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

[O Tamandua]

This isn't open yet, is it? Looks like someone jumped the gun.
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=33.47443&lon=-93.99336&zoom=15&layers=M
http://www.openstreetmap.org/browse/changeset/15276810

Poor DeQueen.

[bugo]

That map is inaccurate.  I-49 is going to follow current US 59-71 over the floodplain near Lake Milwood.

[US71]

That map is inaccurate.  I-49 is going to follow current US 59-71 over the floodplain near Lake Milwood.

The section around Ft Chaffee at Massard Rd is about half a mile off.

They don't even have the Chad Colley extension on the map.

[Grzrd]

Looks like Interstate Highway construction got the low bid for the last segment of Highway 549 from Doddridge to LA. line for $16,110,526.70 for the Base and Surface of 4.267 miles. Hope they finish it quickly because they have 235 working days to finish it once they start.

AHTD did award the contract to Interstate Highway Const., Inc. on April 19. Time to get going on those 235 working days!

[Henry]

Looks like Interstate Highway construction got the low bid for the last segment of Highway 549 from Doddridge to LA. line for $16,110,526.70 for the Base and Surface of 4.267 miles. Hope they finish it quickly because they have 235 working days to finish it once they start.

AHTD did award the contract to Interstate Highway Const., Inc. on April 19. Time to get going on those 235 working days!

About time they at least connected the thing to Shreveport!

[Grzrd]

Here is a news post from AHTD on the 549 Highway, adding new exit and maybe opening it in a month. http://www.arkansashighways.com/news/2013/NR%2013-109.pdf

I volunteer to be the first member of the forum to drive the new road   

The race to be first is about to begin.  The ribbon-cutting will be Tuesday, April 30 at 10:30 a.m.

Here's a map of the segment from the above link in Gordon's post:

Looks like Interstate Highway construction got the low bid for the last segment of Highway 549 from Doddridge to LA. line for $16,110,526.70 for the Base and Surface of 4.267 miles. Hope they finish it quickly because they have 235 working days to finish it once they start.

AHTD did award the contract to Interstate Highway Const., Inc. on April 19.

This TV video report discusses both the award of the contract and future plans for I-49 in Arkansas.

[US71]

Here's a map of the segment from the above link in Gordon's post:

Interesting: there is no exit at US 67 (should be Exit 33) and 19th St exits at US 82 now.

Looks like I will be there for the ribbon cutting 

CORRECTION: There appears to be no access to US 67

[US71]

Well, AR 549 didn't open today: it will be likely be 1-2 weeks before the road officially opens (still a few signs to put up).

Everyone who attended the Ribbon Cutting was allowed to drive NB 549 from I-30 to US 71. The procession was led by members of the Tex-Ark Antique Auto Club with everyone else falling in behind them.

The Arkansas Highway Police held up traffic at US 71 so we could all exit and be on our way. I wound up following the antique cars back to I-30 as I had a couple photo projects I was wanting to complete in town.

I'll have photos later on Flickr and the Build I-49 Facebook Page

[Grzrd]

http://www.arkansashighways.com/ProgCon/letting/Aug%20'10%20Award%20List.PDF
Contract awarded for paving Future I-49 from 245/Arkansas Blvd. through I-30 then north and west to USS 71 at Texas state line.

... The Bowie County, TX portion of the above Arkansas I-49 project will consume $100,000 in Texas funds and $400,000 of federal money: http://www.texarkanampo.org/documents/upcoming-activities/FY-2010-Annual-Listing-of-Obligated-Projects-11-02-2010.pdf  (page 5/18). Even though it is a joint project, AHTD refers to it as a US 71 project and TxDOT refers to it as a US 59 project.
How many years (decades?) will it be before Texas again spends money on actual construction of I-49 on Texas soil?

I volunteer to be the first member of the forum to drive the new road   

Everyone who attended the Ribbon Cutting was allowed to drive NB 549 from I-30 to US 71 .... The Arkansas Highway Police held up traffic at US 71 so we could all exit and be on our way.

It looks like you are the first member of the forum to clinch the entire current Texas section of Future I-49 ...... AND it appears that you drove all of it in one sitting. Congratulations! 

Well, AR 549 didn't open today: it will be likely be 1-2 weeks before the road officially opens (still a few signs to put up).

This TV video report about the ceremony reports that it will be open to traffic "by" May 8:

Arkansas Highway officials say this new eight mile loop is expected to be open for traffic by Wednesday, May 8th.

[US71]

If you're on Facebook, here are a few photos from the Ribbon Cutting
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151560625338624.1073741825.288089113623&type=1

[US71]

It looks like you are the first member of the forum to clinch the entire current Texas section of Future I-49 ...... AND it appears that you drove all of it in one sitting. Congratulations! 

