Interstate 49

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Interstate 49 Main route of the Interstate Highway System
Maintained by Louisiana Department of Transportation
Length:	208.60 mi[1] (335.71 km)
Formed:	1984
South end:	I-10 / US 167 in Lafayette
North end:	I-20 in Shreveport
Highways in Louisiana < LA 48 LA 49 >

Interstate 49 (I-49) is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is in Lafayette, Louisiana, at Interstate 10 while its northern terminus is in Shreveport, Louisiana, at Interstate 20.

Contents 1 Route description 2 History 3 Future 3.1 Louisiana 3.2 Arkansas 3.3 Missouri 4 Exit list 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Route description

I-49 begins its journey in Lafayette concurrent with U.S. Route 167 from I-10 to Opelousas at Exit 23. At Lafayette, motorists continuing southbound see the interstate highway change to U.S. 167 (Evangeline Thruway), a major thoroughfare taking travelers towards the heart of Lafayette. North of Lafayette, motorists on I-49 will parallel the ancient Mississippi river bed north of Carencro, and through Grand Coteau, just south of Opelousas.

After leaving Opelousas, I-49 traverses the relatively flat, fertile farmlands until reaching Alexandria. From there, the highway roughly follows the Red River and Louisiana 1, bypassing the historic city of Natchitoches to the east on its way to Shreveport. At Shreveport, the highway parallels a railroad line just to the east until its terminus at I-20 southwest of downtown.

The heaviest traffic on I-49 occurs within the cities of Shreveport, Lafayette, and Opelousas. The stretch of freeway in Shreveport sees an average of 70,000 vehicles per day, while the stretch of freeway between Lafayette and Carencro sees an average of 55,000 vehicles per day, and the stretch of freeway through Opelousas sees an average of 45,000 vehicles per day between the Judson Walsh Drive and Creswell Lane exits.

[edit] History

The original plans for Interstate Highways in Louisiana only included Interstates 10 and 20 with no connection in between. After Interstate 55 was added in the 1950s, the state considered building a toll road to connect I-10 in southwestern Louisiana and I-20 in the northern part of the state, but later rejected the idea.

In the mid 1970s, The Federal Highway Administration approved an Interstate Highway to run between I-10 and I-20, beginning at I-10 in Lafayette and ending at I-20 in Shreveport. The mileage was gained from mileage released from other highways the state did not build as well as 153 miles (246 km) from a supplemental reserve.^[2]

Construction of I-49 began in the early 1980s, the first signed segment from I-10 to Washington, Louisiana, opened in 1984. After several delays, most of the highway was open by the early 1990s. The entire length of the 212-mile (341 km) road was completed May 1, 1996 when a 16.6-mile (26.7 km) section of highway in Alexandria named the Martin Luther King Jr. Highway was completed. The total cost of I-49's construction was about $1.38 billion.

[edit] Future

Long-term plans call for I-49 to be extended southeastward from Lafayette to New Orleans; and northward from Shreveport to Kansas City, Missouri.

Construction for the extension north is already underway in southwest Missouri, northern and southwestern Arkansas, and in northern Louisiana.

These plans may result in pieces of this interstate being disconnected. Once Arkansas and Missouri finish the Bella Vista Bypass, mentioned below, both states plan to rename I-540/U.S. 71 as I-49^[3] long before construction begins across west-central Arkansas, though AASHTO has denied the designation for the Missouri portion. [1]

[edit] Louisiana

Interstate 49 North is a 36 mile construction project that will connect I-220 in Shreveport to the Arkansas state line. This project has been divided into 11 segments. As of March, 2009 $328 million has been secured out of a total of $600 million needed to complete the project.^[4]

State transportation officials are currently working on plans to extend Interstate 49 to the south and east, from Lafayette to New Orleans roughly following the path of the current U.S. 90, which is at present a four-lane divided highway between the two cities. However, from Morgan City to near Raceland, U.S. 90 is an interstate-standard freeway, bypassing Houma to the north.

