Editing Interstate 49 (section)

===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>