Editing Interstate 49 (section)

==Future==
===Southern Louisiana segment===
[[File:Future corridor I49 sign.jpg|thumb|Future corridor I-49 sign in Lafayette, Louisiana]]
The [[Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development]] (DOTD) is working to extend I-49 from Lafayette southeast to [[New Orleans]] along the route of [[U.S. Route 90 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;90]], which is a divided four-lane highway between the two cities. This segment is listed under High Priority Corridor 37.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Statutory Listing of Corridor Descriptions - High Priority Corridors - National Highway System - Planning - FHWA |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/high_priority_corridors/hpcor.cfm |access-date=January 4, 2022 |website=[[Federal Highway Administration|Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)]]}}</ref> Some portions, such as the freeway between [[Morgan City, Louisiana|Morgan City]] and the [[Raceland, Louisiana|Raceland]] area, are already built to Interstate standards.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

In the Lafayette area, the project is divided into two projects, the I-49 Lafayette Connector and the expansion of US&nbsp;90 from Lafayette Regional Airport to the LA&nbsp;88 interchange.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I-49 Lafayette Connector |url=https://lafayetteconnector.com/ |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=I-49 Lafayette Connector |language=en-US}}</ref> The I-49 Lafayette Connector underwent a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement study and Conceptual Design Study due to refinements to the alignment originally approved in the February&nbsp;2003 Record of Decision. It is planned to be a six-lane elevated freeway, mostly utilizing the Evangeline Thruway corridor, except for a segment paralleling the [[BNSF]]/[[Union Pacific]] railroad line to serve the downtown area.<ref name="Laf Con">{{cite news|title=I-49 Lafayette Connector: How We Got Here|newspaper=The Advertiser|url=http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/11/27/interstate-49-lafayette-connector-how-we-got-here/76261204/|access-date=February 23, 2017}}</ref> Planning for this segment has been ongoing for decades, but construction has been delayed numerous times due to local opposition. The most recent attempt to begin construction was halted due to federal officials launching a civil rights investigation into the project in early 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marcantel |first1=Stephen |title=How a civil rights investigation could alter the I-49 Connector |url=https://thecurrentla.com/2023/how-a-civil-rights-investigation-could-alter-the-i-49-connector/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |work=The Current |date=March 1, 2023}}</ref> The rest of the freeway from the airport to [[LA 88]] will be an at-grade six-lane freeway with a {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} segment of eight-lane elevated freeway through the suburb of Broussard. Work on this segment began on November 15, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Governor, local officials, kick off future I-49 construction; here's what it will look like |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/governor-local-officials-kick-off-future-i-49-construction-heres-what-it-will-look-like/article_b5f308b4-650e-11ed-bdc9-979443a0a254.html |access-date=May 5, 2023 |work=The Advocate |date=November 15, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

US&nbsp;90 between [[LA 88]] and [[LA 182]] west of [[Wax Lake]] is already widened to Interstate standards, including a former at-grade intersection with [[LA 318]] south of [[Jeanerette, Louisiana|Jeanerette]], which was converted to a grade-separated interchange with frontage roads for local access.<ref name="LA 318">{{cite web|title=US&nbsp;90 (Future I-49) LA&nbsp;318 Interchange|url=http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Engineering/Design-Build/Pages/US90_LA318.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224003734/http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Engineering/Design-Build/Pages/US90_LA318.aspx|archive-date=February 24, 2017|access-date=February 23, 2017|website=Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development}}</ref> From Wax Lake to the Atchafalaya River bridge at Morgan City, US&nbsp;90 is a four-lane divided at-grade expressway. A Supplemental EIS is ongoing to expand that segment to interstate standards.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

