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

[O Tamandua]

I happened to look through one of the Arkansas official state maps US 71 was handing out at the Wichita road meet last month, and realized that freeway I-540/US 71 (soon to be I-49) is entirely within the corporate limits of one city or another all the way from Exit 60 (Fayetteville) to Exit 93 (south end of projected Bella Vista Bypass)--a distance of about 33 miles.  It also looks to be more solidly urbanized than some of the city pairs Bobby5280 cites, such as Wichita/Hutchinson and Des Moines/Ames.

This is unofficial, but going on US Census Bureau figures and growth rates for the nine counties (4 in Northwest Arkansas metro, 5 in Fort Smith metro) it looks like the population may be up to around 815,000 between the two for this year if the growth rates hold, which they certainly seem to be doing in Benton County.  And that's before this Interstate between Fort Smith and Winnipeg/Duluth is completed, completely opening FSM/NWA to the northern half of the U.S. via Interstate highways.

BTW, Bella Vista is a planned community, and the corporation which developed it, last I'm aware, bought for future development (at least a decade or two ago) the entire bloc of undeveloped land on the west side of Bella Vista's corporate limits, squarely where future I-49 will run north to south (after it curves northward west of the former Hiwasse community).  That's also where Bella Vista, currently at 25,000 plus people, will have its first paved road connection, not just Interstate, from the west.  Good planning on their part.

[O Tamandua]

I happened to look through one of the Arkansas official state maps US 71 was handing out at the Wichita road meet last month, and realized that freeway I-540/US 71 (soon to be I-49) is entirely within the corporate limits of one city or another all the way from Exit 60 (Fayetteville) to Exit 93 (south end of projected Bella Vista Bypass)--a distance of about 33 miles.  It also looks to be more solidly urbanized than some of the city pairs Bobby5280 cites, such as Wichita/Hutchinson and Des Moines/Ames.

Note the dotted interstate line immediately south and west of Bella Vista, which has more than 25,000.  I don't know how many miles it extends to the state line but I'm guessing we're looking at between 5-8 miles.  There are a lot of people in the cul-de-sacs of this area (and from development I'm seeing there may be significantly more coming) so we may be looking at 40 miles of more-or-less urbanized area from the state line to West Fork (south of Fayetteville) on future I-49 in northwest Arkansas.

[Anthony_JK]

The problem is Texas doesn't appear to want their section of I-49. At least that's how the situation appears to me. The I-69 corridor and various projects in Texas' biggest cities seem to be a far greater priority.

For Arkansas I-49 would have to be one of its top priorities, and logically a bigger priority than I-69. Arkansas is seeing its best growth in the Northwestern part of the state along the I-49 corridor. I think a completed I-49 corridor would do more for the state than some of the other big projects they've been pursuing.

Arkansas has been extending the US-67 freeway from Little Rock toward Walnut Ridge, but not pushing the freeway corridor through to Southern Illinois (where it might be an extension of I-30 or I-57). They're slowly extending I-530 South from Pine Bluff to a spot where I-69 might be built, maybe a decade or two from now -especially when that bridge over the Mississippi River is figured into the situation.

The I-49 corridor is far closer to completion than I-69. And that's even counting the difficulty going on with I-49 between Lafayette and New Orleans. The segment between Fort Smith and Texarkana won't be easy or cheap to build due to the mountainous terrain along parts of the route. But the Rogers/Fayetteville/Bentonville metro has turned into a very important destination along the Interstate highway system, enough so that I would expect increasing pressure for Arkansas to get I-49 completed even if that means cutting out Texas' part of the proposed route.

First off, I can't see TX not wanting at least a piece of I-49, if only to connect the proposed western loop to the Tex Americas Center development.

Second..there is simply no way to adequately construct a western loop using the existing US 59/TX 151 freeway due to extensive development, so any western loop connecting the I-x69 extension from Carthage to Texarkana with I-49 will have to go though some portion of Texas anyway. Plus, the way that Arkansas has AR 549/Future I-49 extending beyond the US 59/71 ROW to the west would preclude any northern alignment E of that roadway.

I-69 will be the main priority for TX for the forseeable future, but that doesn't mean that they aren't considering the possibility of a connection with a future I-49 to Kansas City.

Now, if Shreveport gets wise and completes the I-49 Inner City Connector, then it gets a bit interesting, because an alternative routing northward (I-69 Carthage to Stonewall, I-49 through Shreveport) could surplant the need for an I-x69 spur to Texarkana. But, that would really tick off Marshall and Tyler and probably Texarkana, because that would put them out of the loop.

I believe they ultimately get it together and find a way to make the connection work, and the Western Loop gets built with I-49 getting some Texas mileage. Just my nickel.

[codyg1985]

I wonder how the exit numbers will work with I-49 dipping into Texas. I assume it may do like I-24 in GA and the numbers will just carry over?

[ethanhopkin14]

I wonder how the exit numbers will work with I-49 dipping into Texas. I assume it may do like I-24 in GA and the numbers will just carry over?

I wondered that too. But I assumed the same I-24 situation.

[Avalanchez71]

I happened to look through one of the Arkansas official state maps US 71 was handing out at the Wichita road meet last month, and realized that freeway I-540/US 71 (soon to be I-49) is entirely within the corporate limits of one city or another all the way from Exit 60 (Fayetteville) to Exit 93 (south end of projected Bella Vista Bypass)--a distance of about 33 miles.  It also looks to be more solidly urbanized than some of the city pairs Bobby5280 cites, such as Wichita/Hutchinson and Des Moines/Ames.

Note the dotted interstate line immediately south and west of Bella Vista, which has more than 25,000.  I don't know how many miles it extends to the state line but I'm guessing we're looking at between 5-8 miles.  There are a lot of people in the cul-de-sacs of this area (and from development I'm seeing there may be significantly more coming) so we may be looking at 40 miles of more-or-less urbanized area from the state line to West Fork (south of Fayetteville) on future I-49 in northwest Arkansas.

What is the signifigance of the yellow US 71 shield on that map?

[bugo]

What is the significance of the yellow US 71 shield on that map?

Yellow shields = scenic highway.  Blue shields = scenic byway (I have no clue what the difference is.)  White shields = plain old highway.

[Alps]

What is the significance of the yellow US 71 shield on that map?

Yellow shields = scenic highway.  Blue shields = scenic byway (I have no clue what the difference is.)  White shields = plain old highway.

Yellow = keep driving fast
Blue = pull over for RVs

[Avalanchez71]

I would be ticked off if I bought one of those homes off of a quiet cul-de-sac only to have I-49 bisect it.  The road noise alone is enough to be ticked off about.

[US71]

What is the significance of the yellow US 71 shield on that map?

Yellow shields = scenic highway.  Blue shields = scenic byway (I have no clue what the difference is.)  White shields = plain old highway.

Scenic Byway is an "official" designation, such as Boston Mountains Scenic Loop or the Pig Trail. 

[Scott5114]

I would be ticked off if I bought one of those homes off of a quiet cul-de-sac only to have I-49 bisect it.  The road noise alone is enough to be ticked off about.

The Bella Vista bypass has been planned for at least a decade. Anyone should do a lot of research before dropping $100,000 on...anything, really.

[Brandon]

I would be ticked off if I bought one of those homes off of a quiet cul-de-sac only to have I-49 bisect it.  The road noise alone is enough to be ticked off about.

The Bella Vista bypass has been planned for at least a decade. Anyone should do a lot of research before dropping $100,000 on...anything, really.

Never stopped the idiots near the proposed (since the 1960s) IL-53 extension in Lake County, Illinois.  Why should it stop these folks?

[Avalanchez71]

Do you not recall Eric Estrada advertising this area back in the nineties?  He said they were quiet peaceful tracts just minutes away from convenience.

[lamsalfl]

I-369 now appears on Google Maps.

[Grzrd]

I gave AHTD another shot and they emailed me the Executive Summary of the Texarkana to DeQueen US 71 and Texarkana Northern Loop FEIS

The Interstate 49 Coalition will host a conference at 10 a.m. Thursday at the new Arkansas Highway District 4 headquarters in Barling, Ark.
The conference will discuss updates of the I-49 project in Missouri, Louisiana and Arkansas.

(above quote from I-49 at Fort Smith's Chaffee Crossing thread)

AHTD has posted its August 29 presentation to the Interstate 49 Coalition, and it appears that AHTD considers the entire Texarkana Loop, in addition to mainline I-49 going through Arkansas, to be part of the overall I-49 Corridor. It also appears to exclude the current US 59/I-369 from the overall I-49 Corridor because it shows the West and Northern Loops as both being proposed instead of showing the completed US 59/I-369 (page 8/13 of pdf):



Similarly, AHTD appears to include AR 151 as being part of the overall I-49 Corridor (page 9/13 of pdf):

There are NO signs along I-30 for 245 (now posted as Four States Fair Blvd), nor along AR 296. Also no signs north of I-30 in either direction, nor SB along 549 south of I-30.

The above "Texarkana Area" map also shows a remnant of AR 245 south of AR 296. Unsigned 245?

[agentsteel53]

I can barely tell because the map is tiny... will there be a Texas I-49?

[US71]

I can barely tell because the map is tiny... will there be a Texas I-49?

Yes, but it won't be very long, just sort of a "hook" from Texarkana back into Arkansas.

[Grzrd]

I gave AHTD another shot and they emailed me the Executive Summary of the Texarkana to DeQueen US 71 and Texarkana Northern Loop FEIS

I can barely tell because the map is tiny... will there be a Texas I-49?

Yes, but it won't be very long, just sort of a "hook" from Texarkana back into Arkansas.

Here's the Selected Alternative "hook" identified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (page 4/24 of pdf):

[US71]

The above "Texarkana Area" map also shows a remnant of AR 245 south of AR 296. Unsigned 245?

Possible, I suppose. One would probably have to ask AHTD.

[Bobby5280]

Considering all of the commercial and residential development in the path of the proposed western loop in Texarkana, I'll be surprised if that stretch of superhighway ever gets built.

The proposed path would take I-369 over the Orr Chevrolet and Orr Honda car dealerships, if not some of the shops on the western end of the Texarkana Pavilion shopping center. I can't see I-369 being built "through" I-30 where that part of the loop currently ends. If the northern half of the proposed western loop ever gets built it would be easier building it west of the University Ave. exit. That adjustment would also take the alignment west of the large Pleasant Grove High School campus and an elementary school in the same neighborhood.

Whatever final alignment is chosen for the northern half of the western loop it's a guarantee a good number of homes will be consumed by the alignment. TX DOT should expect quite a bit of community resistance from residents in that area.

[Grzrd]

The proposed path would take I-369 over the Orr Chevrolet and Orr Honda car dealerships, if not some of the shops on the western end of the Texarkana Pavilion shopping center. I can't see I-369 being built "through" I-30 where that part of the loop currently ends

I don't think anyone is seriously considering that route anymore. Over a year ago, in this post, I recounted parts of a conversation with a Texarkana MPO official relevant to your observation:

I-69 Spur
They are well aware that they are located on a proposed I-69 Spur, which is why they want some signage as soon as possible.  The current climate for transportation funding has given rise to a fear that the I-69 Spur might be eliminated altogether.  The thinking is that I-69 signage would make it more difficult to eliminate the spur ...  Related to the concerns about getting spur signage as soon as possible, vocal (a minority, but vocal nonetheless) neighborhood opposition is slowing down evaluation of the West Loop alternative route to TexAmericas Center. The US 59 freeway section in question is literally the only section of the Spur that could be signed as an interstate in a relatively short period of time.  He said that they could always de-designate that section as an interstate if the West Loop were to be built.

