with the MoDOT rep during my t/c regarding the funding for the BVB. Also, I had not noticed before that the above STIP provision references "partial funding".  Maybe the initial, "partial", $15 million is for the preliminary engineering and grading, with the future $25 million needed for structures and paving (which equals the $40 million total mentioned in the above article)?

[Grzrd]

AHTD has released the 2013 Arkansas Highway map and the 2013 map does not have the projected route through Texas

(above quote from Texarkana (Future I-49, I-69 Spur) thread)
the projected route of Missouri's section of the Bella Vista Bypass has appeared on the 2013 map:

(above quote from I-49 in AR (Bella Vista, Fort Smith) thread)

This article reports that MoDOT is currently approximately $25 million short of having its section of the Bella Vista Bypass fully funded:

Dan Salisbury, the assistant director of the southwest district of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDoT) ... said ... funding to complete the state's I-49 corridor in a section known as the Bella Vista Bypass was not currently in place .... "we no longer have enough money to complete that. So at this time, we can't commit to a schedule in Missouri to do that."
The shortfall in funding amounts to about $25 million.

Missouri has finally released their 2013 official highway map.
http://www.modot.org/missourimap/

(above quote from Missouri 2013 official highway map thread)

Missouri's map reflects its lack of a schedule regarding the Bella Vista Bypass by, in contrast to the Arkansas map, not having the projected route of Missouri's section of the BVB:

[Grzrd]

MoDOT has issued a press release regarding a September 30 public meeting to discuss a new I-44/49 interchange at Prigmore Avenue (County Road 190) east of Joplin:

The Project
* An overpass at Prigmore Road (County Road 190) will be converted to an interchange with straight, directional ramps.
* Two roundabouts will be built -- one on each side of I-44/49 on Prigmore Avenue at the end of the ramps.
* Prigmor Avenue will be resurfaced between the new interchange and 7th Street (Route 66) to the north.
* Estimated cost for engineering, purchasing land and construction is $11.1 million.
MoDOT will seek bids in the fall of 2014, with construction in 2015.

[M86]

I can't blame MoDOT on this one.  They waited, had funding secured for it, and AHTD's funding was in shambles... but at least now they are giving the Bella Vista bypass some thought.

[US71]

MoDOT has issued a press release regarding a September 30 public meeting to discuss a new I-44/49 interchange at Prigmore Avenue (County Road 190) east of Joplin:

The Project
* An overpass at Prigmore Road (County Road 190) will be converted to an interchange with straight, directional ramps.
* Two roundabouts will be built -- one on each side of I-44/49 on Prigmore Avenue at the end of the ramps.
* Prigmor Avenue will be resurfaced between the new interchange and 7th Street (Route 66) to the north.
* Estimated cost for engineering, purchasing land and construction is $11.1 million.
MoDOT will seek bids in the fall of 2014, with construction in 2015.

Courtesy MoDOT's Facebook page:

[Henry]

I can't blame MoDOT on this one.  They waited, had funding secured for it, and AHTD's funding was in shambles... but at least now they are giving the Bella Vista bypass some thought.

That's good, because the last thing we need is another freeway that dead ends in the middle of nowhere.

[Indyroads]

I can't blame MoDOT on this one.  They waited, had funding secured for it, and AHTD's funding was in shambles... but at least now they are giving the Bella Vista bypass some thought.

That's good, because the last thing we need is another freeway that dead ends in the middle of nowhere.

lol yeah like I-66 in Somerset KY. lol

[Grzrd]

I became curious about MoDOT's long-term plans for the MO 249/ MO 171 corridor and how it relates to I-49.
I called the Southwest District Office, eventually spoke with one of the engineers, and had a great conversation.  First, MoDOT is probably looking at a ten-year horizon before a location study would be initiated.  The current thinking is that three primary options for the eventual I-49 routing exist for the location study:
1. Keep the I-44/I-49 overlap; however, this would necessitate an upgrade for the eastern I-44/I-49 interchange from a cloverleaf to a directional interchange.
2. Use the MO 249/ MO 171 corridor and upgrade the current MO 171/MO 249 corridor by finding a way to remove the presence of traffic signals at interchange ramps at US 71/MO 171/MO 96 near Carthage, as well as upgrade the MO 171/ I-49 interchange.
3. Build a new terrain connection that would basically be a "straight line" from the 171 "bend" west of the Hwy 96 interchange to the "90 degree bend" north of Carthage.
Other options could manifest themselves during the course of the study.  Again, this all is on a loooooong term horizon.

Preliminary work on the potential of the MO 249/MO 171 corridor is about to begin.  This Sept. 25 Joplin Globe article reports the adoption of a four-year plan by the Joplin Area Transportation Study Organization and it includes the following:

MoDOT also plans to look, at a cost of $145,000, at what work needs to be done on I-49 between Joplin and Carthage

I emailed MoDOT and asked them if this study will include a look at the MO 249/MO 171 corridor and they indicate that it will; however, the current thinking is that the MO 249/MO 171 corridor will eventually be I-249 and not I-49:

Some people are interested in converting MO 249 and a portion of MO 171 to Carthage to I-249.  This would be the early work on this idea.

[Grzrd]

I can't blame MoDOT on this one.  They waited, had funding secured for it, and AHTD's funding was in shambles...

You may not be blaming MoDOT, but this article reports that some folks in McDonald County are not completely happy with MoDOT in regard to the Bella Vista Bypass:

Several members of area government agencies met Monday with the McDonald County Commission to discuss upcoming activities in the area ....
Others on hand were ... Frank Miller, Missouri Department of Transportation district planning director ....
Eastern Commissioner John Bunch ....

Highway

A brief discussion of the completion of I-49 from Pineville south into northwest Arkansas was interjected into talk about the defining process of urbanized areas.
As Arkansas makes plans, thanks to the passage of a special tax, to start with a two-lane highway on their side of the border, Miller, the MoDOT representative, indicated there is no definite time when the long-awaited project will be approachedby Missouri.
“We have some of the funding,” Miller said, “but not enough to finish up to Arkansas.”
“I can see where we might be the stepchildren on this; that’s my opinion,” Bunch said.
“We were hoping that Missouri would go there with the four-lane through Arkansas,” added Presiding Commissioner Keith Lindquist.