I-49 in Arkansas

[txstateends]

Meanwhile..... someone has goofed up by re-labeling the I-540 section in Fort Smith as I-49 on Google Maps ( http://goo.gl/maps/uUo42 ).

[US71]

It's official : I-49 is now open at the AR/LA State Line.

What in the world is up with the stripe that seems to end at the state line (Louisiana's, I believe) in that photograph?   

The white on black? Probably lane separation line.

[NE2]

It's official : I-49 is now open at the AR/LA State Line.

What in the world is up with the stripe that seems to end at the state line (Louisiana's, I believe) in that photograph?   

It's a standard lane separator?

[O Tamandua]

It's official : I-49 is now open at the AR/LA State Line.

What in the world is up with the stripe that seems to end at the state line (Louisiana's, I believe) in that photograph?   

I know that...but isn't it supposed to continue across the state lines instead of just ending in Arkansas?

BTW, I think this is an open Facebook page for the city of Doddridge, AR.  A FB friend posted a picture and I surmised it was from this album, so here are some other pics from the site:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.795828830476665.1073741861.284528544940032&type=1

It's a standard lane separator?

[rickmastfan67]

Meanwhile..... someone has goofed up by re-labeling the I-540 section in Fort Smith as I-49 on Google Maps ( http://goo.gl/maps/uUo42 ).

The person changed it on 11/3.  He gave this to justify the change: http://5newsonline.com/2014/04/20/signs-go-up-this-week-for-official-name-change-of-interstate-540/

[rlb2024]

It's official : I-49 is now open at the AR/LA State Line.

What in the world is up with the stripe that seems to end at the state line (Louisiana's, I believe) in that photograph?   

It's a standard lane separator?

Louisiana is now doing that on several of its concrete roads.  The black edges accent the white lane separation stripe on the almost-white concrete.  You will also see it where there is flat black on one end of the white stripe -- that is how they are re-striping the lane separators on the  Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

[NE2]

I know that...but isn't it supposed to continue across the state lines instead of just ending in Arkansas?

Ever hear of a dashed line?

[O Tamandua]

Sigh...OK, I give up.  Regardless, it's a day and event to celebrate. 

[apjung]

Here's a great article on the AR/LA segment ribbon cutting and opening
http://txktoday.com/news/49-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-opens-49-shreveport/

Nice aerial drone footage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUQ3_DIe2pM

[Grzrd]

in this post, AHTD described how the remainder of I-49 in Arkansas might play out:

While nothing is written in stone, it's reasonable to assume that as money does come available, we would start by constructing bypasses around several of the communities along the route — Mena, DeQueen, Waldron, etc.

This Texarkana Gazette article (behind paywall) suggests that Mena may be the first town on the Fort Smith-to-Texarkana section to have I-49 construction:

Curt Green, president of the I-49 International Coalition ....
said Mena, Ark., now stands right in the middle of the 150-mile stretch of I-49 still left to be completed (which would connect Texarkana to Fort Smith).
"Right now I-49 is about 80 to 85 percent complete and right now Mena is putting up more money per capital the any other Arkansas city to see that I-49 comes through."

[Grzrd]

City wire article on the roundabout at Bella Vista/Bentonville.

Danny Straessel may have the hardest job in Arkansas. Explaining the bonehead AHTD decisions to the general boneheaded public

AHTD has posted some materials from a recent meeting about the roundabout, including a map that shows both the terrain for the project and the roundabout:



The materials also include a Roundabout Striping Detail:

[galador]

Certainly an interesting design...

[Bobby5280]

I assume that roundabout will be a lower cost, temporary connection between the 2-lane Belle Vista Bypass and I-49.

There's no way that thing is going to fly as a permanent connection once the Belle Vista Bypass is 4-laned, fully built out to Interstate standards and intended to be marked as I-49. That kind of "Breezewood" might prevent the bypass from being called I-49 unless the roundabout is replaced with a different, proper interchange or bypassed by thru traffic via flyover ramps built over the roundabout.

[codyg1985]

There's no way that thing is going to fly as a permanent connection once the Belle Vista Bypass is 4-laned, fully built out to Interstate standards and intended to be marked as I-49. That kind of "Breezewood" might prevent the bypass from being called I-49 unless the roundabout is replaced with a different, proper interchange or bypassed by thru traffic via flyover ramps built over the roundabout.

I believe the ultimate plan is to construct a SPUI at that location. I'm sure until that happens, the future I-49 will be signed as AR 549.

