I-49 in Arkansas

[ozarkman417]

The Ouachita Trail crosses Fourche Mountain east-west, and a road cut would require a long bridge over I-49.

The Ouachita Trail also crosses US-71 at Foran Gap, which functions as a trailhead. A limited-access interstate would displace this trailhead, but it would be simple enough to make a bridge or culvert to allow the trail to cross I-49.

As for creating a trailhead that works with a limited-access highway, I like what Colorado did with the Ten Mile Canyon trailhead off of I-70 at Vail Pass, which doubles as a Rest Area. Such a facility could be placed atop Foran Gap. This would therefore function as a replacement for US-71's Elm Park Rest Area.

[sprjus4]

Not a freeway, but they recently constructed a pedestrian bridge over VA-311 outside Roanoke, VA where the Appalachian Trail crosses. It was previously a crosswalk with advance warning signs on a corner on a 55 mph two lane road. Not exactly the safest condition!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/wU4wU6jV5V8SMSd38

[Rick Powell]

The times I drove the Foran Gap, you can keep it 55 all the way (it's Arkansas) and the big "S" curve on the map is gentle. No issues at all with a freeway through it, but I worry that there would be no alternative through route for slower traffic.

With the number of private entrances and side roads off US 71, I am sure some thought will be given to keeping US 71 as a continuous frontage road, with some consolidation and closing of entrances. IF the freeway closely follows the US 71 alignment, which seems likely. Heck, they may go "all Texas" and create a new frontage road on the other side of the freeway, too. 

[bugo]

If the Foran Gap is so flat, why have they not used it previously?

US 270 and US 71 go through Foran Gap.

[bwana39]

The times I drove the Foran Gap, you can keep it 55 all the way (it's Arkansas) and the big "S" curve on the map is gentle. No issues at all with a freeway through it, but I worry that there would be no alternative through route for slower traffic.

OK. Keep 55? You cannot keep 55 on the parts south of Mena!

[The Ghostbuster]

I can't drive 55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k&list=RDRvV3nn_de2k&start_radio=1.

[bwana39]

I can't drive 55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k&list=RDRvV3nn_de2k&start_radio=1.

Sammy hanging off the outside of a catwalk playing this. Eddie trying to get Sammy's crazy self back inside the cables. It worked well .

Date: March 27, 1986
Venue: Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Shreveport, Louisiana
Significance: This was the first public performance with new vocalist Sammy Hagar and the official launch of their 111-date "5150" tour.

I have seen VH more both with Sam and DLR, seen Sam solo, and Chickenfoot.

[bugo]

Date: March 27, 1986
Venue: Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Shreveport, Louisiana
Significance: This was the first public performance with new vocalist Sammy Hagar and the official launch of their 111-date "5150" tour.

My first concert, Metallica on January 8, 1992, was in that building.

[bugo]

The times I drove the Foran Gap, you can keep it 55 all the way (it's Arkansas) and the big "S" curve on the map is gentle. No issues at all with a freeway through it, but I worry that there would be no alternative through route for slower traffic.

OK. Keep 55? You cannot keep 55 on the parts south of Mena!

You could if there was no traffic, but there are always a ton of trucks on that road, so it's hard to make good time. You can, however, keep it at 90 on US 59-270 from the sharp curves just south of Hodgen to Acorn, except for one curve about 4 miles west of the US 71 intersection where you have to slow down to 70ish. I always slow down at the CPKC railroad crossing just west of Acorn, because it is rough. This was in a car with a low center of gravity, but I wouldn't attempt it in a truck or SUV with a high center of gravity. Traffic is usually light on that stretch of highway, and there are ample passing zones on the Oklahoma side (not so much on the Arkansas side, however).

[ElishaGOtis]

I can't drive 55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k&list=RDRvV3nn_de2k&start_radio=1.

Sammy hanging off the outside of a catwalk playing this. Eddie trying to get Sammy's crazy self back inside the cables. It worked well .

Date: March 27, 1986
Venue: Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Shreveport, Louisiana
Significance: This was the first public performance with new vocalist Sammy Hagar and the official launch of their 111-date "5150" tour.

I have seen VH more both with Sam and DLR, seen Sam solo, and Chickenfoot.

It'll be interesting to see what ARDOT does with regards to this. Mountain speed drops aren't exactly commonplace on interstate highways in Arkansas, especially given the new stringent requirements to put anything other than 75/T70. Heck, even the existing tunnel on I-49 is 75/T70, and I've never seen a tunnel that high before except on I-80, I-635 TEXPress, and a few others.

[Road Hog]

Just to clarify, I only mentioned the 55 mph speed limit through the Foran Gap because that is still the prevailing speed limit on two-lane highways in Arkansas. The highway is so gentle that you could go whatever speed is posted. A full freeway through the gap should still be able to post 75 mph. (Of course, there's still an issue with logging trucks.)

[Plutonic Panda]

From the Arkansas Department of transportation's Facebook page, the construction of the segment from Alma to I-40 is progressing nicely.

[Bobby5280]

Fairly recent overhead imagery of the I-49 project (dated 10/22/2025) is visible in Google Earth.

[Road Hog]

From the Arkansas Department of transportation's Facebook page, the construction of the segment from Alma to I-40 is progressing nicely.

Alma is on I-40. Please explain because I'm confused.

[Henry]

From the Arkansas Department of transportation's Facebook page, the construction of the segment from Alma to I-40 is progressing nicely.

Alma is on I-40. Please explain because I'm confused.

In fact, it's where I-49 ends, at least until the Ft. Chaffee extension connects from the south.

[Plutonic Panda]

Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but this project is currently the one that will connect the random segment of I-49 that connects to nothing to I-40

[Bobby5280]

It's the Alma-to-Barling project. The first phase is building the segment that crosses the Arkansas River.

[bugo]

From the Arkansas Department of transportation's Facebook page, the construction of the segment from Alma to I-40 is progressing nicely.

Alma is on I-40. Please explain because I'm confused.

In fact, it's where I-49 ends, at least until the Ft. Chaffee extension connects from the south.

The AR 549 freeway ends at AR 22 in Barling, which is quite a ways from Alma until the bridge is open to traffic.

[Razorback19]

Short social media post on TikTok from Royal Ridge who has been bringing in rock for the I-49 bridge.
Link here

[Razorback19]

ARDOT to receive over $105 million in federal money for 6 road projects - Talk Business & Politics

This includes $18.8 million for the next phase of future Interstate 49 from Alma to Barling.

[bwana39]

Arkansas to hold two open meetings on the portion north of Y-city (Scott & Sebastian Counties)

https://ardot.gov/news/26-028/

https://talkbusiness.net/2026/03/ardot-to-hold-public-meetings-about-i-49-route/

https://www.nwahomepage.com/river-valley-news/ardot-hosting-informational-meetings-in-scott-and-sebastian-counties/

[bwana39]

The gist of the public meeting appears to be that the engineering and route surveys are upcoming, but the project could take as much as 25 years to complete just to Y+city. (THat comment MAY have been meant to be completed completely from Texarkana to Alma.)

Either way, it is a slow and minimally funded grind.

[Rick Powell]

Arkansas to hold two open meetings on the portion north of Y-city (Scott & Sebastian Counties)

By all appearances, this is supporting what is known as a "NEPA Re-evaluation" similar to what was done for the Missouri portion of US 67/future I-57. If there are minor tweaks in the plan, and they do not rise to a level of significant changes to environmental impacts, ARDOT will not have to re-open the study to an EA or EIS-level comprehensive impact study. In the Missouri case, the re-evaluation was found to be sufficient even though there were some changes in the alignment.

[MikieTimT]

Arkansas to hold two open meetings on the portion north of Y-city (Scott & Sebastian Counties)

By all appearances, this is supporting what is known as a "NEPA Re-evaluation" similar to what was done for the Missouri portion of US 67/future I-57. If there are minor tweaks in the plan, and they do not rise to a level of significant changes to environmental impacts, ARDOT will not have to re-open the study to an EA or EIS-level comprehensive impact study. In the Missouri case, the re-evaluation was found to be sufficient even though there were some changes in the alignment.

This portion of western AR hasn't grown at all since the first evaluation.  If anything, Waldron has shrunk over the last couple of decades, and that's the only population center other than Mansfield south of Greenwood until Mena.  There will be no pushback or changes, so this is likely a formality.

[The Ghostbuster]

I assume when more segments of Interstate 49 south of Exit 187 are constructed, they will also initially be signed as AR 549.