Interstate 49, currently entirely within the state of Louisiana, connects Lafayette and Shreveport via Alexandria along a 200-mile freeway. The northern segment of Interstate 49 within the city of Shreveport was only completed in the late 1990s, while the section between Opelousas and Lafayette was completed in stages during the early 1980s.
The future shows a much longer path for Interstate 49, with extensions in the works to both the north and south. It will extend north to Kansas City via the U.S. 71 corridor and southeast to New Orleans via the U.S. 90 corridor.
Louisiana: Interstate 49 South (High Priority Corridor 37)
Future Interstate 49 corridor signage is already in place from the southern terminus in Lafayette southeastward via U.S. 90 to New Orleans. Interstate standard upgrading is underway along U.S. 90 near New Iberia and Morgan City, and Interstate 49 will culminate its journey along the Westbank Expressway before terminating at Interstate 10 in downtown New Orleans. The majority of this section (from Lafayette east to the junction of Interstate 310 and secret Interstate 910) was approved as "Future Interstate 49" by AASHTO's Route Numbering Subcommittee on November 6, 1998. The section between Interstate 310 and Interstate 10 (secret Interstate 910) was designated as Future Interstate 49 on October 1, 1999.
Interstate 49 through Lafayette received approval January 8, 2003 by the Federal Highway Administration. The motion allows for funding to commence on the planned five-mile $350 million viaduct between Interstate 10 and the Lafayette Regional Airport. Preliminary engineering for the project may be complete within a year at a cost of $500,000. Not all residents are thrilled with this progress, as many residents near the projected path of the freeway fear harm will be done to developed and mostly poor neighborhoods nearby. In related opposition, legal action has been pursued to move the project eastward into Saint Martin Parish. However, planners contend that the project complies with all applicable laws, and it appears very unlikely that the highway will be relocated from the original planned routing.2
Financing is underway to pay for the $4.9 billion project that Interstate 49 entails. A Congressional group met in 2003 at the New Orleans International Airport to discuss the corridor and funding related issues. Representative Tom Pitre of Wisconsin indicates that the House is drafting a $375 billion six-year proposal that will allocate Louisiana $4.28 billion which will help pay for Interstate 49 within the state. On the docket for Interstate 49 in Louisiana is the creation of a 36-mile portion of freeway between Shreveport and the Arkansas state line and the upgrading of U.S. 90 between Lafayette and New Orleans to Interstate standards. Total costs within Louisiana are estimated to be $2.3 billion. The state will cover 20% of the costs.3
Overview: Interstate 49 North (High Priority Corridor 1)
In addition, Interstate 49 is planned for a northward extension along the U.S. 71 Corridor through Northern Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri. Much of the existing U.S. 71 freeway, as well as Interstate 540 in Arkansas north of Interstate 40 and Interstate 130 in Texarkana, will become part of Interstate 49. These extensions to Interstate 49 are authorized as part of the National High Priority Corridor designation. Interstate 49 is part of the NHS/ISTEA/TEA-21 High Priority Corridor 1 between Shreveport and Kansas City and Corridor 37 for the Interstate 49 South extension from Lafayette southeast to New Orleans.
Louisiana: Interstate 49 North
Presently Interstate 49 terminates at Interstate 20 near downtown Shreveport. Interstate 49 will shift to Louisiana 3132/Inner Loop Expressway and the western portion of Interstate 220 upon completion of the Interstate 49 corridor between Shreveport and Arkansas. There will be no continuation of the in-city routing of Interstate 49 northward as the highway will bypass the city to the west. The existing segment of Interstate 49 between the symmetrical stack interchange at Louisiana 3132 to Interstate 20 will have to be renumbered. It is possible that this may become Interstate 149. Interstate 49 will depart Interstate 220 from a new interchange one mile to the west of the current U.S. 71/Louisiana 1 interchange (Exit 7).1
Groundbreaking for the first phase of the new Interstate 49 corridor between Interstate 220 and the Arkansas State Line occurred north of Mira at the intersection of Parish Road 16 and Parish Road 25 on Thursday, April 7, 2005.8 This section of Interstate 49 is estimated to cost $385 million; however, insufficient funds are available in Louisiana to pay for the construction of this 36-mile segment. New proposals to create funding are currently being discussed by state politicians, including either a one-cent pay-at-the-pump gas tax that would raise about $27 million per year for northern and southern Interstate 49 projects or to bond against some of the approximately $30 million collected by the state each year in unclaimed property.9
Work continues in 2007 on Interstate 49 at the state line, where crews are moving dirt on a 6.6-mile long section near the Arkansas state line. State money was secured to bridge the 20% funding gap, and now LADOTD can work on seven of 11 proposed freeway segments between Interstate 220 and the border. Optimistic officials hope to see new 6.6-mile section of future Interstate 49 open in 2010, if not 2009.9
Further south between Mira and Louisiana 169, work will begin on property acquisition, design work, land clearing. Interstate 49 from Louisiana 169 to Interstate 220 remains unfunded, however money may become available with the next federal transportation bill. Total costs on the project are estimated at $560 million. That figure will increase if additional funding or other delays occur.9
Arkansas
Future Interstate 49 is currently under construction as Future Interstate 130 and U.S. 71 from the Louisiana State Line north to Texarkana. The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is currently reviewing funding options for Interstate 49 between Texarkana north to Fort Smith; currently, no freeway route exists between Texarkana and Fort Smith. From Fort Smith north to the future Bella Vista bypass, Interstate 540 (built as Arkanasas 540) will become part of Interstate 49 once it connects to the rest of the corridor.
What was then known as Arkansas 540 was submitted to AASHTO for inclusion in the Interstate Highway System as Interstate 49 from Interstate 40 near Fort Smith north to the junction with Business U.S. 71 near Fayetteville. On April 25, 1997, AASHTO denied this proposal, indicating that the lack of connecting routes at the northern end would preclude the route from consideration at that time. It was approved as Interstate 540 a few months later by AASHTO, on November 14, 1997.
In addition to the Interstate 540 corridor, another section of Interstate 49 that is recently under construction is the Arkansas 549 corridor from Texarkana south to the Louisiana state line. The first segment of this freeway route (from Fouke to Texarkana) was completed on December 16, 2004.7 The Bella Vista Bypass is planned to be constructed as a toll road; this concept was approved by the Arkansas State Highway Commission on April 12, 2006.11
Missouri
Between Bella Vista and Pineville, a toll road is planned to carry Interstate 49 around the metropolitan area. U.S. 71 will be upgraded to four lanes through these two cities, but it will not be upgraded to Interstate standards. However, U.S. 71 will be routed onto a new alignment through Brush Creek and Pineville, and the old route through these areas will become Business U.S. 71. Completion of this upgrade to U.S. 71 is expected in 2005, and the Interstate 49 toll road is anticipated for completion in 2008-2009.3 For more information about the U.S. 71 improvements and future toll road, visit U.S. 71 in McDonald County. The Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (2005-2009) (McDonald County) also provides for this toll freeway route.
Various other improvements are underway or have been completed for the U.S. 71 corridor from Pineville north through Joplin, Carthage, Nevada, and Harrisonville. Funding has not been identified for the improvements necessary to eliminate at-grade interchanges and construct grade separations or interchanges at 13 locations and 25-30 miles of outer roads. This cost is at least $200 million. In Cass County, grade separations (overpasses with no access to U.S. 71) would be constructed at 283rd and 327th streets, and an interchange would be constructed at 307th Street. Grade separations or interchanges also would be located at Highways AA/E and 52 (east/south) in Bates County; Highways TT, D, M, E, and DD in Vernon County; and Highways V/C, DD/EE, and 126 in Barton County. Interstate 49 would likely follow U.S. 71 north to Kansas City.5
In Kansas City, the U.S. 71 freeway/expressway combination is complete. U.S. 71 (a.k.a. Bruce R. Watkins Drive and/or South Midtown Freeway) is now finished between Downtown and the south end of the I-435 loop. It's all Interstate-quality road except for the section between 47th/U.S. 56 and 75th Streets. This section is a parkway with three or four signalized intersections, due to powerful neighborhood assocations that objected to a limited access freeway. Missouri DOT designed these intersections so that overpasses and ramps could be added at a later date. This route is now a major commuter route from the southern suburbs, and the signalized intersections create traffic jams during peak hours.6 However, it is unlikely that any of these traffic signals would be removed due to local opposition, so Interstate 49 may not be able to follow U.S. 71 into Kansas City downtown.
History
The 212-mile section of Interstate 49 between Interstate 10 and Interstate 20 in Louisiana was completed on May 1, 1996, at a cost of approximately $1.38 billion. Originally proposed as a toll road, Interstate 49 was constructed with federal funds, some of which were redirected from unconstructed urban Interstates within Louisiana and the rest (153 miles) came from a "supplemental reserve." The bypass around Alexandria was designated the Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway. At the time, Interstate 49 was the longest Interstate to begin and end within the same state.10
The final mainline interchange of Interstate 49 south is Exit 1B for Pont De Mouton Road. The is one of five area interchanges to serve the city of Lafayette along Interstate 49. Interstate 10 is just one mile to the south. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Traffic merging onto Interstate 49 southbound from Pont De Mouton Road forms an exit-only lane for Exit 1A/Interstate 10 westbound. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
U.S. 167 follows the southernmost 24 miles of Interstate 49 between Opelousas and Lafayette. Before Interstate 49 was signed in the mid-1980s, U.S. 167 was the only route to follow this north-south freeway. This southbound photograph shows the paired routing enter the Interstate 10 cloverleaf interchange at Exit 1A. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Interstate 49/U.S. 167 southbound at the Interstate 10 eastbound cloverleaf ramp. U.S. 167 quickly transitions to a surface boulevard with many traffic lights and crossovers. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Interstate 49 corridor signs are posted throughout U.S. 167 and U.S. 90 through Lafayette. As it stands now, Interstate 49 is planned to travel through the city along or near the present U.S. 167 to U.S. 90 routing. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Perspective from U.S. 167 north
The first full-on guide sign for the upcoming Interstate 49 junction along U.S. 167 northbound. The stretch in the immediate vicinity of the junction features frontage roads with various travel amenities. Also featured within the median of U.S. 167 is the Lafayette Visitors Center. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (10/15/03).
Northbound on U.S. 167 as it enters the Interstate 49 freeway at Interstate 10. Northward Interstate 49 and U.S. 167 travel to Alexandria (80 miles) and Shreveport (199 miles). There is not much on the Interstate 49 corridor in between those cities. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Interstate 49/U.S. 167 north at Exit 1A for Interstate 10 eastbound. The city of Lake Charles is 67 miles to the west. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Perspective from Interstate 10 west
First Interstate 49 sign on westbound Interstate 10. Hurricane Evacuation trailblazers are posted on Interstate 49 from Lafayette northward all the way to Shreveport. The city of Opelousas is only 19 miles north of this junction. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (01/96).
Approach signage along Interstate 10 westbound. When this vidcap was taken, Interstate 49 was not complete in Alexandria nor in most of Shreveport. However, the 1986 posted guide signs for the north-south route still feature Opelousas as the control point. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (01/96).
Daytime view of the 0.25 mile guide sign of Exit 103B/Interstate 49 & U.S. 167 northbound. A new diamond interchange has opened to the east at Louisiana Avenue. The interchange features a new Interstate 10 alignment just south of the previous. The original westbound lanes of Interstate 10 now compose the westbound on and off-ramps to Louisiana Avenue. With that stated, the one-mile guide sign for Interstate 49 is still posted along the former westbound mainline (well off of the new mainline). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (10/15/03).
Westbound Interstate 10 at Interstate 49's current southern terminus. Future Interstate 49 corridor signs are present on U.S. 167 through to the junction with U.S. 90. The present thinking and planning will continue Interstate 49 southward along the current U.S. 167 corridor through the heart of the city. Also planned for the area is an east-west bypass freeway for the city of Lafayette. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (01/96).
Interstate 49 and U.S. 167 carry just four lanes throughout the Lafayette to Opelousas stretch. At Opelousas, the paired routes intersect U.S. 190, a secondary corridor between Opelousas and Baton Rouge across the Acadiana wetlands. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (10/15/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 west
Three exits of Interstate 10 directly serve the city of Lafayette. They are Exit 100/Louisiana 3184, Exit 101/Louisiana 182, and Exit 103A/U.S. 167. This photograph looks at the first mentioning of Interstate 49 on eastbound Interstate 10. The exit to the right serves Louisiana 182/Exit 101 into downtown Lafayette. Along the U.S. 90 parishes through Acadiana, Louisiana 182 composes the original alignment of the Old Spanish Trail. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02).
Exit 103A/B guide sign, 0.75 miles west of the southern terminus of Interstate 49. The freeway will extend southward through the city itself when all is said and done. Opposition groups are trying to have the corridor moved to the east of the city. Yet wetlands and other environmental concerns are seeing issues with that plan. Therefore the in-town routing is still preferred. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02).
Eastbound Interstate 10 at Exit 103A for U.S. 167/Future Interstate 49 south. From this cloverleaf interchange to Lafayette Regional Airport, U.S. 167 sees heavy commercial development along its frontage. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02).
The loop ramp to Interstate 49/U.S. 167/Exit 103B departs Interstate 10. The city of Shreveport is exactly 200 miles to the north via Interstate 49. The corridor between Opelousas and Shreveport (not including Alexandria) is vastly undeveloped. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 east
Future Southern Terminus - Interstate 10 - New Orleans, Louisiana
Perspective from Interstate 10 west
Interstate 49 is proposed to be extended south and east to meet the Hidden Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90/West Bank Expressway in New Orleans, terminating at Interstate 10 near downtown. This photo shows the first signage on westbound Interstate 10 approaching Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90. Photo taken by Andy Field (10/15/01).
Interstate 10 westbound at the Canal Street/French Quarter interchange for downtown New Orleans. The next interchange is the Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90/Westbank Expressway stack. In 1999, the city government proposed renumbering the Westbank Expressway Interstate 910 in anticipation of Interstate 49. The thought process that residents would get used to the Interstate designation, and that a switch to Interstate 49 would be less confusing. These plans however have yet to result in Interstate 910 shields, although the designation is now applied to 9.70 miles of freeway between this interchange and Marrero. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (03/20/02).
Westbound Interstate 10 approaching Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90. The sprawling interchange was rebuilt during the mid to late 1990s in conjunction with a reconstruction of the Pontchartrain Expressway (Business U.S. 90). Interstate 910 and Business U.S. 90 share a joint terminus at this interchange complex. Photo taken by Andy Field (10/15/01).
Westbound Interstate 10 at Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90 split. The nearby Greater New Orleans Bridge is tolled in the northbound direction (a $1 toll is levied on passenger vehicles). Photo taken by Andy Field (10/15/01).
Westbound Interstate 10 merge with traffic from Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90 east. U.S. 61 (Exit 232) is the next exit. The left-hand roadway is that of the Pontchartrain Expressway/Business U.S. 90/Interstate 910. Photo taken by Andy Field (10/15/01).
Next Five Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 west
1.50 miles north of the future Interstate 49 southern terminus on Interstate 10 east. This Exit 234A guide sign shows just U.S. 90 and omits Business U.S. 90 for the Westbank. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/13/03).
As Interstate 10 eastbound draws closer to downtown New Orleans Exit 234A reveals itself as a left-hand exit. In actuality, Interstate 10 exits from the Ponchartrain Expressway turning back to the northeast. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/13/03).
Interstate 10 departs the Pontchartrain Expressway for the Vieux Carre. Business U.S. 90 reveals itself finally and takes Interstate 910/future Interstate 49 southward across the Mississippi River to the Westbank Expressway. U.S. 90/Claiborne Avenue traffic departs via Exit 234A ahead. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/13/03).
U.S. 90 travels underneath the Interstate 10 viaduct from the east by the New Orleans Superdome as Claiborne Avenue. West of this interchange the highway travels southwestward to Tulane University and the community of Jefferson before crossing the Mississippi River via the Huey P. Long Bridge. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/13/03).