[apjung]

Google Maps has updated I-49, now waiting for the updated satellite maps. It still looks so beautiful to see I-49 as one continuous stretch from Texarkana to Shreveport.
http://goo.gl/maps/9G0nC

[dfwmapper]

Google Maps has updated I-49, now waiting for the updated satellite maps. It still looks so beautiful to see I-49 as one continuous stretch from Texarkana to Shreveport.
http://goo.gl/maps/9G0nC

You're welcome. Now just trying to get that ugly 549 off the map...

*edit* reposted in Arkansas thread

[Grzrd]

Meanwhile..... someone has goofed up by re-labeling the I-540 section in Fort Smith as I-49 on Google Maps ( http://goo.gl/maps/uUo42 ).

The person changed it on 11/3.  He gave this to justify the change: http://5newsonline.com/2014/04/20/signs-go-up-this-week-for-official-name-change-of-interstate-540/

Now just trying to get that ugly 549 off the map...

While you are trying to get rid of that 549, please try and get rid of the 49 and return the 540 to Fort Smith.  The article cited to justify the change of I-540 to I-49 in the Fort Smith area clearly states that the change only went into effect from Alma northward to the Bella Vista area:

The Arkansas Highway Department got approval by the Federal Government Wednesday (April 16) to rename the route from Interstate 40 near Alma, to the U.S. Highway 71B Interchange south of Bella Vista.

Aside from reality, the change back to I-540 would be consistent with the article.

[US71]

Meanwhile..... someone has goofed up by re-labeling the I-540 section in Fort Smith as I-49 on Google Maps ( http://goo.gl/maps/uUo42 ).

The person changed it on 11/3.  He gave this to justify the change: http://5newsonline.com/2014/04/20/signs-go-up-this-week-for-official-name-change-of-interstate-540/

Now just trying to get that ugly 549 off the map...

While you are trying to get rid of that 549, please try and get rid of the 49 and return the 540 to Fort Smith.  The article cited to justify the change of I-540 to I-49 in the Fort Smith area clearly states that the change only went into effect from Alma northward to the Bella Vista area:

The Arkansas Highway Department got approval by the Federal Government Wednesday (April 16) to rename the route from Interstate 40 near Alma, to the U.S. Highway 71B Interchange south of Bella Vista.

Aside from reality, the change back to I-540 would be consistent with the article.

Plus our AHTD Forum Rep said "old" 540 would remain 540... and HAS

[dfwmapper]

While you are trying to get rid of that 549, please try and get rid of the 49 and return the 540 to Fort Smith.  The article cited to justify the change of I-540 to I-49 in the Fort Smith area clearly states that the change only went into effect from Alma northward to the Bella Vista area:

The Arkansas Highway Department got approval by the Federal Government Wednesday (April 16) to rename the route from Interstate 40 near Alma, to the U.S. Highway 71B Interchange south of Bella Vista.

Aside from reality, the change back to I-540 would be consistent with the article.

The US 271 portion has had I-49 removed, but the change back to I-540 between I-40 and US 271 is still pending.

[bugo]

I-540 ends at the Oklahoma line but is unsigned west of US 271.

[US71]

I-540 ends at the Oklahoma line but is unsigned west of US 271.

Even though there's an end sign at 271?

[bugo]

Since when is there an end sign at US 271?

[US71]

Since when is there an end sign at US 271?

There's a small green mileage sign END 540 14.7 (?).

[O Tamandua]

Not sure if they mean 38,000 cars per day when I-49 is at least linked across the river, or when the new section in Barling/southeast Fort Smith is opened next year, but:

The next big piece for Chaffee Crossing has been a bit of a tantalizing tease: the completion of the Interstate 49 link, a 6.5-mile stretch that will connect state Highway 59 in Van Buren with U.S. Highway 71 in southeast Fort Smith. The link was scheduled to be completed by the end of this year but is now expected to be finished in early 2015.

FCRA officials traveled last week to south Arkansas to see the opening of the interstate at the Arkansas-Louisiana border. The completed interstate will eventually connect Canada with New Orleans, and Fort Smith's profile should only increase with its location at the intersection of I-49 and I-40.

Owen said the stretch of interstate will send 35,000 cars daily through Chaffee Crossing, where there will be three exits. Cooper said almost all of those interchanges have long been scooped up by investors.

"It's going to mean accessibility, visibility, traffic,"  Owen said.

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/101879/investment-jobs-buoy-fort-smiths-chaffee-crossing?page=2

[bugo]

There's an exception: