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[AHTD]

We have opened the next segment of the Bella Vista Bypass.

http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/SH_549_BVB_Signing_Memo.pdf

We'll schedule a ribbon cutting for sometime in August.

[iBallasticwolf2]

Looks great! Is this going to be another super section similar to the existing one or will it be 4 lanes?

What's up with the super-two interstate highway anyway?


Someone will have to edit OSM to fit in the new freeway section opening.

[US71]

We have opened the next segment of the Bella Vista Bypass.

http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/SH_549_BVB_Signing_Memo.pdf

We'll schedule a ribbon cutting for sometime in August.

I know where I'll be this weekend

[DeaconG]

What's up with the super-two interstate highway anyway?

Lack. Of. Money.

When they get the funds they'll put the other two lanes down.

[capt.ron]

I remember in a mid 1980's Rand McNally atlas when some of the interstates had "2 lanes" marked on some sections with I-75 "Alligator Alley" being a good example. It's been done before.

[Henry]

I-93 through Franconia Notch is still a Super-2 style freeway. I always thought such a setup was against Interstate standards, and it probably is, as in most places, there is a minimum of two lanes in each direction (for a total of four lanes).

[Rothman]

I believe that stretch was somehow "grandfathered" in.

Reminds me of NY and NY 17/I-86:  Here NYC has all these substandard expressways signed as Interstates and yet, because of not coming up with the idea for I-86 sooner, NYSDOT has to spend billions on the road before it can be signed I-86 due to FHWA now caring about standards (which is probably a good thing).

[US71]

What's up with the super-two interstate highway anyway?

Lack. Of. Money.

When they get the funds they'll put the other two lanes down.

If memory serves, they did purchase enough Right of Way, so that's one less headache.

[dfwmapper]

Also no point in building a 4 lane freeway that will basically serve as nothing but a spur to a town of a couple thousand people for the next decade until Missouri finds some money to build its portion of the bypass. The ROW is already there and partially cleared, and the bridges passing over the highway were built in anticipation of the second carriageway, so it will take minimal effort to widen it in the future.

[Grzrd]

The current estimated cost to add the two lanes to the entire Arkansas section of the BVB is $50 million.

[rickmastfan67]

Someone will have to edit OSM to fit in the new freeway section opening.

Done.  Changeset 32839104

We have opened the next segment of the Bella Vista Bypass.

http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/SH_549_BVB_Signing_Memo.pdf

We'll schedule a ribbon cutting for sometime in August.

Are there any exit numbers posted on it?

[yakra]

Someone will have to edit OSM to fit in the new freeway section opening.

Done.  Changeset 32839104

Noted.

We have opened the next segment of the Bella Vista Bypass.

http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/SH_549_BVB_Signing_Memo.pdf

We'll schedule a ribbon cutting for sometime in August.

Are there any exit numbers posted on it?

I'm willing to bet that's a No. ISTR reading elsewhere (on this forum?) that there are no exit numbers on the BVB. I imagine that's been continued on the new section.

[oscar]

I posted, on the CHM forum, that the first Bella Vista bypass segment had no exit numbers (at least SB, the only direction I traveled it) last week. But the new FI-49/AR 549 segment near Ft. Smith does have exit numbers.

I have no idea which way the newest Bella Vista bypass segment will go. But I speculated in my CHM forum post that the exits on I-49 north of I-40 will need to be renumbered at some point to synch with those on the open I-49 and FI-49 segments south of I-40. If so, it would make sense to leave the Bella Vista FI-49 exits unnumbered for now.

[yakra]

For purposes of the Clinched Highway Mapping (successor) project:

How is the exit at the northern end signed?
CR 34?
Rocky Dell Hollow Rd?
Something else?

[US71]

For purposes of the Clinched Highway Mapping (successor) project:

How is the exit at the northern end signed?
CR 34?
Rocky Dell Hollow Rd?
Something else?

I will investigate this weekend

[I-39]

And by the time Missouri has money to build their portion of the bypass, Arkansas won't have money to finish the remaining two lanes. This will take forever to get done, smh.

[US71]

And by the time Missouri has money to build their portion of the bypass, Arkansas won't have money to finish the remaining two lanes. This will take forever to get done, smh.

[US71]

For purposes of the Clinched Highway Mapping (successor) project:

How is the exit at the northern end signed?
CR 34?
Rocky Dell Hollow Rd?
Something else?

