Interstate 49
Encyclopedia
Interstate 49 is currently 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
.
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 west on its way to Shreveport. At Shreveport, the highway parallels a railroad line just to the west until its terminus at I-20 southwest of downtown.
The heaviest traffic on I-49 occurs within the cities of Shreveport 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.
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 states did not build as well as 153 miles (246.2 km) from a supplemental reserve.
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 miles (341.2 km) road was completed May 1, 1996 when a 16.6 miles (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.
Long-term plans call for I-49 to be extended southeastward from Lafayette to New Orleans
; and northward from Shreveport to Kansas City, Missouri
. There, it will connect with the Interstate network there and provide a seamless freeway link from Louisiana ports to the Canadian border in North Dakota
.
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 long before construction begins across west-central Arkansas, though the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) denied the designation for the Missouri portion on September 28, 2007.
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 West 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 2010, 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.http://www.southeastroads.com/i-049c_la.html 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. http://www.i49shreveport.com/overview.php
, 5 miles (8 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.
Construction has not begun on the 180-mile section between Texarkana and Fort Smith. 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, was indefinitely postponed following a study showing that a toll would not be enough to pay for the highway. The Missouri Department of Transportation
(MoDOT) has said construction on their part of the Bella Vista Bypass would be on hold until Arkansas begins construction of its part. On August 11, 2010, the FHWA announced that a TIGER economic recovery grant had been approved for construction of the Bella Vista bypass and its extension to Pineville, MO, the southern end of the existing freeway in that state. It also directly referenced the corridor as I-49 in the text of that announcement; this effectively lays to rest any numbering controversy regarding the development of the New Orleans to Kansas City Interstate route. Arkansas is beginning construction of the bypass to the Missouri state line.
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 but will not immediately become part of I-49 north, due to the traffic signals at the interchange with US 71 near Carthage.
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.
On August 4, 2010, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced that US-71 between Joplin and Kansas City will be upgraded to Interstate Standards and become Interstate 49 within the next two years. The portion of US-71 north of the Grandview Triangle will not be upgraded as part of this project.
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.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its southern terminus is in Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
, at Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
while its northern terminus is in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, at Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
.
Route description
I-49 begins its journey in Lafayette concurrent with U.S. Route 167U.S. Route 167
U.S. Route 167 runs for 499 miles from Ash Flat, Arkansas at U.S. Route 62 to Abbeville, Louisiana at Louisiana Highway 14. It goes through the cities of Little Rock, Arkansas, Alexandria, Louisiana, and Lafayette, Louisiana....
from I-10 to Opelousas
Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's...
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
Carencro, Louisiana
Carencro[p] is a small city in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a suburb of the nearby city of Lafayette. The population was 6,120 at the 2000 census. Its name comes from the Louisiana Creole word for buzzard: the spot was one where large flocks of buzzards roosted in the bald...
, and through Grand Coteau
Grand Coteau, Louisiana
Grand Coteau is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,040 at the 2000 census. Grand Coteau is on Interstate 49 south of Opelousas and is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town is a center for local farming...
, just south of Opelousas
Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's...
.
After leaving Opelousas, I-49 traverses the relatively flat, fertile farmlands until reaching Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
. From there, the highway roughly follows the Red River
Red River (Mississippi watershed)
The Red River, or sometimes the Red River of the South, is a major tributary of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in the southern United States of America. The river gains its name from the red-bed country of its watershed. It is one of several rivers with that name...
and Louisiana 1
Louisiana Highway 1
Louisiana Highway 1 is a state highway in Louisiana. At 436.20 miles , it is the longest numbered highway of any class in Louisiana. It runs diagonally across the state, connecting the oil and gas fields near the island of Grand Isle with the northwest corner of the state, north of Shreveport.The...
, bypassing the historic city of Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
to the west on its way to Shreveport. At Shreveport, the highway parallels a railroad line just to the west until its terminus at I-20 southwest of downtown.
The heaviest traffic on I-49 occurs within the cities of Shreveport 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.
History
The original plans for Interstate Highways in Louisiana only included Interstates 10Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
and 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
with no connection in between. After Interstate 55
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 is an Interstate Highway in the central United States. Its odd number indicates that it is a north–south Interstate Highway. I-55 goes from LaPlace, Louisiana at Interstate 10 to Chicago at U.S. Route 41 , at McCormick Place. A common nickname for the highway is "double...
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
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
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 states did not build as well as 153 miles (246.2 km) from a supplemental reserve.
Construction of I-49 began in the early 1980s, the first signed segment from I-10 to Washington, Louisiana
Washington, Louisiana
Washington is a small town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,082 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, opened in 1984. After several delays, most of the highway was open by the early 1990s. The entire length of the 212 miles (341.2 km) road was completed May 1, 1996 when a 16.6 miles (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.
Future
Long-term plans call for I-49 to be extended southeastward from Lafayette to New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
; and northward from Shreveport to Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. There, it will connect with the Interstate network there and provide a seamless freeway link from Louisiana ports to the Canadian border in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
.
Construction for the extension north is already underway in southwest Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, northern and southwestern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, 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 long before construction begins across west-central Arkansas, though the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States...
(AASHTO) denied the designation for the Missouri portion on September 28, 2007.
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. 9 of 11 segments are under construction as of February, 2011 and $460 million of $622 million needed to complete the project has been secured.State transportation officials are currently working on plans to extend Interstate 49 to the south and east, from Lafayette to New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
roughly following the path of the current U.S. 90
U.S. Route 90
U.S. Route 90 is an east–west United States highway. Despite the "0" in its route number, U.S. 90 never was a full coast-to-coast route; it has always ended at Van Horn, Texas. A short-lived northward extension to U.S...
, which is at present a four-lane divided highway between the two cities. However, from Morgan City
Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City is a city in St. Martin and St. Mary parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 12,404 at the 2010 census....
to near Raceland
Raceland, Louisiana
Raceland is a census-designated place on Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 10,224 at the 2000 census...
, U.S. 90 is an interstate-standard freeway, bypassing Houma
Houma, Louisiana
Houma is a city in and the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and the largest principal city of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's powers of government have been absorbed by the parish, which is now run by the Terrebonne Parish...
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
Environmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making...
. It is planned to be a six-lane elevated freeway, passing to the West 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
U.S. Route 90 Business (New Orleans, Louisiana)
U.S. Highway 90 Business is a business route of U.S. Highway 90 in and near New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Unlike a standard business route, it is built to higher standards than the segment of U.S. 90 that it parallels, with over half built to freeway standards and designated Interstate 910...
(also known locally as the Westbank Expressway) through Westwego
Westwego, Louisiana
Westwego is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 10,763 at the 2000 census. It lies along the west bank of the Mississippi River.-Geography:...
, Gretna
Gretna, Louisiana
The city of Gretna is the parish seat of Jefferson Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. Gretna is on the west bank of the Mississippi River, just east and across the river from uptown New Orleans. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and across the Crescent City Connection
Crescent City Connection
The Crescent City Connection, abbreviated as CCC, refers to twin cantilever bridges that carry U.S. Route 90 Business over the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. They are tied as the fifth-longest cantilever bridges in the world...
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 2010, 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
Interstate 220 (Louisiana)
Interstate 220 in Louisiana is an east–west bypass route around Shreveport, Louisiana in the northwestern corner of the state.-Route description:...
. In Shreveport, I-49 is also proposed to be rerouted along Louisiana 3132
Louisiana Highway 3132
Louisiana Highway 3132 is a state highway in Shreveport, Louisiana, more commonly known as the Inner Loop Expressway. It spans approximately and acts as a bypass to the south and west of downtown Shreveport...
/Inner Loop Expressway and concurrent with I-220 from I-20 to its proposed alignment near U.S. 71.http://www.southeastroads.com/i-049c_la.html 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. http://www.i49shreveport.com/overview.php
Arkansas
In southern Arkansas State Highway 549 has been built to Interstate standards between Texarkana and DoddridgeDoddridge, Arkansas
Doddridge is an unincorporated community in southern Miller County, Arkansas, United States, approximately five miles north of the Louisiana border. Doddridge is located at the junction of Arkansas Highway 160 and U.S. Route 71, and the southern terminus of Highway 549 , as well as the confluence...
, 5 miles (8 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.
Construction has not begun on the 180-mile section between Texarkana and Fort Smith. 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
Bella Vista, Arkansas
Bella Vista is a city in Benton County, Arkansas. It previously was the largest unincorporated community in the state of Arkansas; however, in November 2006 it voted to incorporate and form a municipality. The Bella Vista Property Owners Association estimates that there are currently 24,000...
. 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, was indefinitely postponed following a study showing that a toll would not be enough to pay for the highway. The Missouri Department of Transportation
Missouri Department of Transportation
The Missouri Department of Transportation is a state government organization in charge of maintaining public roadways of the U.S. state of Missouri.-External links:*...
(MoDOT) has said construction on their part of the Bella Vista Bypass would be on hold until Arkansas begins construction of its part. On August 11, 2010, the FHWA announced that a TIGER economic recovery grant had been approved for construction of the Bella Vista bypass and its extension to Pineville, MO, the southern end of the existing freeway in that state. It also directly referenced the corridor as I-49 in the text of that announcement; this effectively lays to rest any numbering controversy regarding the development of the New Orleans to Kansas City Interstate route. Arkansas is beginning construction of the bypass to the Missouri state line.
Missouri
In Missouri, all of U.S. 71U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71 is a north–south United States highway. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstate highways. Currently, the highway's northern terminus is in International Falls, Minnesota at the Canadian border, at the southern end of the Fort...
from Anderson
Anderson, Missouri
Anderson is a city in McDonald County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,089 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area....
to Joplin
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
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 but will not immediately become part of I-49 north, due to the traffic signals at the interchange with US 71 near Carthage.
Heading north, many sections of divided highway still have at-grade intersections between Joplin and Harrisonville
Harrisonville, Missouri
Harrisonville is a city in Cass County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,019 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of CassCounty.Harrisonville was found in 1837, and was named for Congressman Albert G. Harrison...
, yet are easily upgradeable. From Harrisonville to the south end of Kansas City at the Grandview Triangle
Grandview Triangle
The 3-Trails Crossing Memorial Highway is the official name for a highway interchange in south Kansas City, Missouri that was once considered one of Missouri's most congested locations. From the nickname, it may be assumed to be located in Grandview, Missouri, but it is actually north of...
—where U.S. 71 and Interstates 435
Interstate 435
Interstate 435 is an Interstate Highway beltway that encircles much of the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area in the states of Kansas and Missouri, USA.- Route description :...
and 470
Interstate 470
Interstate 470 may mean:*Interstate 470 , a loop around Topeka*Interstate 470 , a connection at Kansas City*Interstate 470 , a loop around Wheeling, West Virginia...
converge—the road is already built to Interstate Highway standards.
On August 4, 2010, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced that US-71 between Joplin and Kansas City will be upgraded to Interstate Standards and become Interstate 49 within the next two years. The portion of US-71 north of the Grandview Triangle will not be upgraded as part of this project.
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 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
/Interstate 670
Interstate 670 (Kansas-Missouri)
Interstate 670 is a 2.81 mile connector highway between I-70 in Kansas City, Kansas and I-70 in Kansas City, Missouri. The highway provides a more direct route through downtown Kansas City than the older mainline I-70, and avoids the sharp turn of the latter at the west end of the Intercity...
interchange in downtown Kansas City with south Kansas City with Interstate 435
Interstate 435
Interstate 435 is an Interstate Highway beltway that encircles much of the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area in the states of Kansas and Missouri, USA.- Route description :...
and Interstate 470
Interstate 470 (Missouri)
Interstate 470 is a loop of the Interstate Highway System that serves to link southeast Kansas City to Independence via Lee's Summit in Jackson County, Missouri. The western terminus of the freeway is at the Grandview Triangle interchange while the northern terminus is an cloverleaf interchange...
. 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.