In the Lafayette area, the project is divided into two projects, the I-49 Connector and the rest of the interstate from the Lafayette Regional Airport to LA 88. The I-49 Connector has a record of decision and is currently in the process of formulating the Environmental Impact Study. It is planned to be a six-lane elevated freeway, passing to the right of the current Evangeline Thruway corridor, as to be closer to the Central Business District in Downtown Lafayette. The rest of the freeway from the airport to LA 88 will be an at grade six-lane freeway with a two mile (3 km) segment of eight-lane elevated freeway through the suburb of Broussard.

In the immediate New Orleans area, I-49 is planned to follow the route of the U.S. 90 Business (also known locally as the Westbank Expressway) through Westwego, Gretna and across the Crescent City Connection into downtown New Orleans, ending at I-10. "Future I-49" signage is visible along U.S. 90 and U.S. 90 Business, although as of 2007, construction has yet to begin.

In addition to the southeastward extension, Louisiana officials are also working on clearing and grubbing and drainage for the new extension from Shreveport to the Arkansas line. The construction roughly parallels U.S. 71 northward from I-220. In Shreveport, I-49 is also proposed to be rerouted along Louisiana 3132/Inner Loop Expressway and concurrent with I-220 from I-20 to its proposed alignment near U.S. 71.[2] The stretch of the current I-49 between the Inner Loop and I-20 is likely to become an interstate spur. Plans are underway to connect I-49 at the I-20 interchange with I-49 North in the vicinity of the I-220 interchange. [3]

[edit] Arkansas

In southern Arkansas State Highway 549 has been built between Texarkana and Doddridge, 5 miles (8.0 km) from the state line. It is presently being constructed to complete the routing to the state line. A new segment extending northward from Texarkana, AR, crossing into Texas, over the Red River and back to Arkansas is now shown projected on the official 2009 Arkansas state map. http://www.arkansashighways.com/planning_research/mapping_graphics/statehwymap_state09.PDF

Construction has not begun in west-central Arkansas. It is planned to follow the general route of U.S. 71 through the state between Interstate 30 and Interstate 40.

North of I-40, a map shows the two disconnected pieces of the Interstate. South of the interruption it is labeled I-540. The bypass being planned will go around Bella Vista. Many motorists in Arkansas and Missouri, especially truckers, are desperate to see the highway fully connected and flowing due to current traffic congestion. This section, however, has been indefinitely postponed following a study showing that a toll would not be enough to pay for the highway. MoDOT has said construction on their part of the Bella Vista Bypass would be on hold until Arkansas begins construction of its part.

[edit] Missouri

In Missouri, all of U.S. 71 from Anderson to Joplin has already been upgraded to Interstate Highway standards. A short bypass of Joplin, Missouri Route 249 has also been built as an eastern city bypass and is a possible extension of I-49 north. The bypass south of Anderson is being upgraded to Interstate Highway standards.

Heading north, many sections of divided highway still have at-grade intersections between Joplin and Harrisonville, yet are easily upgradeable. From Harrisonville to the south end of Kansas City at the Grandview Triangle—where U.S. 71 and Interstates 435 and 470 converge—the road is already built to Interstate Highway standards.

In central and southern Kansas City, much of U.S. 71, has been realigned to Bruce R. Watkins Drive, which connects the Interstate 70/Interstate 670 interchange in downtown Kansas City with south Kansas City with Interstate 435 and Interstate 470. Many neighborhood associations in Kansas City have objected to the upgrading U.S. 71 to freeway. Three at-grade intersections—Gregory Boulevard (71st Street), 59th Street and 55th Street—prevent the I-49 designation north of the Grandview Triangle along U.S. 71. MoDOT has gone on record stating a court order keeps them from removing the stoplights, making conversion of this stretch unlikely.^[5]