The Raceland–New Orleans segment of the proposed I-49 South was originally approved in 2008 with a Record of Decision for a fully elevated freeway on a mostly new alignment along the entire length. However, in 2014, DOTD launched a study to consider less expensive alternatives and to expedite design and construction of that segment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Environmental |url=http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Engineering/Environmental/Pages/default.aspx?RootFolder=/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Engineering/Environmental/Documents/I-49%20South%20Implementation%20Report%20(Raceland%20to%20Westwego)&Folde |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224003731/http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Engineering/Environmental/Pages/default.aspx?RootFolder=%2FInside_LaDOTD%2FDivisions%2FEngineering%2FEnvironmental%2FDocuments%2FI-49%20South%20Implementation%20Report%20%28Raceland%20to%20Westwego%29&Folde |archive-date=February 24, 2017 |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=wwwsp.dotd.la.gov}}</ref> The resulting design changes greatly reduced costs by incorporating much of the existing US&nbsp;90 corridor, except bypasses of [[Des Allemands, Louisiana|Des Allemands]] and [[Paradis, Louisiana|Paradis]], and a revised connection with [[Interstate 310 (Louisiana)|I-310]]/[[LA 3127]].

In the immediate New Orleans area, I-49 is planned to follow the route of [[U.S. Route 90 Business (New Orleans, Louisiana)|US&nbsp;90 Bus.]], much of which is an elevated freeway. US&nbsp;90 Bus. follows the Westbank Expressway through [[Westwego, Louisiana|Westwego]], [[Gretna, Louisiana|Gretna]], and [[Algiers, New Orleans|Algiers]]. It then crosses [[Crescent City Connection]] over the [[Mississippi River]] into Downtown New Orleans and continues onto the [[Pontchartrain Expressway]] to an interchange with I-10. "Future I-49" signage is along US&nbsp;90 and US&nbsp;90 Bus.

===Shreveport segment===
In addition to the southern extension, Louisiana officials are working on the completion of I-49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas state line. Options for the remaining gap between I-20 and I-220 in Shreveport include the proposed Inner-City Connector, a {{convert|3.6|mi|km|adj=on}} direct connection between the completed portions of I-49.<ref name="ICC">{{cite web |url=http://www.i49shreveport.com/Site/ |title=I-49 Inner-City Connector–Shreveport |date=2016 |publisher=I-49 Inner-City Connector–Shreveport |access-date=June 3, 2017 |archive-date=June 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605015359/http://www.i49shreveport.com/Site/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> A no-build proposal is to reroute I-49 onto existing portions of [[LA 3132]] (Inner Loop Expressway) and I-220 through Shreveport.<ref name="SE Roads">{{cite web |url=http://www.southeastroads.com/i-049c_la.html |work=Louisiana @ SouthEastRoads |title=Interstate 49 Northbound (Shreveport Vicinity) |date=February 27, 2004 |access-date=January 28, 2013}}{{self-published source|date=November 2014}}</ref> Opposition regarding the direct routing through the historic Allendale neighborhood led to new proposal that would also provide a direct connection to the completed I-49, but loop around the neighborhood instead of going through it. The proposal was made public on January 20, 2023,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Heyen |first1=Curtis |title=New I-49 inner-city connector study corridor would avoid historic Allendale neighborhood |url=https://www.ksla.com/2023/01/24/new-i-49-inner-city-connector-study-corridor-would-circumvent-historic-allendale-neighborhood/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |work=www.ksla.com |date=January 24, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> with strong public opposition<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abbott |first1=Chloe |title=I-49 connector project subject of debate before MPC |url=https://www.ktbs.com/community/i-49-connector-project-subject-of-debate-before-mpc/article_1ca1b71a-0021-11ee-a079-3f36af862139.html |access-date=June 3, 2023 |work=KTBS |date=May 31, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> and positive feedback.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-26 |title=Alternative route for I-49 inner city connector gains momentum |url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/alternative-route-for-i-49-inner-city-connector-gains-momentum/article_b48f95f4-5cda-11ee-8c56-8f78f949f84b.html |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=KTBS |language=en}}</ref>

===Texas===
North of Texarkana, I-49 is eventually planned to have an interchange with US 71 and [[U.S. Route 59 in Texas|US 59]] and cross into Texas for a short destination, I-49 will enter Texas for about {{Convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}}, then turning northwest and cross the Red River to re-enter Arkansas,<ref>{{cite map |publisher= Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |url= http://www.arkansashighways.com/planning_research/mapping_graphics/State_Highway_Map_State_Side_2012.PDF |format= PDF |title= State Highway Map |year= 2012 |cartography= Planning and Research Division |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140221204157/http://www.arkansashighways.com/planning_research/mapping_graphics/State_Highway_Map_State_Side_2012.PDF |archive-date= February 21, 2014 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> when completed, I-49 will cross a brand new bridge that will cross the Red River, the construction of any part of the highway in Texas is clearly unknown, with there being no future signages or built portions in the state.

===Central Arkansas segment===
The {{Convert|180|mi|km|adj=on}} section between Texarkana and Fort Smith remains largely incomplete. Right-of-way has been acquired and engineering has been completed, but construction is contingent upon allocating funding to the corridor.<ref>{{cite map|publisher=Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department|url=http://www.arkansashighways.com/planning_research/mapping_graphics/State_Highway_Map_State_Side_2012.PDF|format=PDF|title=State Highway Map|year=2012|cartography=Planning and Research Division|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221204157/http://www.arkansashighways.com/planning_research/mapping_graphics/State_Highway_Map_State_Side_2012.PDF|archive-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref> After applying for and receiving assistance from the 2012 [[Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery|TIGER]] grant program, [[ArDOT]] began construction on the new path for I-49 towards US&nbsp;71 south of Fort Smith, bypassing [[Van Buren, Arkansas|Van Buren]] and Fort Smith. Work is now complete between US&nbsp;71 and [[AR 22]] near [[Fort Chaffee]] as the first and southernmost phase of the extension of I-49 bypassing I-540. The project is explicitly mentioned as an effort to complete I-49 in the TIGER grant application.<ref>{{cite web|title=Highway 71 New Location (Future Interstate 49)|url=http://www.arkansashighways.com/TIGER/T4/71/AR_71_APP.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221204147/http://www.arkansashighways.com/TIGER/T4/71/AR_71_APP.pdf|archive-date=February 21, 2014|access-date=May 27, 2013|work=Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary Grant Program Fiscal Year 2012 Application|publisher=Arkansas Department of Transportation|page=2}}</ref> Colloquially referred to as "Chaffee Crossing", this first phase was completed on July&nbsp;15, 2015, at the AR&nbsp;549 and AR&nbsp;22 Interchange A groundbreaking on the segment to I-40 occurred on October 13, 2022; this segment was estimated to cost $800 million, almost half of which is going to the bridge over the [[Arkansas River]]. Since then, the cost has increased to $1 billion. Construction on this project was to start in early 2024 and last five to six years.<ref>{{cite web |title=I-49 Project |url=https://www.ardot.gov/divisions/environmental/assessments/impact-statements-eis-assesments-ea/i-49-project/ |website=Arkansas Department of Transportation |access-date=April 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Jacob |title=Future Interstate 49 to break ground in Barling |url=https://www.nwahomepage.com/river-valley-news/future-interstate-49-to-break-ground-in-barling/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |work=KNWA FOX24 |date=October 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Rachel |title=Arkansas officials break ground on I-49 expansion in Barling |url=https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/i-49-expansion-barling-alma-arkansas/527-3ffb0158-c3db-47fc-9e12-117f9059fe08 |access-date=May 5, 2023 |work=5newsonline.com |date=October 14, 2022}}</ref> However, it has since been delayed to Summer 2025 as the project is not expected to be let until late-2024 or early-2025. Completion will be in 2035.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tilley |first1=Michael |title=Cost of I-49 segment between Barling and Alma rises to $1 billion |url=https://talkbusiness.net/2024/03/cost-of-i-49-segment-between-barling-and-alma-rises-to-1-billion/ |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=Talk Business & Politics |date=12 March 2024}}</ref> South of this segment, I-49 is planned to follow the general route of US&nbsp;71 through the state between I-30 and I-40.<ref name="kellyjohnson">{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Kelly|date=July 14, 2015|title=New Section of I-49 Opened|publisher=[[KHBS-TV]]|location=Fort Smith, AR|url=http://www.4029tv.com/news/new-section-of-i49-opened/34168402|access-date=July 15, 2015}}</ref>