Is completion of Interstate 49 important to KC? It is one of the largest uncompleted interstates in the country. I am not talking about the small 4 lane stoplight stretch just south of the Missouri border, but the long windy stretch through the Ouachita Mountains between Ft. Smith and Texarkana.
Arthur Stillwell thought a direct Gulf connection from KC was important enough he built the KC Southern which parallels I-49 route until Shreveport. Is having a direct truck/auto route at interstate standards important to KC. I do not know how much time would be cut off if the winding two lane US 71 was replaced by a freeway, I would guess at least an hour. It would be nice to cut hours off a drive to New Orleans or Houston. Completion of the route would not just be significant to the states it runs through but also states north of KC on I-29 and I-35. Trucking interests should be for this and companies like Wal-Mart.
Interstate 49
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- Oak Tower
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- Ambassador
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Re: Interstate 49
To me it doesn't seem like a completed I-49 saves a significant number of miles between KC and NOLA vs I-70/I-55. (Though admittedly it's hard to plot mileage for currently-nonexistent highway segments on Google Maps.) The biggest benefit I see is being able to avoid the horrible portion that is I-70 across Missouri.
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- Western Auto Lofts
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Re: Interstate 49
Well, they completed the MO/AR section late last year. That stretch by the golf courses goes around that area now. All interstate.
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- Mark Twain Tower
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Re: Interstate 49
I-49 is now all interstate highway between KC and Fort Smith, Arkansas. Once the state of Arkansas completes the portion between Fort Smith and Texarkana, KC will have a complete highway to NOLA.
It was supposed to be completed already, but I believe Arkansas had some funding issues.
It was supposed to be completed already, but I believe Arkansas had some funding issues.
KC is the way to be!
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- Mark Twain Tower
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Re: Interstate 49
Recent update...
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2022/jan ... ension-to/
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2022/jan ... ension-to/