Interstate 49

Encyclopedia : I : IN : INT : Interstate 49

Interstate 49 (abbreviated I-49) is an intrastate interstate highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana, United States. Its southern terminus is in Lafayette, Louisiana at Interstate 10; its northern terminus is in Shreveport, Louisiana at Interstate 20. Plans are underway to extend the interstate at both ends, to New Orleans, Louisiana to the south and to Kansas City, Missouri to the north.

Extension of Interstate 49

In Missouri, all of US 71 from Anderson, Missouri to Joplin, Missouri has already been upgraded to interstate standards and most of the highway from Joplin to Kansas City is at interstate standards. The only sections that aren't are already divided highways and easily upgradeable. A short bypass of Joplin, Missouri State Highway 249 is being built to continue I-49 north without continuing several miles to the east with US 71. In southern Kansas City, there have been many objections to upgrading US 71 to an interstate.

In Arkansas, Interstate 540 from Alma to Bentonville will become part of future I-49, and work is underway to build a toll section further into Missouri. The Missouri constitution prohibits the Missouri Department of Transportation from constructing toll roads. Many voters in Missouri have objected to the possibility of any toll roads in that state (primarily in reaction to nearby Oklahoma's turnpikes), so the future of that still remains unknown.

A [map] shows the two disconnected pieces of the Interstate. Some refer to this as a bypass of the current Hwy 71 that runs through Bella Vista, AR. Many, especially truckers, in Arkansas and Missouri are desperate to see the highway fully connected and flowing due to current traffic congestion.

A section of Future Interstate 130 at Texarkana, Arkansas is also to become part of Interstate 49.

In December 2004, a section of Arkansas State Highway 549 opened between Texarkana, Arkansas and Fouke, Arkansas that will eventually become part of I-49. Another section between Fouke and Doddridge, Arkansas opened October 2005.

Major cities

• Lafayette, Louisiana
• Opelousas, Louisiana
• Alexandria, Louisiana
• Shreveport, Louisiana

Intersections with other interstates

• Interstate 10 at Lafayette, Louisiana
• Interstate 20 at Shreveport, Louisiana

Notes

• The state of Louisiana has plans to extend Interstate 49 to the south and east, from Lafayette, Louisiana to New Orleans, Louisiana roughly following the path of the current U.S. Highway 90. This project is currently on hold indefinitely, following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which devastated the region.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

• To the north, Interstate 49 is proposed to extend through Texarkana, Fort Smith, Arkansas, and on to Kansas City, Missouri. This routing is proposed to include the proposed I-130 and the Alma-to-Bentonville part of I-540 in Arkansas, and will parallel U.S. Highway 71 for the entire route. The urban segment in Shreveport which would be needed to connect the existing highway with the proposed northern extension beginning north of the city at I-220 is politically controversial because of the houses that would have to be torn down, and neighborhoods divided, in order to build it.

Exit list

U.S. Highway 167 south - Lafayette

Interstate 10 east - Baton Rouge

Interstate 10 west - Lake Charles

U.S. Highway 190 - Baton Rouge; Opelousas

U.S. Highway 167 north; Louisiana Highway 744 - Ville Platte

U.S. Highway 167 - Turkey Creek; Meeker

U.S. Highway 71; U.S. Highway 167 south - MacArthur Drive

U.S. Highway 71 south; U.S. Highway 167 south - MacArthur Drive

U.S. Highway 167 north; Lousiana Highway 28 east; Louisiana Highway 1 - Pineville Expressway; Casson Street (U.S. Highway 167 Business south; Louisiana Highway 28 Business west)

U.S. Highway 167 north; Lousiana Highway 28 east - Pineville Expressway

ML King Drive - Downtown Alexandria (U.S. Highway 165 Business)

to Louisiana Highway 1 - Elliot Street; Downtown Alexandria (U.S. Highway 165 Business)

U.S. Highway 71; U.S. Highway 165 - MacArthur Drive (Louisiana Highway 28 west)

U.S. Highway 371; Louisiana Highway 177 - Pleasant Hill; Coushatta

U.S. Highway 84 - Mansfield; Grand Bayou

Interstate 20 - Dallas, TX; Monroe

External links

• [I-49 South Project]
• [I-49 Connector in Lafayette, LA]
• [Future I-49 South Pictures (Stephen Gantry)]
• [Future I-49 South Pictures (Andy P. Jung)]

References