It's not signed at all along 549 or the exit ramp.  The closest sign is just east at Highland Blvd and it's posted as 34C Rocky Dell Hollow Rd.

Hwy 72 (the north end, now the middle exit) is signed simply as AR 72. The southern 72 is still not posted along 549.

A few other observations: the steel work appears to be finished over McKissick Creek (behind Lowes). There is a partial bridge at Peach Orchard Rd on the east side. On the west side, it's still predominantly dirt work. 

Some dirt work near Hiwasse/Gravette at Faux Rd, also at Banks Ln.  This is part of the southern connector back to Bella Vista.

Also caught some dirt work on the 412 Bypass: there are bridge columns under construction where 112 will pass over 412.

[O Tamandua]

This segment, though, is an interesting one and in a way I'm glad there's a delay on the Missouri side.  Bella Vista is the very last of the "big cities" in Northwest Arkansas to have a paved road (and a significant one at that) to open up the west side of the city.  Every road that went west of the Glasgow/Highland intersection was mainly dirt.  There are going to be a LOT of changes in west BV upcoming, and I'm not sure the Glasgow/Highland intersection (A. that may not be the right word as essentially one turns into the other, Glasgow heading northeast then east, Highland heading southeast then east; B. they're each two lane with not much of a shoulder) would have been ready for heavy traffic as it inevitably will receive when the BVB is complete.

This area will be fascinating to watch.  As it is, west Bella Vista / the Highlands has now started to be opened up to the rest of the world, literally.

[US71]

This segment, though, is an interesting one and in a way I'm glad there's a delay on the Missouri side.  Bella Vista is the very last of the "big cities" in Northwest Arkansas to have a paved road (and a significant one at that) to open up the west side of the city.  Every road that went west of the Glasgow/Highland intersection was mainly dirt.  There are going to be a LOT of changes in west BV upcoming, and I'm not sure the Glasgow/Highland intersection (A. that may not be the right word as essentially one turns into the other, Glasgow heading northeast then east, Highland heading southeast then east; B. they're each two lane with not much of a shoulder) would have been ready for heavy traffic as it inevitably will receive when the BVB is complete.

This area will be fascinating to watch.  As it is, west Bella Vista / the Highlands has now started to be opened up to the rest of the world, literally.

34C (it's more a spur of 34) ends at Highland. Follow Highland south, it eventually shifts E-W and crosses Forest Hills Blvd (AR 279) with Highland becoming AR 348/ Lancashire.

[AHTD]

For purposes of the Clinched Highway Mapping (successor) project:

How is the exit at the northern end signed?
CR 34?
Rocky Dell Hollow Rd?
Something else?

It's not signed at all along 549 or the exit ramp.  The closest sign is just east at Highland Blvd and it's posted as 34C Rocky Dell Hollow Rd.

Hwy 72 (the north end, now the middle exit) is signed simply as AR 72. The southern 72 is still not posted along 549.

A few other observations: the steel work appears to be finished over McKissick Creek (behind Lowes). There is a partial bridge at Peach Orchard Rd on the east side. On the west side, it's still predominantly dirt work. 

Some dirt work near Hiwasse/Gravette at Faux Rd, also at Banks Ln.  This is part of the southern connector back to Bella Vista.

Also caught some dirt work on the 412 Bypass: there are bridge columns under construction where 112 will pass over 412.

The only exit other than the termini is the Ark. 72 South interchange. It should have an un-numbered exit. However, if you look at our previous postings, you can tell what those numbers will be.

[US71]

I noticed Google Maps has already updated the road.

[The Ghostbuster]

It seems like we'll all be old and gray by the time the Bella Vista Bypass is finished and officially designated Interstate 49.

[US71]

It seems like we'll all be old and gray by the time the Bella Vista Bypass is finished and officially designated Interstate 49.

I won't... I'll be old and bald

[noelbotevera]

It seems like we'll all be old and gray by the time the Bella Vista Bypass is finished and officially designated Interstate 49.

Unless Missouri decides to be a good partner, and give Arkansas some money to finish off the last two lanes, and complete the Bella Vista Bypass, and Arkansas can help Missouri by making that court paper or whatever go away by using some special moves (and remember, when all else fails, use brute force and be completely ruthless), then yes, that prediction is coming true.