Uh, no: this was on the Arkansas side, unless you count the exit ramp to US 71

[Alps]

It looks like you are the first member of the forum to clinch the entire current Texas section of Future I-49 ...... AND it appears that you drove all of it in one sitting. Congratulations! 

Uh, no: this was on the Arkansas side, unless you count the exit ramp to US 71

Ding ding ding! We have a winnah!

[US71]

It looks like you are the first member of the forum to clinch the entire current Texas section of Future I-49 ...... AND it appears that you drove all of it in one sitting. Congratulations! 

Uh, no: this was on the Arkansas side, unless you count the exit ramp to US 71

Ding ding ding! We have a winnah!

Well, if you really want to be technical about it, I only drove part of it, since we weren't allowed back on to head south.

[ShawnP]

Since when have rules stopped Road Geeks from checking stuff out?

[US71]

Since when have rules stopped Road Geeks from checking stuff out?

When there are police patrolling the roadway?

[bugo]

AR 108 already enters Texas so AR 549 (which I call I-49) will be the second Arkansas state highway that enters Texas.

[US71]

Opening now scheduled for May 13, due to wet weather.
http://www.arkansashighways.com/news/2013/NR%2013-135.pdf

[Road Hog]

AR 108 already enters Texas so AR 549 (which I call I-49) will be the second Arkansas state highway that enters Texas.

Huh? I looked at a map and I counted at least five (counting AR 108).

[US71]

AR 108 already enters Texas so AR 549 (which I call I-49) will be the second Arkansas state highway that enters Texas.

Huh? I looked at a map and I counted at least five (counting AR 108).

Miller 55 does, but it's county

AR 296 ends right at the state Line (no crossover into Texas)

[Grzrd]

HIGHWAY 549 OPENS TO TRAFFIC IN TEXARKANA WEDNESDAY:

Highway 549 will open to traffic Wednesday, May 15th in Texarkana, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) officials ....
It was hoped that Highway 549 would open to traffic last week. However, poor weather conditions contributed to a delay. Work is now being completed and the highway will open to traffic during the day on Wednesday.

[O Tamandua]

Good work, grzd.

For those who haven't seen it, here's something that someday will be a memory when I-49 is finally built between Fort Smith and Texarkana.  Since towns were once built around railroads, many towns once had rails running through their main streets..."street running" is the term railfans/"foamers" use.

The video above shows the Arkansas Western trains which run briefly through Whittaker Street and turn right into the right northbound lane of U.S. 71 in Ashdown.  The line is owned by the Kansas City Southern and links the cement plant at Okay and the feed mills of Nashville to that railroad, and is used roughly twice a day.

Reason number (umpteen) why it will be great when the I-49 (and I-69) corridors are someday complete even if I don't live to see them.

[O Tamandua]

I guess the official opening of the highway above went off without a hitch and one can now drive from just inside the Texas border, a mile or two south of the old catfish restaurant (was that Texas-side or Arkansas-side) all the way down to a few miles above the Arkansas/Louisiana border.

What's the next opening on the Texarkana/Shreveport Interstate timetable?

[Grzrd]

I guess the official opening of the highway above went off without a hitch

Highway 549 is open to traffic is the headline from the May 15 Texarkana Gazette:

State Highway 549 opened today to traffic in Texarkana, said Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department officials.

What's the next opening on the Texarkana/Shreveport Interstate timetable?

Information contained in this post suggests Segments B-I of I-49 North in Louisiana will open in Fall/Winter 2013.

[O Tamandua]

Thanks, Grzrd...if I'm understanding right there are three sections (sorry I don't know their official designations) left of "I-49 SHV/TXK":

1.  A few miles left in far south Miller County to the Louisiana border.
2.  A few miles left in far north Caddo Parish to the Arkansas border (to meet 1. above).
3.  Whatever they're doing to link the bottom of the new Caddo Parish segment to I-20 and existing I-49 at Shreveport.

Almost need a scorecard. 

Still lots to do, but when the "big hourglass"/"winnie-minnie-new-hou"/whatever this new Toronto/Winnipeg/Minneapolis-St Paul to Kansas City to Texarkana-Shreveport to Laredo/Brownsville corridor is going to be called is someday finished...

[US71]

I drove AR 549 at Texarkana today and have the following observations:

-AR 151 has replaced AR 245 between the Arkansas-Texas State Line and the AR 549 Interchange. It is only posted Eastbound (except at US 71/AR 549). Westbound it is posted as "TO US 59".

-AR 245 has been  fully decommissioned. It no longer exists at all at Texarkana, replaced by Four States Fairground Road. A couple signs remain, but those are likely signs missed when AHTD changed things around (such as at State Line Rd).

-The ramps to/from Arkansas Blvd on 549 are being resurfaced. The new pavement for 549 is taller than the exit ramp pavement, so that's being rectified.

-Signs for SB 549 north of Texarkana at US 71 only include 71 and no mention of US 59.

-The interchange at US 67 (Exit 34) has been eliminated.