Exit list
| Parish | Location | # Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Lafayette Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lafayette. According to the 2010 Census, its population was recorded as 221,578.... |
Lafayette Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census... |
Continuation beyond I-10 | ||
| 1A-B | Signed as Exits 1A (east) and 1B (west) | |||
| 1C | Pont des Mouton Road | |||
| 2 | ||||
| Carencro Carencro, Louisiana Carencro[p] is a small city in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a suburb of the nearby city of Lafayette. The population was 6,120 at the 2000 census. Its name comes from the Louisiana Creole word for buzzard: the spot was one where large flocks of buzzards roosted in the bald... |
4 | |||
| 7 | ||||
| St. Landry St. Landry Parish, Louisiana St. Landry Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is at the heart of Acadian/Cajun culture and heritage in Louisiana. The parish seat is Opelousas. According to the 2010 census, the population of St. Landry Parish is 83,384.St... |
Grand Coteau Grand Coteau, Louisiana Grand Coteau is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,040 at the 2000 census. Grand Coteau is on Interstate 49 south of Opelousas and is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town is a center for local farming... |
11 | ||
| Opelousas Opelousas, Louisiana Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's... |
15 | |||
| 17 | Judson Walsh Drive | |||
| 18 | ||||
| 19 | Signed as exits 19A (east) and 19B (west) northbound | |||
| 23 | North end of US 167 overlap | |||
| Washington Washington, Louisiana Washington is a small town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,082 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area.... |
25 | |||
| 27 | ||||
| 40 | ||||
| Avoyelles Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana Avoyelles is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Marksville. In 2000, its population was 41,481. The parish is named for the Avoyel Indian tribe.-History:... |
46 | |||
| 53 | ||||
| Rapides Rapides Parish, Louisiana -Military Installations:*Camp Beauregard *Esler Airfield *England Air Force Base *Camp Claiborne *Camp Livingston -Demographics:... |
56 | |||
| 61 | ||||
| 66 | ||||
| 73 | ||||
| 80 | South end of US 167 overlap; southbound exit to US 71 north is via exit 81 | |||
| Alexandria Alexandria, Louisiana Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes.... |
81 | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||
| 83 | Broadway Avenue | |||
| 84 | Southbound exit is via exit 85A. LA 1 southbound is also the Zachary Taylor Parkway, which starts here. | |||
| 84 | 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 | ||||
| 90 | ||||
| 94 | ||||
| 98 | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||
| 99 | South end of LA 8 overlap | |||
| 103 | North end of LA 8 overlap | |||
| 107 | Lena | |||
| Natchitoches Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Natchitoches Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Natchitoches. As of 2000, the population was 39,080. This is the heart of the Cane River Louisiana Creole community... |
113 | |||
| 119 | ||||
| 127 | ||||
| Natchitoches Natchitoches, Louisiana Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February... |
132 | |||
| 138 | ||||
| 142 | ||||
| 148 | ||||
| 155 | ||||
| De Soto De Soto Parish, Louisiana -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 26,656 people, 9,691 households, and 6,967 families residing in the parish. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 11,204 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile... |
162 | |||
| 169 | Asseff Road | |||
| 172 | ||||
| 177 | ||||
| 186 | ||||
| 191 | ||||
| Caddo Caddo Parish, Louisiana Caddo Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Shreveport; as of 2000, the population was 252,161... |
196 | Southern Loop | ||
| Shreveport Shreveport, Louisiana Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States.... |
199 | |||
| 201 | – Dallas, Texarkana | |||
| 202 | ||||
| 203 | Hollywood Avenue, Pierremont Road | |||
| 205 | Kings Highway | |||
| 206 | – Dallas Dallas, Texas Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States... , Monroe |
Northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||
| Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street | At-Grade Intersection |
External links
- Interstate Guide: I-49
- I-49 Energy Corridor
- I-49 North (Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development)
- I 49 Report
- I-49 Inner-City Connector-Shreveport
- I-49 Inner City Connector map (Shreveport, LA)
- I-49 South Project
- I-49 Connector (Lafayette, LA)
- Future I-49 South Pictures (Stephen Gantry)
- Future I-49 South Pictures (Andy P. Jung)