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

[dfwmapper]

North of Doddridge, I see Google has it dually-signed I-49/ AR 549.

Took a few days to get it approved, but 549 is gone now.

[dariusb]

I've heard that Fouke, Ark wants to capitalize on it's location along the route by opening a hotel, truck stop or both.

[NE2]

I've heard that Fouke, Ark wants to capitalize on it's location along the route by opening a hotel, truck stop or both.

They could have done that at any time in the past 90 years.

[US71]

I want an authentic AR 549 shield. If I were going to get Jake to make me a sign, it would be something odd like a US 412 cutout.

I have an Arkansas "STATE 471 ROAD"  cut-out I had made

[dariusb]

I've heard that Fouke, Ark wants to capitalize on it's location along the route by opening a hotel, truck stop or both.

They could have done that at any time in the past 90 years.

They've also expressed interest in having an Arkansas Travel Center open near them in hopes of increasing visibility of Fouke and maybe even  bringing development. Don't know how ambitious/serious they are in pursuing these projects but it would be nice to see the town grow.

[O Tamandua]

I'm very happy for you all down there with last week's "grand opening" on I-49, Darius! 

[dariusb]

I'm very happy for you all down there with last week's "grand opening" on I-49, Darius! 

Oh most definitely. It's great driving down to Shreveport without being stuck behind slow pokes, 18 wheelers and having to slow down/stop in every little town. More importantly I hope this highway along with the I-69 spur give Texarkana the shot in the arm they've needed for a long time.

[codyg1985]

I've heard that Fouke, Ark wants to capitalize on it's location along the route by opening a hotel, truck stop or both.

They could have done that at any time in the past 90 years.

They've also expressed interest in having an Arkansas Travel Center open near them in hopes of increasing visibility of Fouke and maybe even  bringing development. Don't know how ambitious/serious they are in pursuing these projects but it would be nice to see the town grow.

I wonder if AHTD has any plans for a Welcome Center in that area? Same for LaDOTD on their side of the state line?

[roadman65]

I've heard that Fouke, Ark wants to capitalize on it's location along the route by opening a hotel, truck stop or both.

They could have done that at any time in the past 90 years.

They've also expressed interest in having an Arkansas Travel Center open near them in hopes of increasing visibility of Fouke and maybe even  bringing development. Don't know how ambitious/serious they are in pursuing these projects but it would be nice to see the town grow.

They need to do that as none of the I-49 interchanges have many motorists services at them between Shreveport and Texarkana.  Even Texarkana itself has no motels at the interchanges with I-49 yet. 

That would be a wise idea to take advantage of that opportunity.

[bassoon1986]

I've heard that Fouke, Ark wants to capitalize on it's location along the route by opening a hotel, truck stop or both.

They could have done that at any time in the past 90 years.

They've also expressed interest in having an Arkansas Travel Center open near them in hopes of increasing visibility of Fouke and maybe even  bringing development. Don't know how ambitious/serious they are in pursuing these projects but it would be nice to see the town grow.

They need to do that as none of the I-49 interchanges have many motorists services at them between Shreveport and Texarkana.  Even Texarkana itself has no motels at the interchanges with I-49 yet. 

That would be a wise idea to take advantage of that opportunity.

LA 1 is the only one that has gas stations right off the exit, and that's still considered Shreveport to me. Fouke has one IIRC and it's maybe a mile north of the US 71 exit. There was one gas station years ago in Belcher along US 71, but it was very old.

[Grzrd]

I wonder if AHTD has any plans for a Welcome Center in that area? Same for LaDOTD on their side of the state line?

Re AHTD and Fouke:

I recently had an email Q & A with the Tourism Research & Information Services of the Arkansas Dept. of Parks & Tourism in order to see if Arkansas had any plans to build a Welcome Center counterpart to the one under study in Louisiana:

Q: Louisiana is now conducting a site study for a Welcome Center on southbound I-49 near the AR state line.  Is Arkansas planning on a new Welcome Center on northbound I-49 north of the state line?
A: Arkansas operates a Welcome Center in Texarkana; currently there is not another one planned for this area.

This TV video reports that Fouke leaders ... are working to get a Welcome Center in Fouke:

Interstate 49 promises economic growth across the country, as well as, in some of our own communities.
The City of Fouke is hoping to take advantage of that potential growth ....
Pat Allen of Fouke is the president of the "Citizens for a Better Community" group.
"I believe I-49 will quadruple the size of Fouke within five to ten years," said Allen ....
Community leaders say they're working to get a visitor welcome center in Fouke, but no final decision has been made.

Re LaDOTD:

Are there plans at all for welcome centers on I-49 for either side (or both) of the state line?

Will there be a Louisiana Welcome Center on I-49 southbound?

From Google imagery there is a telltale cleared space adjacent to the future I-49 SB lanes, just south of the LA 170 interchange, that may correspond to a future rest area/potential welcome center - it looks too large to be a weigh station.

This May 9 article reports that a twelve-month study has begun to determine the best location for a welcome center along southbound I-49 North in Louisiana, no farther south than just below Ida:

A continual ribbon of I-49 concrete will soon transport visitors out of Arkansas into Shreveport. Now a study is under way for a new roadside welcome center.
The 12-month study will review the best location along the southbound lanes of Interstate 49. The visitor center would be located no farther south than just below Ida.
The Coordinating & Development Corporation that helps finance a number of government construction projects will conduct the study.
Once a site is located and designed, a state appropriation would have to be sought through the Department of Transportation and Development. DOTD would construct and maintain the center. Staffing would fall under the tourism arm of the lieutenant governor's office.
In addition to welcoming tourists, the visitors information center would be important as part of a designated Hurricane Evacuation Route once I-49 is completed through Lafayette and beyond.

(above quote from I49 in LA thread)

[Grzrd]

I've heard that Fouke, Ark wants to capitalize on it's location along the route by opening a hotel, truck stop or both.

This December 5 Texarkana Gazette article (behind paywall) reports that some University of Arkansas graduate students are completing their assessment of how Fouke can capitalize on its economic potential, which includes two exits on I-49:

Fouke's mayor said he is looking forward to a preliminary report from University of Arkansas students that will hopefully give his town the tools it needs to create a stronger community and economy.
Mayor Terry Purvis will travel to Little Rock on Wednesday to visit with UA Clinton School of Public Service economics students whose fall class project was a study of Fouke's potential for economic development.
The graduate students began their project in September, and they will present their findings to the mayor, city council and the public in January, Purvis said.
Five students of Professor Ellen Fitzpatrick visited Fouke in October to interview residents and learn more about the local economy. They were accompanied by Sedef Akgungor, visiting Fulbright Fellow and professor of economics at Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir, Turkey.
"I don't know what they're going to say, but I'm super exited they picked Fouke to study in their class on economic development,"  Purvis said. "They've been working on this for a couple of months. I went up to Little Rock, and they came here to talk to our citizens. -They asked us how we would like to see our community 10 years from now and what kind of economic development we would like to see."  ....
Fouke, 13 miles south of Texarkana, has a population of 865 and its own school district. Purvis said the town's commercial tax base includes a grocery store, a dollar store, a couple of convenience stores and two restaurants.
"With the opening of I-49 from Texarkana to Baton Rouge, we've got a transportation hub that makes us look even better. We've got two interstate exits here in Fouke, and when this highway is done, it's going to connect Canada to New Orleans."

[dariusb]

Since Fouke is fairly close to Texarkana, they could also use the "great place to raise a family" angle to attract new residents/businesses there as well.

[bugo]

Fouke will become a bedroom community to Texarkana, if it isn't already one. If so, it will become even more of one. I expect for some gas stations to be built at the interchanges and possibly some burger joints and maybe even a motel or two. The population will explode. In a few decades, they might even get a Walmart.

[Anthony_JK]

[...] from Texarkana to Baton Rouge...

UGH. 


Lafayette, people. I-49 goes to Lafayette. Google Maps is your friend.

[dariusb]

^Lol!

[dariusb]

Fouke will become a bedroom community to Texarkana, if it isn't already one. If so, it will become even more of one. I expect for some gas stations to be built at the interchanges and possibly some burger joints and maybe even a motel or two. The population will explode. In a few decades, they might even get a Walmart.

I can see that happening.

[apjung]

Fouke will have to expand its city limits. Currently it's only a square mile town but I can see it expand to 4 square miles and surround I-49.

[dariusb]

^Right. I can see them then maybe opening a motel/hotel or truck stop.

[robbones]

I 49 shields are up around Texarkana.

[dariusb]

I 49 shields are up around Texarkana.

Cool!

[Grzrd]

This December 10 Texarkana Gazette article (behind paywall) reports that the Texarkana MPO, at its December 10 Policy Board meeting, was planning to discuss removing the Strategic Highway Network designation from U.S. 71 and reassigning it to I-49:

U.S. Highway 71 may lose a designation that Interstate 49 will gain during a meeting at 10:30 a.m. today of the Texarkana Metropolitan Planning Organization's Policy Board.
Board members, who will meet in the Texarkana, Texas, City Council Chamber in the city's municipal building at 220 Texas Blvd., will consider issuing a statement removing the Strategic Highway Network designation from U.S. 71 and reassigning it to I-49.
The portion of I-49 connecting Shreveport, La., to Texarkana opened Nov. 10.

I have yet to see anything in articles or on the Texarkana MPO website confirming that the reassignment took place.

[Grzrd]

the Texas Transportation Commission's June, 2007 authorization of a feasibility study for a Texarkana toll road

The link to the Texas Transportation Commission's Minute Order does not include the Exhibit A list of 80 proposed toll road projects; however, TxDOT has emailed me a pdf of Exhibit A .... Here is a snip from Exhibit A:

(above quote from Interstate 49 Texas (5 miles) thread)

I recently emailed TxDOT and asked if the 2007 toll study regarding I-69, I-49, and the Northern Loop had ever been conducted.  The TxDOT response:

Thank you for your patience in our response.  We had to search our archives so it took a bit of time to find the answer to your inquiry.  A very high-level and preliminary toll feasibility study was done near Texarkana and other places in the state over a decade ago but nothing was done beyond that.  Thank you.

