Texarkana (Future I-49, I-69 Spur)

[bassoon1986]

I-49 in north Louisiana is open from LA 1 in north Shreveport to US 71 just south of Hosston. The section from there north to AR state line has been completed but will not be open to traffic until Arkansas completed the last segment from Doddridge southward. Supposedly, we've heard on the forum that I-49 from US 71 in Hosston north to LA 168 in Ida, LA may be/will be open to local traffic only until the state line sections are complete and open but we've not confirmed it yet.

Someone feel free to find that news article hinting at the Hosston-Ida section opening soon. It's cumbersome to search and copy paste from my phone...

[US71]

http://www.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/i49north/


Progress on I-49 North:

    Right-of-way purchase and utility relocation have been completed for all sections
    Construction Completion Schedules
        Arkansas state line to La. 168, Segment A — Near Completion
        La 168 to Mira-Myrtis Road, Segment B — Near Complection
        Mira-Myrtis Road to La 2, Segment C — Near Completion
        La 2 to U.S. 71, Segment D — Near Completion
        La. 170 to U.S. 71, Segment E — Open to traffic
        La. 530 to La. 170, Segment F — Open to traffic
        La 530 to La 169, Segment G — Open to traffic
        La. 173 to La. 169, Segment H — Open to traffic
        La. 1 to La. 173, Segment I — Open to traffic
        I-220 to La. 1, Segment J - Estimated completion: Fall 2015
        I-220 to La. 1, Segment K - Estimated completion: 2016/2017

From what I have seen,  Sections B, C, and D are finished except for signage...possibly Section A as well.  Satellite views seem to indicate A, B, C, and D have all been completed.

Parts of the of the Arkansas segment south of Doddridge are in the process of being paved. When I was through there last November, it appeared like the SB lanes had been paved, but no shoulder in place yet.


Miller County 4 at I-49

[Grzrd]

Currently we are working with the FHWA local division office to formally submit the application to that agency. We submitted an initial application to the local division office late last year and continue to work with this office to finalize the document. Essentially, the local division office is helping to guide AHTD through the application process.

Does the application include a request for FHWA to make a determination as to whether I-540 north of I-40 and AR 549 meet current interstate standards?  Or, is it simply a numbering redesignation request?

The oldest parts of State Highway 549 were constructed recently enough to be in compliance with current standards, so it's good to go. We are in the process of paving the remaining 4.5 miles of this route from Doddridge to the Louisiana State Line and current estimates are that it will be completed in mid-2014.

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

We are still working on the application to FHWA to request the re-designation. If the last bit is complete before then, it will be signed SH 549. We will not open this last segment until Louisiana is at the line, otherwise it's a road that abruptly stops with nowhere to turn around.

Not sure where they are at this time. There is some part of the Shreveport to the state line that is still under construction too. Perhaps it's all wrapped up now?

As recently posted in the I49 in LA thread, as of Saturday, March 1, Louisiana will be ready and waiting for Arkansas to finish its last section.

If your application drags out because of the I-540 section, why not go ahead and do a quick, separate application for the SW Arkansas AR 549 section that will give FHWA sufficient time to consider it before the state line section opens?  Otherwise, AHTD would be wasting money on completely unnecessary AR 549 signage.

[Grzrd]

This Oct. 31 Texarkana Gazette article (behind paywall) reports on a Texarkana Chamber of Commerce official mentioning the possibility of an I-49/I-(3)69 interchange in the Texarkana area, as well as the possibility of Texarkana becoming a major distribution hub

This November 25 Texarkana Gazette article (behind paywall) reports on comments by I-49 International Coalition President Curt Green that the completion of I-49 through Arkansas is needed for safety reasons and that the combination of I-49 and I-(3)69 will bring a lot of goods through Texarkana

This Arkansas Business article discusses I-49 and I-369 in Texarkana and suggests that progress on I-369 may spur some action from Arkansas on the Fort Smith-to-Texarkana section of I-49:

it's the sizable gap between Texarkana and Fort Smith through the Ouachita Mountains that remains the biggest hurdle to clear before I-49 can become a non-stop fast-track through the nation's middle.
While the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department have long-term plans in place to finish the approximately 170-mile section, a new interstate has made a surprise appearance in Texarkana (if anything in the slow-motion world of road-building could be described as a "surprise"  in the first place.) This new development could shift progress on I-49 into a higher gear ....
While I-69 has been sketched, adjusted and inspected since the days when Bill Clinton was president, recent years have seen the state of Texas hitting the acceleration pedal on the project, at least within its own borders. This has brought the highway to Texarkana's door.
The Alliance for I-69 in Texas is well-aware that its namesake interstate is nicknamed "The NAFTA Highway"  for its goal of connecting Canada with Mexico through the North American Free Trade Agreement. However, the Texans see their ports along the Gulf Coast and in Houston rising in importance once another project south of the border is completed. However, this project is even further south than Mexico — the Panama Canal ....
From Houston along its Gulf Coast, highways are being transformed into components of Interstate 69. The state is rallying hard, re-signing and redesignating over a thousand miles of interstate-standard highways in Texas to the I-69 route. These include spurs and connectors with names like I-69E, I-69C, I-69W and I-369.
Interstate 369 is what what will connect Texarkana with this increased number of imports due to appear in the region within the next decade. Taking over what is now U.S. 59, I-369 will be a 115-mile spur reaching down from Texarkana to the vicinity of where the planned I-69 will cross into Texas southwest of Shreveport. The I-369 signs are already up around Texarkana and even online mapping sites display the designation.

Of course, if AHTD does not have any money ............

[Revive 755]

^ I-69W?  Did I miss something about another split section of I-69, or is there some bad info out there regarding the three legs connecting to Mexico?

[jbnv]

Probably just inertia on the part of the writer.

[Grzrd]

SB 549 at 151

NB 549 at 151

As an aside, it's strange that the "thru" highway (549) exits.  I wonder if AHTD will ever change this?

And speaking of I-49....
The local FHWA Division Office approved our application for submittal to the FHWA in Washington, D.C.
This is not an approval of our request, only an authorization to proceed with official submittal to FHWA. This happened in the last week or so.

(bottom quote from Arkansas State Highway 245 Removed from System thread)

AHTD, with the upcoming redesignation of AR 549 to I-49, I-49 will need to replace AR 549 on the above two signs.  To follow up on US71's question, does AHTD intend to make I-49 the "through" route when these signs are replaced?

Also, on the NB sign, does AHTD intend to include "TO I-369" as the route for Dallas?*

Similarly, on the SB sign, does AHTD intend to add "TO Dallas" to "TO Houston"?  If so, is there an intent to add I-369 to the sign (I understand that significant SB traffic will probably be coming from westbound I-30 traffic at that point and adding Dallas may not be considered necessary)?

* edit

Also on the NB sign, shouldn't Fort Smith (or possibly Texarkana) be the control city for "through" I-49 in addition to Little Rock for "TO I-30"?

[mcdonaat]

That just startles me, though, seeing US 59 as Houston and Dallas as control cities. You have Marshall, Carthage, Nacogdoches, Lufkin... I'm sure that not much traffic would be using US 59 to get to Dallas, instead of I-30 to Dallas. I can understand Shreveport since it's the next decent sized city along I-49, but it would be like having Baton Rouge and New Orleans instead of Shreveport.

[Anthony_JK]

That just startles me, though, seeing US 59 as Houston and Dallas as control cities. You have Marshall, Carthage, Nacogdoches, Lufkin... I'm sure that not much traffic would be using US 59 to get to Dallas, instead of I-30 to Dallas. I can understand Shreveport since it's the next decent sized city along I-49, but it would be like having Baton Rouge and New Orleans instead of Shreveport.

It's a bit confusing, I'll admit, but I think "Dallas" is included because AR 151/TX 151 goes ultimately to I-30 West; and the "TO US 59" is there for traffic bound for Houston (even though they could have also used Nacogoches or Lufkin just as well.

If it was my druthers, I'd plant an AR 151 shield on that BGS and sign it this way:

AR 151 (TO US 59/I-30)Texarkana Loop/Dallas/Houston (for northbound traffic on AR 549/Future I-49)
AR 151 (TO US 59) Texarkana Loop/Houston (for southbound traffic on AR 549)

BTW...when I-49 does get finally approved for Shreveport/Texarkana, they're going to need a pretty big shield to cover up that massive AR 549 shield in that BGS...or, will they just replace the sign??

[US71]

That just startles me, though, seeing US 59 as Houston and Dallas as control cities. You have Marshall, Carthage, Nacogdoches, Lufkin... I'm sure that not much traffic would be using US 59 to get to Dallas, instead of I-30 to Dallas. I can understand Shreveport since it's the next decent sized city along I-49, but it would be like having Baton Rouge and New Orleans instead of Shreveport.

It's a bit confusing, I'll admit, but I think "Dallas" is included because AR 151/TX 151 goes ultimately to I-30 West; and the "TO US 59" is there for traffic bound for Houston (even though they could have also used Nacogoches or Lufkin just as well.

If it was my druthers, I'd plant an AR 151 shield on that BGS and sign it this way:

AR 151 (TO US 59/I-30)Texarkana Loop/Dallas/Houston (for northbound traffic on AR 549/Future I-49)
AR 151 (TO US 59) Texarkana Loop/Houston (for southbound traffic on AR 549)

BTW...when I-49 does get finally approved for Shreveport/Texarkana, they're going to need a pretty big shield to cover up that massive AR 549 shield in that BGS...or, will they just replace the sign??

I wonder if the shield itself can be replaced (though you may have a ghost image) ?

[apjung]

Has 549 been officially signed as I-49? I see it on Wikipedia but don't see it searching thru news.google.com.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_49#Arkansas

[US71]

Has 549 been officially signed as I-49? I see it on Wikipedia but don't see it searching thru news.google.com.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_49#Arkansas

As of March 17th, no.

[AHTD]

The request for I-49 designation in Arkansas has been submitted to the FHWA. We will post relevant documents in this thread as well as the thread for the Northwest Arkansas area.

Application Submitted to AASHTO (09-09-13)
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-Request-AASHTO.pdf

Application Submitted to FHWA for I-49 in Northwest Arkansas (02-03-14)
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-Request-north.pdf

Application Submitted to FHWA for I-49 in Southwest Arkansas (03-31-14)
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-Request-south.pdf

[rickmastfan67]

You know AHTD, have you ever submitted a request to eliminate the 'Future I-130' designation on AR-549 that you requested back in 2000 and had approved by the AASHTO between I-30 and US-71 since you now have I-49 there (per AASHTO approval)?



Don't know if you ever submitted this to the FHWA, but eliminating it w/ the AASHTO and FHWA might be a wise idea as well.

[Grzrd]

ARKANSAS RECEIVES APPROVAL FOR I-49 ROUTE DESIGNATION

It's official!

We received approval from FHWA for a new Interstate in Arkansas. Here are a few facts: ....
New exit numbers for the ENTIRE I-49 corridor in Arkansas have already been logged, however these will not be signed until after the I-49 route has been approved and opened to traffic from U.S. Highway 71 North of Texarkana to the Louisiana state line.

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

AHTD, since the new exit numbers have already been logged, can you tell us the calculated exact mileage for I-49 in Texas?

edit

Although we don't have a final alignment yet for the section between Ft. Smith and Texarkana, we made our best guess at what those mileposts and exits will be north of I-40. There may have to be adjustments in the future

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

Or, in the alternative, what was your best guess for the I-49 Texas mileage?

[AHTD]

You bet!

Here is the proposed logging of the entire I-49 corridor in Arkansas (and Texas).
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-Proposed-Mileage.pdf

Proposed exit numbering from the Louisiana State Line (through Texas) and to the Polk County, Arkansas line:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49_Exits_1.pdf

Proposed exit numbering from the Polk County line to the Ft. Chaffee area:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49_Exits_2.pdf

Proposed exit numbering from the Ft. Chaffee area to the Missouri State Line:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49_Exits_3.pdf

Please understand this is all PROPOSED and is subject to a tweak every now and then.

[US71]

You bet!

Here is the proposed logging of the entire I-49 corridor in Arkansas (and Texas).
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-Proposed-Mileage.pdf

Proposed exit numbering from the Louisiana State Line (through Texas) and to the Polk County, Arkansas line:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49_Exits_1.pdf

Proposed exit numbering from the Polk County line to the Ft. Chaffee area:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49_Exits_2.pdf

Proposed exit numbering from the Ft. Chaffee area to the Missouri State Line:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49_Exits_3.pdf

Please understand this is all PROPOSED and is subject to a tweak every now and then.
 

Most excellent!

[Road Hog]

The in-state mileage of I-49 is very, very close to the mileage of I-40 from Dora to Memphis (284.69 miles). That will make I-49 the longest interstate in Arkansas when complete. I-40 will still be longer in terms of uninterrupted in-state mileage.
Post Merge: April 17, 2014, 09:01:59 PM
If (yuck) I-30 is extended to the Missouri line, the total miles from Texarkana to north of Corning is approximately 315 miles if the route closely follows US 67, which would make I-30 the longest in the state. But this should be I-57 north of I-40.

[US71]

Here is the proposed logging of the entire I-49 corridor in Arkansas (and Texas).
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-Proposed-Mileage.pdf

Proposed exit numbering from the Louisiana State Line (through Texas) and to the Polk County, Arkansas line:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49_Exits_1.pdf

I can almost pick out some of the major roadways. Exit 84, for example, appears to be US 59/70/71 east of DeQueen and Exit 60 seems to line up with AR 108 north of Ashdown.  However, it appears there is (at least for now) no exit planned for Lockesburg?

[txstateends]

Proposed exit numbering from the Louisiana State Line (through Texas) and to the Polk County, Arkansas line:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49_Exits_1.pdf

So:  Exit 42 = State Line Ave.-US 59/71

The TX exits won't have to renumber because of the proximity to AR, I assume?

If so, then:
Exit 44 & 46 are....  FM 1397 and the Texarkana I-369 connection?  Or are both 2 instances of FM 1397 (since it's 'U' shaped)?

Will AR and TX team up to build the 5+ miles together somehow, or is TX on it's own for it's part (besides the new Red River crossing, which I assume will be collaborative)?

Yeah, I know, it's *very* early in the funding and the construction-timetable game at this point.....

[AHTD]

Don't know, but here are a few things to consider.


If memory serves, at one time there was some question as to whether or not I-49 would even run through Texas. This would have required all southbound traffic to proceed to Texarkana, Arkansas to access I -30. Since the proposed route crosses into Texas, TxDOT can build its own connector to I -30 on their side of the state line (think commerce and economic development here), but in order to do so would have to provide the contiguous I-49 connection back into Arkansas.


All that to say, the prevailing thought is each state will pay its own way. But anything can happen. One never knows when a $2 Billion+ earmark will surface.

[yakra]

Apologies if this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forums, but has the Texarkana segment received FHWA approval, as either I-49 proper or Future I-49?

[O Tamandua]

Don't know, but here are a few things to consider.


If memory serves, at one time there was some question as to whether or not I-49 would even run through Texas. This would have required all southbound traffic to proceed to Texarkana, Arkansas to access I -30. Since the proposed route crosses into Texas, TxDOT can build its own connector to I -30 on their side of the state line (think commerce and economic development here), but in order to do so would have to provide the contiguous I-49 connection back into Arkansas.


All that to say, the prevailing thought is each state will pay its own way. But anything can happen. One never knows when a $2 Billion+ earmark will surface.

A cryptic quote, AHTD!  Me hopey, to paraphrase an old saying.   

(And AHTD, let me modify this.  Somewhere on this forum there's a picture taken from a PowerPoint Texas Department of Transportation presentation, used by a Shreveport television station, showing the key corridor (from Canada through the central U.S. to both Mexico and (the nation's largest ports on) the Gulf of Mexico) that will run through Arkansas with a completed I-49.

I've only lived in northwest Arkansas since 2002, but old-timers here tell me how long the not-for-long-named I-540 took to build.  But that was before I-49 dropped all the way from Kansas City to just above the Arkansas border.  And before I-49 was extended north all the way to Texarkana as is about to happen in a matter of a month or two.  And well before Texas became America's second most populous state, and started to build its section of I-69 which will give both Houston and the Lower Rio Grande Valley (as well as the Texas ports in America's "top 10 biggest ports") access to a lot of markets.  And, frankly, before Northwest Arkansas became "home" officially to the world's largest company and, as of this summer, 800,000 people between that region and its neighbor Fort Smith.

My guess (and though I know you see it too you're not privvy to say how much yet, that's for us to find out through you later) is that there are a LOT of people all over the place now (as opposed to way back in "Y2K") who have a GIGANTIC interest in seeing a completed I-49.  I used elsewhere the analogy that I-49 is closing in on our state like the pincer of a huge crab (bad analogy as a crab uses such to break things, and I-49 will BUILD, a lot, of things).  The announcement of the resignage (sic?) this week will make the claw close just a bit more.  And with every mile said "claw" closes, said "LOT of people" (including those who hold some significant pursestrings) will take even more notice.)

[Grzrd]

Apologies if this has been mentioned elsewhere on the forums, but has the Texarkana segment received FHWA approval, as either I-49 proper or Future I-49?

AHTD posted upthread that AHTD submitted its application to FHWA on March 31, and AHTD represented in its application that it anticipates a June, 2014 opening for the final section:

Application Submitted to FHWA for I-49 in Southwest Arkansas (03-31-14)
http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-Request-south.pdf

My guess is that AHTD will receive approval in time for I-49 signage to be installed on the final section before the June opening; replacing the current AR 549 signs with I-49 signs north of the final section might take a longer time.

Somewhere on this forum there's a picture taken from a PowerPoint Texas Department of Transportation presentation, used by a Shreveport television station, showing the key corridor (from Canada through the central U.S. to both Mexico and (the nation's largest ports on) the Gulf of Mexico) that will run through Arkansas with a completed I-49.

Both the above-referenced map and a similar map can found at this post in another thread:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=4510.msg292611#msg292611

[O Tamandua]

Thank you, Grzrd!  AHTD, here is the map I referred to: