I-49 in Arkansas

[bwana39]

[quote author=bwana39

I-69 will almost surely be built as far as to the I-369 split. Likely completed in less than 20 years. Once it gets that far, it will likely be built to at least I-49. The part from Shreveport to Memphis is an entirely different issue.

As Memphis to Dyersburg TN is also a completely different issue.

I think 20 years is generous for TxDOT to do another 800 miles of I-69. I think it may drag out to past the middle of the century for every section done.
[/quote]

I was just focusing on the Houston to Texarkana / Shreveport sections. You MAY be right about the sections from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley.

I will give you there are still some small sections of 2-lanes on US-59 between Nacogdoches and Carthage.

[sprjus4]

[quote author=bwana39

I-69 will almost surely be built as far as to the I-369 split. Likely completed in less than 20 years. Once it gets that far, it will likely be built to at least I-49. The part from Shreveport to Memphis is an entirely different issue.

As Memphis to Dyersburg TN is also a completely different issue.

I think 20 years is generous for TxDOT to do another 800 miles of I-69. I think it may drag out to past the middle of the century for every section done.

I was just focusing on the Houston to Texarkana / Shreveport sections. You MAY be right about the sections from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley.

I will give you there are still some small sections of 2-lanes on US-59 between Nacogdoches and Carthage.
[/quote]
All of US-59 is four lanes, a lot of it is undivided, however. You might be thinking of the SH-315 shortcut.

I imagine I-69 / I-69E will be completed between Houston and Brownsville before I-69 is complete between Houston and Texarkana.

They've been making significant progress south compared to north.

[Road Hog]

I don't think that's unjustified as the RGV is the most underserved region in the U.S. But one still needs to connect beyond that. 

[bwana39]

[quote author=bwana39

I-69 will almost surely be built as far as to the I-369 split. Likely completed in less than 20 years. Once it gets that far, it will likely be built to at least I-49. The part from Shreveport to Memphis is an entirely different issue.

As Memphis to Dyersburg TN is also a completely different issue.

I think 20 years is generous for TxDOT to do another 800 miles of I-69. I think it may drag out to past the middle of the century for every section done.

I was just focusing on the Houston to Texarkana / Shreveport sections. You MAY be right about the sections from Houston to the Rio Grande Valley.

I will give you there are still some small sections of 2-lanes on US-59 between Nacogdoches and Carthage.
[/quote]

All of US-59 is four lanes, a lot of it is undivided, however. You might be thinking of the SH-315 shortcut.

I imagine I-69 / I-69E will be completed between Houston and Brownsville before I-69 is complete between Houston and Texarkana.

They've been making significant progress south compared to north.

Using GSV, The stretches outside of Teneha on both sides appear to be 4 lane (not 5) with no shoulders. This exact pavement used to be striped as 2-lanes with shoulders (probably 25 years ago). I rarely go that way. 59 has more vigorous police enforcement. No, I realized SH-315 which is my normal route has lots of 2-lane, but still is usually a better route. The point is that US-59 is still more than 1 upgrade away from Interstate.

I still think the completed Interstate will probably reach Nacogdoches from Houston within the next decade with the current rate of progress. Another decade would seem about right to reach Texarkana.  I have never been past Richmond on 59 south of Houston.

[sprjus4]

Using GSV, The stretches outside of Teneha on both sides appear to be 4 lane (not 5) with no shoulders. This exact pavement used to be striped as 2-lanes with shoulders (probably 25 years ago). I rarely go that way. 59 has more vigorous police enforcement. No, I realized SH-315 which is my normal route has lots of 2-lane, but still is usually a better route. The point is that US-59 is still more than 1 upgrade away from Interstate.

I still think the completed Interstate will probably reach Nacogdoches from Houston within the next decade with the current rate of progress. Another decade would seem about right to reach Texarkana.  I have never been past Richmond on 59 south of Houston.

SH-315 has a 70 mph speed limit and has a lot of 2 lane mixed throughout.

I've done both and found US-59 to be my preferred - it's all 4 lanes and is mostly 75 mph. Slightly longer, but faster and consistently have the ability to pass trucks.

Speed enforcement doesn't really seem to be an issue - if you're looking to go more than 80 mph on a four lane undivided highway, that's not an enforcement issue. It's just not safe.

[bwana39]

Using GSV, The stretches outside of Teneha on both sides appear to be 4 lane (not 5) with no shoulders. This exact pavement used to be striped as 2-lanes with shoulders (probably 25 years ago). I rarely go that way. 59 has more vigorous police enforcement. No, I realized SH-315 which is my normal route has lots of 2-lane, but still is usually a better route. The point is that US-59 is still more than 1 upgrade away from Interstate.

I still think the completed Interstate will probably reach Nacogdoches from Houston within the next decade with the current rate of progress. Another decade would seem about right to reach Texarkana.  I have never been past Richmond on 59 south of Houston.

SH-315 has a 70 mph speed limit and has a lot of 2 lane mixed throughout.

I've done both and found US-59 to be my preferred - it's all 4 lanes and is mostly 75 mph. Slightly longer, but faster and consistently have the ability to pass trucks.