At the time, I thought having some form of I-69 signage in Texarkana in the foreseeable future was a big stretch; however, I-369 signs should be installed by the new year.

Northern Loop
A big retail center that was built around the time of the issuance of the Northern Loop FEIS has made a connection to the current US 59 prohibitively expensive.  Also, even if construction of the West Loop were not a problem, preserving a Northern Loop corridor is not feasible due to both a lack of money and Texas state law having strong property protections for landowners. If connected to a West Loop, the only interchange between I-30 and I-49 would be at Richmond Road (FM 559). Regardless of whether a Freight Shuttle line would come to Texarkana, they are actively working on trying to get some type of multi-modal facility built at the TexAmericas Center.

Extending I-369 across I-30 is no longer being considered.



In a followup post, I recounted possible justifications for construction of the Northern Loop:

He did mention that Texas A & M has recently built a Texarkana campus near a possible route for the Northern Loop and that demand may grow for a Northern Loop as that campus grows.
In the intermediate term, construction of a multi-modal facility at the TexAmericas Center and/or construction of the I-69 Spur West Loop (combined with the Texas A & M - Texarkana factor) may generate enough demand/justification/need to build it.

Above said, I think the lack of corridor preservation for the Northern Loop will likely kill it.

[Grzrd]

In a followup post:

He did mention that Texas A & M has recently built a Texarkana campus near a possible route for the Northern Loop

In August, KTBS had a Somewhere in the ArkLaTex video feature about Texarkana, which includes some footage of the Texas A & M - Texarkana campus. Also, it has the Texarkana mayor talking about how the I-49/I-30 junction is "huge" and the reporter later commenting that Texarkana is poised to become a major distribution center.  It also has some highway footage on the Texas side with "blue ribbons" and "blue stars" in the sky, which leads to a comparison between Texarkana and Plano.

in this post

Northern Loop
If connected to a West Loop, the only interchange between I-30 and I-49 would be at Richmond Road (FM 559).

A sign pointing the way to Richmond Road is also included in the KTBS video:

[Grzrd]

As Alex posted in the above thread, the Texas Transportation Commission has approved the I-369 designation in Texarkana:

This minute order designates the following highway segments:
• A 3.5 mile segment of US 59, from I-30 to State Loop 151 in Texarkana, to be designated as
I-369 ....
AASHTO must take action to approve the application. ....
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) must confirm that the highway segment meets the applicable Interstate designation regulations and criteria, and approve any associated design exception requests. Following such confirmation, the FHWA Administrator must take action to approve the addition of the highway segment to the Interstate Highway System. As of May 24, 2013, AASHTO and the FHWA Administrator have issued the required approvals.

This TV video report reports that the I-369 shields will be unveiled on Monday, Sept. 23 (although the report refers to it as "I-69" instead of "I-369"):

If you travel along U.S. Highway 59 in the Texarkana area, you'll soon notice a segment of the highway officially designated as Interstate 69.
It's being touted as the gateway to economic growth in the region.
When the signage on Highway 59 is changed to I-69, it will be the 5th section in Texas to receive the official designation.
Once completed, the I-69 system will run from Canada to Mexico.
"It gives Texarkana access to the Texas ports, which is significant for growth our area, said James Carlow, Vice-Chair I-69 Alliance. "It gives us three interstates intersecting in Texarkana: I-69, I-49 and I-30."
The Texas Department of Transportation will unveil the I-69 sign on Monday, September 23rd at 2 p.m. near the parking lot of the Albertson's on 7th Street.
The public is invited to attend.

Here's a teaser that confirms the I-369 shields:

[txstateends]

Here's a teaser that confirms the I-369 shields:

Geez, they must have gone to the dollar store to get that plastic bag!  Heck, why bother covering it, if it's half-undone before they even unveil the sign?

[nolia_boi504]

Looks like Google Maps got the memo already. The west loop is already marked as I-369.