However, I'm not sure if "over a decade ago" would be in regard to a 2007 study ............  Nevertheless, it does seem clear that nothing further has been done.

[Grzrd]

This December 14 Texarkana Gazette article (behind paywall) reports that Texas and Arkansas may soon have similar "Welcome to Texarkana" signs along I-30 (if TxDOT and FHWA grant a size waiver on the Texas side), and that such signs may be in the future for I-49 and I-69 [I-369]:

Visitors coming to Texarkana on I-30 eventually will be welcomed on the east and west sides of town.
During their Dec. 8 meeting, the Texarkana, Texas, City Council members expressed interest in putting in a city welcome sign for visitors coming from the west. Texarkana, Ark., is already working to complete a welcome sign for visitors coming from the east on I-30.
Ward 3 Council Member Tina Veal-Gooch said she supported the idea and wanted to know the exact language on the Arkansas-side sign so the Texas side could use that language as well. She said she liked the idea of "Welcome to Texarkana, USA"  on the sign.
Incoming Keep Texarkana Beautiful President Tom Sadowski proposed the Texas sign, according to City Manager John Whitson.
"Keep Texarkana Beautiful has asked the city of Texarkana, Texas, to build a matching sign on the Texas side for eastbound I-30 traffic approaching Texarkana," Whitson wrote in a Dec. 11 email. "We are not aware of any opportunities to build such a sign on private property. Therefore, our sign will likely be in TxDOT (right of way). If we do build in the TxDOT right of way, we will have to meet the rules and regulations set out by TxDOT and/or the Federal Highway Administration. KTB believes that we can get a waiver on the size from (the Federal Highway Administration), thus permitting us to exceed the size limitations as enforced by TxDOT."  ....
"The TxDOT rules state, "˜Proposed Gateway Monuments shall ... be in proper size and scale with its surroundings. The maximum size of the gateway monument face shall not exceed 400 square feet total (note, the Arkansas sign is 792 square feet, 198 percent the size permitted in the I-20 right of way). The height shall not exceed 20 feet above existing grade. Monument widths exceeding 20 feet will not be allowed for gateway monuments on the interstate, although the Federal Highway Administration may consider waiving this limitation on a case-by-case basis.'"
Texarkana, Ark., Public Works Director Paul Hackleman said the sign being constructed just outside the the Country Hills Subdivision should be complete prior to the end of the year, but weather will be the determining factor. The sign is 44 feet by about 17 or 18 feet.
The next step in completing the sign will be to put the letters on it. Hackleman said as construction on other arteries around the region are complete, there will be more of a need for other, similar signs.
"The city needs the entry signs not only for both states, but for all major entry points to Texarkana," Hackleman wrote in a Dec. 12 email. "Texarkana, Ark., is very proud to have Texarkana, Texas, moving forward with a similar sign on I-30. We will need the same for I-69, I-49, (U.S.) Highway 67, (U.S.) Highway 71 and (U.S.) Highway 82."

The I-69 [I-369] sign would not have an Arkansas "match" since I-369 will have a northern terminus at either I-30 or I-49 and will not enter Arkansas.

[Grzrd]

This December 14 Texarkana Gazette editorial (behind paywall) speculates on how the recently opened section of I-49 will affect the interaction between Texarkana and Shreveport:

The road to Shreveport just got shorter.
It took a long time to build this important stretch of Interstate 49, but the wait was worth it ....
But which city benefits most?
On the surface, it seems like Shreveport would. It's easy to imagine people from here trekking down in greater numbers to the casino boats or the stores, restaurants and cultural offerings our city isn't big enough to support.
But does Texarkana have anything that Shreveport residents would drive up here buy, see or do? Reciprocation by our southern neighbor might be slow in coming. At least for now.
I-49 also puts two airports in easy reach of both cities.
Is it worth the hour trip? Flyers in Dallas and other large metro areas often drive an hour or more just across town to get to the airport. This might actually be an easier drive.
On the other hand, I-49 running south also opens up truck traffic coming from or through here to the river port in Shreveport. This is significant. Until the region around Texarkana can demonstrate a viable need to make it worthwhile to extend the Red River Navigation Channel farther north, this opens up a relatively low-cost transportation option to the Gulf and beyond.
The losers in the deal seem to be all those small towns that dot U.S. Highway 71 between Texarkana and Shreveport. They are suddenly off the beaten track, almost irrelevant.
Not to themselves, of course, or to the regional economy. But irrelevant to a transportation infrastructure bent on getting people and goods from one place to another with no obligation to what's in between. About the only civilization you see now after leaving Shreveport going north on I-49 is the backside of Fouke, Ark. ....