Posted on 03/31/2021 10:15:49 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Here in McDonald County Missouri it may not look like much right now, but this is going to be Interstate 49 in a few months. We were standing on what’s called the Missouri-Arkansas Connector, this is the portion of the Bella-Vista bypass that MPDOT is responsible for, and so far things are going just as scheduled.
Right now the only traffic on the future I-49 is construction traffic.
The Bella Vista bypass is a joint venture between ARDOT and MODOT. Each state is responsible for its own road.
In Missouri they are on the hook for just over 5 miles from where I-49 currently ends to the Arkansas line.
So 40/29 News traveled up north to see how things were progressing. And it was an impressive sight. We spoke with MODOT Resident Engineer Marvin Morris, who tells 40/29 News the road is long overdue to ease congestion on highway 71.
“We commute south quite frequently, and as we do, there’s daily traffic backups, so we have cues that backup daily, so it’s definitely needed,” said Morris.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
PING!
About time! How long has Arkansas had there’as done?
Not far from here. About time.
Between Bella Vista and Ft. Smith there used to be some nice curves through the Boston Mountains. I think they were south of Bentonville. Are they all bypassed now?
Yes. But you can still drive old Hwy. 71. rarely used by commercial traffic. very scenic at places.
I remember sixty five years ago when 71 was a two lane road through the mountains. A boring drive for a kid as all you could see were two walls of trees,trees,trees. You could not see the forest for the trees.
Now 49 is a great drive.
Me too. I enjoyed seeing the scenery because we didn't get out much. I drove over some of it last year to Artist Point. We used to stop there when i was a kid.
Arkansas is not quite done.
Future I-49 is complete but not open from Rocky Dell Hollow Road to the Missouri state line.
They are adding the second carriageway to AR 549 (Future I-49) which will become the Northbound lanes of I-49 from the current intersection of US 71 and AR 549 all the way to Rocky Dell Hollow Rd.
And they have to finish the I-49 US-71 interchange.
Both states want to have the highway open this fall.
I hope they will finish US 49 between Texarkana and Fort Smith. Hwy 71 is a two lane nightmare.
We should meet up. Get a face to face thing going like I had in other states
Thanks for the info.
My SIL lives in McD county and has to go to Rogers every day to the nursing home her that husband is in (thanks to COVID ChiCom germ warfare). This may be a big help for her.
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