[bk21]

Does anyone have any information about the proposed I 49 highway through Texarkana, Mena, Waldron, and on to Fort Smith?

When is it supposed to happen?

Is it good or bad?

[woopig_sooie]

I havn't heard a thing about it, but I don't get over to that side of the state very often.

[undertheironsea]

I've heard the proposal, but that's all I've heard of it. Haven't really heard anything else about it.

[CorpITGuy]

It isn't dead, but the proposal is moving very slowly. To the South near Texarkana, there's a lot of work going on. The section between Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Arkansas just hasn't moved much since Jay Dickey was defeated. The congressman in the 4th district (South Arkansas) was on the appropriations committee. The new guy down there is not. Who knows... maybe that will change with the Dems in charge and a Dem down there in South Arkansas....?

[bk21]

For those of you who know Arkansas----when a interstate goes thru a town--such as Mena---does develpment spring up, and basically ruin the area?

It tends to be that way in California, Arizona.

[quicksand66]

Originally Posted by bk21

For those of you who know Arkansas----when a interstate goes thru a town--such as Mena---does develpment spring up, and basically ruin the area?

It tends to be that way in California, Arizona.

The I-49 corridor is rumored to be under construction south of ft. smith around fort chaffee.Texarkana has built a piece of I-49 (ar-549) from the louisiana border to up to the south side of texarkana(ar-245).Louisiana just sterted clearing the new swtretch of highway from ar/la border to to la-168.The report is by 2012 or 2013 I-49 will be complete down to I-220 in shreveport. I can imagine that it will take a long time to build I-49 from texarkana to ft.smith due to the terrain.

[SteveP1967]

I havent noticed or seen any construction around Fort Chaffee for this project but I did hear on the radio that this new stimulus thing was suppose to spur some development in this proposed route

[Bail_Khan]

Originally Posted by SteveP1967

I havent noticed or seen any construction around Fort Chaffee for this project but I did hear on the radio that this new stimulus thing was suppose to spur some development in this proposed route

I've seen a lot of dirt moved around out on Chaffee. If you go over by Graphics Packaging you can see some of it. I learned to drive out there though so I guess If you weren't as familiar you might not notice some of the new hills.
Newspaper said Arkansas approved the project for 30.1 million of stimulus money.