[edit] Exit list

Parish	Location	#	Destinations	Notes
Lafayette	Lafayette		US 167 south – Lafayette	Continuation beyond I-10
		1A	I-10 – Baton Rouge, Lake Charles	No exit number for I-10 east
		1B	Pont des Mouton Road
		2	LA 98 (Gloria Switch Road)
	Carencro	4	LA 726 – Carencro
		7	LA 182
Saint Landry	Grand Coteau	11	LA 93 – Grand Coteau
	Opelousas	15	LA 3233 (Harry Guilbeau Road)
		17	Judson Walsh Drive
		18	LA 31 (Creswell Lane)
		19	US 190 – Baton Rouge, Port Barre, Opelousas	Signed as exits 19A (east) and 19B (west) northbound
		23	US 167 north / LA 744 – Ville Platte	North end of US 167 overlap
	Washington	25	LA 103 – Washington, Port Barre
		27	LA 10 – Lebeau, Washington
		40	LA 29 – Ville Platte
Avoyelles		46	LA 106 – St. Landry
		53	LA 115 – Bunkie
Rapides		56	LA 181 – Cheneyville
		61	US 167 – Turkey Creek, Meeker
		66	LA 112 – Forest Hill, Lecompte
		73	File:Rapides Parish Route 22 (LA).svg LA 3265 / PR 22 – Woodworth
		80	US 167 south / US 71 (MacArthur Drive)	South end of US 167 overlap; southbound exit to US 71 north is via exit 81
	Alexandria	81	LA 3250 (Sugarhouse Road)	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
		83	Broadway Avenue
		84	LA 1 / Casson Street	Southbound exit is via exit 85A. LA 1 southbound is also the Zachary Taylor Parkway, which starts here.
		84	US 167 north / LA 28 east (Pineville Expressway)	North end of US 167 overlap; south end of LA 28 overlap
		85A	M.L. King Drive, Elliott Street – Downtown Alexandria
		85B	Monroe Street, Medical Center Drive	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		86	US 71 / US 165 / LA 28 west (MacArthur Drive) – Fort Polk, Leesville
		90	LA 498 (Alexandria International Airport access)
		94	PR 23 (Rapides Station Road)
		98	LA 1 – Boyce	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		99	LA 8 east / LA 1200 – Boyce	South end of LA 8 overlap
		103	LA 8 west – Flatwoods	North end of LA 8 overlap
		107	Lena
Natchitoches		113	LA 490 – Chopin
		119	LA 119 – Cloutierville
		127	LA 120 – Flora, Cypress
	Natchitoches	132	LA 478
		138	LA 6 – Many, Natchitoches
		142	PR 547 (Posey Road)
		148	LA 485 – Allen, Powhatan
		155	LA 174 – Ajax, Lake End
De Soto		162	US 371 / LA 177 – Pleasant Hill, Coushatta
		169	Asseff Road
		172	US 84 – Mansfield, Grand Bayou
		177	LA 509 – Carmel
		186	LA 175 – Kingston, Frierson
		191	LA 3276 / PR 16 – Stonewall
Caddo		196	Southern Loop
	Shreveport	199	LA 526
		201	LA 3132 (Inner Loop Expressway)  – Dallas, Texarkana
		202	LA 511 (East 70th Street)
		203	Hollywood Avenue, Pierremont Road
		205	Kings Highway
		206	I-20  – Dallas, Monroe	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
			Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street	At-Grade Intersection

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 49

• I-49 Energy Corridor
• I-49 North (Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development)
• I 49 Report
• 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)

edit Main Interstate Highways (major interstates highlighted)
4	5	8	10	12	15	16	17	19	20	22	24	25	26	27	29	30
35	37	39	40	43	44	45	49	55	57	59	64	65	66	68	69
70	71	72	73	74	75	76 (W)		76 (E)		77	78	79	80	81	82
83	84 (W)		84 (E)		85	86 (W)		86 (E)		87	88 (W)		88 (E)		89	90
91	93	94	95	96	97	99	(238)		H-1		H-2		H-3
Unsigned			A-1		A-2		A-3		A-4		PRI-1		PRI-2		PRI-3
Lists		Primary			Main - Intrastate - Suffixed - Future - Gaps
		Auxiliary			Main - Future - Unsigned
		Other			Standards - Business - Bypassed