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[rickmastfan67]

The completed portion of the Bella Vista Bypass (from State Highway 72 south of Hiwasse to State Highway 72 north of Hiwasse) is approved for designation as Future I-49. This stretch of road will actually open to traffic next week and will be co-signed as State Highway 549/Future I-49.

I hope you'll do the 'Future I-49' shields in the same style as NCDOT has in the past.

[agentsteel53]

I hope you'll do the 'Future I-49' shields in the same style as NCDOT has in the past.

I hope you don't.  Arkansas still uses '57 spec for its two-digit interstates, so I'm hoping 49 shows up that way.

[rickmastfan67]

I hope you'll do the 'Future I-49' shields in the same style as NCDOT has in the past.

I hope you don't.  Arkansas still uses '57 spec for its two-digit interstates, so I'm hoping 49 shows up that way.

What I meant was how NC added the 'Future' text to the shield, just to be clear.

[US71]

I hope you'll do the 'Future I-49' shields in the same style as NCDOT has in the past.

I hope you don't.  Arkansas still uses '57 spec for its two-digit interstates, so I'm hoping 49 shows up that way.

What I meant was how NC added the 'Future' text to the shield, just to be clear.

Like this?

[agentsteel53]

[M86]

Locally, people are freaking out via social media.  But they're just not informed... And I blame the local media somewhat.

"$70,000 for the changing of signs?!  This should have gone to fixing roads!"

Bah... I wish the exit numbers would be changed with the conversion.  That's just going to create more madness.

[US71]

Locally, people are freaking out via social media.  But they're just not informed... And I blame the local media somewhat.

"$70,000 for the changing of signs?!  This should have gone to fixing roads!"

Bah... I wish the exit numbers would be changed with the conversion.  That's just going to create more madness.

The Build I-49 page on Facebook has experienced similar feedback.

[Grzrd]

This TV video report provides a preliminary indication from the announcement ceremony that "Arkansas" will be missing from the I-49 shields that will be installed in the near future:

[agentsteel53]

ugh.  when has Arkansas ever used large-number 70 spec, so why start now?  49 is an especially tough number to fit if you're trying to use large numbers (12" on a 24" blank; in this case it looks like a 36" blank with 18" numbers).

that shield looks completely stupid.

[AHTD]

The sign unveiled at yesterday's event was indeed a 36-inch model. This is what we will use for route confirmation markers. The Future I-49 signs will be located at the project termini of the soon-to-be-opened completed portion of the Bella Vista Bypass and installed on green destination and distance boards. The Future I-49 signs will have the word "Future" where the word "Interstate" normally appears. The BVB route markers will be State Highway 549.
 
We will actually - and you read it here on AAROADS first - start changing out the I-540 signs Monday. Two crews will depart Little Rock Monday morning. One will head directly to the BVB and start installing signs. The other crew will start changing route markers on the northbound lanes just north of I-40. The overhead sign structures will be modified sometime in the next 30 days because we have to schedule crews and lane closures to make that happen.
 
BVB will officially open to traffic Tuesday morning before noon.
 

[US71]

This TV video report provides a preliminary indication from the announcement ceremony that "Arkansas" will be missing from the I-49 shields that will be installed in the near future:

5News flubbed: they said Bella Vista would be I-549 not AR 549  

You'll also have to change some of the mileage signs along I-40 that show the distance to I-540 North.

[bjrush]

My gosh Arkansas's Interstate signage seems inconsistent

With this announcement reinforcing that feeling. Will all future Interstate signs be huge-number variety going forward?

[US71]

My gosh Arkansas's Interstate signage seems inconsistent

Honestly? It has been for a long time.

[bjrush]

Honestly? It has been for a long time.

Too true

AHTD needs to get on the same page, preferably not the massive-number page revealed at that ceremony. This $70k seems like a great opportunity. I'm sure they are already being fabricated though. Ugh

[AHTD]

It's $70,000. That includes labor.


They are already printed. I-540 signs that are taken down will be recycled as I-49 signs for the southern route.


Don't forget the significance of ADDING mileage to our Interstate system. The stretch of the route above the 62/102 exit is being signed from U.S. 71 to I -49.

[txstateends]

This TV video report provides a preliminary indication from the announcement ceremony that "Arkansas" will be missing from the I-49 shields that will be installed in the near future:

I was thinking this I-49 shield would be just a promotional prop and not the actual installed style.  Oh well, at least it was approved.  The style can always change later I guess.

[txstateends]

I'm guessing (not that I know as much as others closer to the action) that all this flurry of change-out activity won't include any missing overlap signage for the US routes?

(oh well, why did I ask )

[AHTD]

Primary route markers at this time only.

[M86]

I'm guessing (not that I know as much as others closer to the action) that all this flurry of change-out activity won't include any missing overlap signage for the US routes?

(oh well, why did I ask )

Someday, I hope.  The local news station, 40/29, had a reporter next to an assembly with both I-49 and US 71 in Missouri, when the news broke for I-49 designation. 

[codyg1985]

They are already printed. I-540 signs that are taken down will be recycled as I-49 signs for the southern route.

Although I can understand that this saves on material costs. putting a 2 digit interstate number inside of a 3 digit interstate shield will look strange.

You could always recycle the I-540 shields for I-555 if or when that is ever signed.

[Anthony_JK]

Don't mind me..I'm just watching all this and wondering why LADOTD doesn't do the same thing for US 90/Future I-49 South...

[US71]

They are already printed. I-540 signs that are taken down will be recycled as I-49 signs for the southern route.

Although I can understand that this saves on material costs. putting a 2 digit interstate number inside of a 3 digit interstate shield will look strange.

Texas does it

[US71]

Don't mind me..I'm just watching all this and wondering why LADOTD doesn't do the same thing for US 90/Future I-49 South...

There are already Future Corridor signs along US 90

[Anthony_JK]

Don't mind me..I'm just watching all this and wondering why LADOTD doesn't do the same thing for US 90/Future I-49 South...

There are already Future Corridor signs along US 90

True...but I'm talking about also putting actual I-49 shields on the completed Interstate-grade segments of US 90 and the Westbank Expressway and signing the exits thusly.

[roadman65]

What about Miller County?  Will Arkansas change its signs from AR 549 to I-49?  It seems now that would be the feasible thing to do because if they duplicate the number 49 in NW Arkansas they now can do it here.