I-49 in Arkansas

[vdeane]

Groundbreaking was today for the new I-49 Bridge connecting Barling with the north side of the Arkansas River

https://talkbusiness.net/2025/08/officials-note-promise-and-progress-of-i-49-river-bridge-segment/

Looks like they're finally making some headway figuring out the routing for the phases after the river crossing:
"While it's not concrete and steel, Wiley announced Friday that in the next 12 to 18 months there will be crews working on I-49 route evaluation between Greenwood and Y City. That route length is between 50 and 55 miles."

And the best way would probably be one that has zero consideration. US-59 and US-271

Why would the best way be to swing way out of the way into Oklahoma?

[bwana39]

Groundbreaking was today for the new I-49 Bridge connecting Barling with the north side of the Arkansas River

https://talkbusiness.net/2025/08/officials-note-promise-and-progress-of-i-49-river-bridge-segment/

Looks like they're finally making some headway figuring out the routing for the phases after the river crossing:
"While it's not concrete and steel, Wiley announced Friday that in the next 12 to 18 months there will be crews working on I-49 route evaluation between Greenwood and Y City. That route length is between 50 and 55 miles."

And the best way would probably be one that has zero consideration. US-59 and US-271

Why would the best way be to swing way out of the way into Oklahoma?

Way out? The total track miles are less. The mountains are less. Folks from NW arkansas tend to go through Oklahoma coming to SW arkansas. That said US-71 is terrible.

The reason why Arkansas built the Arkansas River to US-71 section of I-49 first is to seemingly preclude that even being a possibility. As far south as the already built section ends, it makes using the existing I-540 / US-271 freeway a non-option. That said, US-27 in Oklahoma is still about 5 miles away from the I-49 / US-71 junction. So yes, as you have said, "way over" (15 miles or less) into Oklahoma.  71 veers even further east at a point or two.

If there were a more direct route from Mansfield to Acorn or Mena or directly from Page, OK to Harfield, AR those would be game changers. Tunnels are expensive.