The split of traffic for Interstate 910/future Interstate 49/Business U.S. 90 west from U.S. 90/Claiborne Avenue. Business U.S. 90 elevates for the remainder of its New Orleans city routing. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/13/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 east
Northbound Interstate 49 approaching the terminus at Interstate 20 in downtown Shreveport. The signs display "Pete Harris Dr/Murphy St" and "I-20 Dallas/Monroe." Photo taken by James Allen (5/01).
A close-up of the right-hand panel in the above photograph of Interstate 49 northbound. Interstate 49 traffic to Dallas outside of the city is directed to the west via Louisiana Louisiana 3132/Inner Loop Expressway at Exit 201. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (1/18/02).
Perspective from Interstate 20 west
The horizon opens to reveal the skyline of Shreveport. Also visible is the two mile guide sign for the present northern terminus of Interstate 49 at Exit 17B. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Within the Exit 19A interchange with Louisiana 1 is this upcoming exits sign that features Exits 18 for Fairfield Avenue and Exit 17B for Interstate 49 south. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Approaching Interstate 49 south/Exit 17B from Interstate 20 westbound. Interstate 20 is suppressed below the city streets as it cuts a swath through downtown Shreveport. Note the reduced 50 MPH speed limit. Photo taken by Justin Cozart (09/02).
Second perspective of the Exit 17B/Interstate 49 overhead on Interstate 20 westbound. Interstate 49 features five interchanges that serve the city of Shreveport. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Interstate 20 westbound at Exit 17A/Interstate 49 south. Traffic for the southbound freeway rises dramatically as part of this sprawling stack interchange. The control point is listed as Alexandria. The central Louisiana city is located 123 miles to the south. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (2001).
Springtime view of the southbound beginning of Interstate 49 from Interstate 20 west. 174 miles separate this junction with the city limits of Dallas via Interstate 20. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
Close-up of westbound Interstate 20 signage at Junction Interstate 49 in Shreveport. Once outside of the Shreveport city limits, Interstate 49 is a lonely drive for the next 100 or so miles. The newness of the freeway and weak economy of the Pelican State has lead the frontage to remain vastly undeveloped. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (2/02).
Interstate 49 southbound sign bridge on the Exit 17B ramp from Interstate 20 west. Barricaded to the right is a ghost ramp for what appears to be the planned in-city routing of Interstate 49 northward. This planned alignment appears to be cancelled with the recently revealed future overlap of Interstate 49 to the west. This overlap will be in place when the route extends to Texarkana, Arkansas. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/08/03).
A massive stack interchange exists between Interstate 20 and the northern terminus of Interstate 49. This photograph looks at the impressive structure from westbound Interstate 20. Embedded within the Interstate 49 stack is Exit 17A for Linwood Avenue and Lakeshore Drive.
Eventually Interstate 49 will continue northward to Fort Smith, Arkansas. When the alignment north of
Shreveport is completed, Interstate 49 will reroute along the Louisiana 3132/Inner Loop Expressway and Interstate 220 to around milepost 6 before departing on an independent alignment. Existing Interstate 49 within the Inner Loop Expressway to Interstate 20 will likely be renumbered as a spur of Interstate 49.
Top two photos taken by Justin Cozart (09/02); third photo taken by Chris Patriarca (06/20/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 20 west
Eastbound Interstate 20 approaching Junction Interstate 49, two miles. Interstate 49 provides convenient access between Dallas-Fort Worth metro and New Orleans via Interstate 10. Traffic wishing to reach the Gulf Coastal Interstate sees a 206 mile trek to Lafayette. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (2001).
Eastbound Interstate 20 at Junction Interstate 49 in Shreveport. Five miles separate the north end with the Inner Loop Expressway/Louisiana 3132. At that junction, a symmetrical stack interchange exists. Photo taken by Lachlan Sims (5/01).
Another view of Eastbound Interstate 20 at Junction Interstate 49 in Shreveport. Motorists traveling the Interstate southbound will notice no billboards. That is because legislation was passed to ban the placement of them within visibility of the freeway. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (2001).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 20 east