Speed enforcement doesn't really seem to be an issue - if you're looking to go more than 80 mph on a four lane undivided highway, that's not an enforcement issue. It's just not safe.

I was not talking about the policing on the open parts. I was referring to the enforcement and (sometimes) abusive overzealous policing in Teneha and Timpson.   Garrison and Mount Enterprise seem to be a push.

I prefer the 2 lane with shoulders to the 4 lane without. 

If I were driving an 18-wheeler or pulling a trailer, I would probably avoid SH-315 as well.  For what it is worth. SH-315 is due up for 4-lane divided. Construction  to begin within the next five years.

[The Ghostbuster]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but Google Maps has updated their Satellite View to include construction of the northern extension of the isolated AR 549/future Interstate 49 segment east of Fort Smith: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3464668,-94.3151206,6428m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

[Road Hog]

I love the old oxbows evident on the map. But wake me up when we start to see bridge pilings.

[Sapphuby]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but Google Maps has updated their Satellite View to include construction of the northern extension of the isolated AR 549/future Interstate 49 segment east of Fort Smith: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3464668,-94.3151206,6428m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

Looks like on Copernicus, as of 06/29, they're beginning groundbreaking for the SB exit ramps at the current northern terminus. They also have the ROW for the Gun Club Road exit clearly visible. Looks like it's going to be a parclo.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://ardot.gov/events/interstate-49-extension-arkansas-river-bridge-groundbreaking/

Groundbreaking ceremony on the I-49 Arkansas River bridge will take place on August 22nd!

$282.5 million project will be completed by early 2029.

[Chris]

LOCATION:
Former ARDOT Weigh Station
6584 US 67
Corning, AR 72422

That doesn't sound right...

[bwana39]

LOCATION:
Former ARDOT Weigh Station
6584 US 67
Corning, AR 72422

That doesn't sound right...

Groundbreaking Location Map

The map link they give has a different address.

https://ardot.gov/wp-content/uploads/Groundbreaking_map_I-49.pdf

THat is outside of Barling

[Road Hog]

Did they decide to build both main lanes at once considering the ground hasn't been broken yet on the I-40 to Gun Club Road section?

With construction costs skyrocketing, it would be wise to do so. But ARDOT doesn't have that history.

[Bobby5280]

Details appear to be a bit murky, but the renderings of the proposed Arkansas River bridge design show a single bridge structure holding both directions of traffic. A bridge like that cannot be built in a slim Super-2 configuration and then be widened to four lanes later. The four lane structure has to be built all at once.

The situation would be different if the proposal had one bridge for Northbound lanes and a another separate bridge for Southbound lanes. An interim Super 2 configuration could be built and used in such an arrangement.

Other portions of the future I-49 route between Barling and Alma may be initially built in Super 2 configuration. Interim Super 2 designs seem even more likely for new sections of I-49 farther South. A super 2 design can at least preserve corridor ROW while funding is (slowly) acquired to complete the remaining phases of the highway project.

I'm wondering if any other I-49 projects between Fort Smith and Texarkana are going to be happening in parallel while work gets done on the I-49 segment between Barling and Alma. If the project is only built in linear fashion, going from North down to South, it will probably take many more years to complete.

[The Ghostbuster]

I just want them to get rid of the old Interstate 540 exit numbers north of Interstate 40 (renumbered to be based on Interstate 49's mileage). Everything else, they can do what they please.

[Henry]

I just want them to get rid of the old Interstate 540 exit numbers north of Interstate 40 (renumbered to be based on Interstate 49's mileage). Everything else, they can do what they please.

Originally, they were going to do that, but later decided against it, so it's now on indefinite hold until the gap is closed. I still believe that the TX part will be the last to get finished, if not the two parts in LA (Lafayette-New Orleans and the ICC in Shreveport).

[vdeane]

I just want them to get rid of the old Interstate 540 exit numbers north of Interstate 40 (renumbered to be based on Interstate 49's mileage). Everything else, they can do what they please.

It might be a while.  Even once this gap is closed, those numbers can easily be extended south.  If building the Bella Vista Bypass didn't force them to renumber the exits, they won't be forced until it extends south of US 71.

[bwana39]

I still believe that the TX part will be the last to get finished, if not the two parts in LA (Lafayette-New Orleans and the ICC in Shreveport).

The Texas part (all 7 miles of it) is waiting for Arkansas. Texas is gun-shy. Arkansas seems to build out stuff along the line different than what was previously (informally) agreed on with the other state (both Texas and Louisiana.) When Arkansas finalizes the Ashdown to DeQueen route, it might be ready for Texas to start.  The latest (7-8 years ago) discussion is a greenfield route that is closer to Horatio and farther from Lockesburg. The Red River crossing SEEMS to be set at or near the same crossing location from the 1980's.

[TBKS1]

LOCATION:
Former ARDOT Weigh Station
6584 US 67
Corning, AR 72422

That doesn't sound right...

That was where the ground breaking location was for the Corning Bypass / Future I-57...