Interstate 49 92031 225201317 2008-07-12T12:47:13Z 75.47.152.237 {{Infobox road |state=LA |type=I |route=49 |map=Interstate 49 map.png |maint=[[LDOT]] |length_mi=208.60 |length_round=2 |length_ref=<ref>[http://www.southeastroads.com/la_interstates.html Louisiana Interstate Highway Log]</ref> |established=1984 |direction_a=South |terminus_a={{Jct|state=LA|I|10|US|167}} in [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]] |junction= |direction_b=North |terminus_b={{Jct|state=LA|I|20}} in [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]] |previous_type=LA |previous_route=48 |next_type=LA |next_route=49 |commons=category }} '''Interstate 49''' (I-49) is an [[List of intrastate Interstate highways|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]]. ==Route description== {| class="infobox" width="230px" !style="background: #ccf;"|<big>Major cities</big><br><small>'''Bolded cities''' are officially-designated [[control city|control cities]] for signs</small> |- | *'''[[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]]''' * '''[[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]]''' * '''[[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]''' * [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] * '''[[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]]''' |} I-49 begins its journey in Lafayette concurrent with [[U.S. Route 167]] from I-10 to [[Opelousas, Louisiana|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, Louisiana|Carencro]], and through [[Grand Coteau, Louisiana|Grand Coteau]], just south of [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]]. After leaving Opelousas, I-49 traverses the relatively flat, fertile farmlands until reaching [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]. From there, the highway roughly follows the [[Red River (Mississippi watershed)|Red River]] and [[Louisiana Highway 1|Louisiana 1]], bypassing the historic city of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] to the west on its way to Shreveport. At Shreveport, the highway parallels a railroad line just to the east until its terminus at I-20 southwest of downtown. ==History== The original plans for interstate highways in Louisiana only included Interstates [[Interstate 10|10]] and [[Interstate 20|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 [[1970]]s, 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 state did not build as well as 153 miles from a supplemental reserve.<ref>[http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/previousfacts.cfm 50th Anniversary Interstate Highway System: Previous Facts of the Day] Federal Highway Administration. retrieved 27 May, 2007.</ref> Construction of I-49 began in the early 1980s and after several delays, most of the highway was open by the early 1990s. The entire length of the 212-mile road was completed May 1, [[1996]] when a 16.6 mile section of highway in Alexandria named the [[Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.|Martin Luther King Jr.]] Highway was completed. The total cost of I-49's construction was about $1.38 billion. ==Future== {{Future road}} Long-term plans call for I-49 to be extended southeastward from Lafayette to [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]]; and northward from Shreveport to [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. 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<ref>Kennedy, Wally. [http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_131203346.html Plan holds 2008 finish for Range Line Bypass], The Joplin (MO) Globe, published 11 May, 2007.</ref> long before construction begins across west-central Arkansas, though AASHTO has denied the designation for the Missouri portion. [http://www.cosmos-monitor.com/road/mo/index.html] ===Louisiana=== State transportation officials are currently working on plans to extend Interstate 49 to the south and east, from Lafayette to [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]] roughly following the path of the current [[U.S. Route 90|U.S. 90]], which is at present a four-lane divided highway between the two cities. However, from [[Morgan City, Louisiana|Morgan City]] to near [[Raceland, Louisiana|Raceland]], U.S. 90 is an interstate-standard freeway, bypassing [[Houma, Louisiana|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 right 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 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. Route 90 Business (New Orleans, Louisiana)|U.S. 90 Business]] (also known locally as the [[Westbank Expressway]]) through [[Westwego, Louisiana|Westwego]], [[Gretna, Louisiana|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 2007, 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 [[Interstate 220 (Louisiana)|I-220]]. In Shreveport, I-49 is also proposed to be rerouted along [[Louisiana Highway 3132|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. ===Arkansas=== In southern Arkansas [[Highway 549 (Arkansas)|State Highway 549]] has been built between Texarkana and [[Doddridge, Arkansas|Doddridge]], 5 miles from the state line. It is presently being constructed to complete the routing to the state line. Construction has not begun in west-central Arkansas. 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 [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=72714&ll=36.518466,-94.228363&spn=0.501064,1.708374 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, Arkansas|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, has been indefinitely postponed following a study showing that a toll would not be enough to pay for the highway. MoDOT has said construction on their part of the Bella Vista Bypass would be on hold until Arkansas begins construction of its part. ===Missouri=== In Missouri, all of [[U.S. Route 71|U.S. 71]] from [[Anderson, Missouri|Anderson]] to [[Joplin, Missouri|Joplin]] has already been upgraded to interstate standards. A short bypass of Joplin, [[Missouri Route 249]] is being built as an eastern city bypass and is a possible extension of I-49 north. The bypass south of Anderson, MO is being upgraded to interstate standards. Heading north, many sections of divided highway still have at-grade intersections between Joplin and [[Harrisonville, Missouri|Harrisonville]], yet are easily upgradeable. From Harrisonville to the south end of Kansas City at [[The Grandview Triangle]] - where U.S. 71 and Interstates [[Interstate 435|435]] and [[Interstate 470|470]] converge - the road is already built to interstate standards. 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 (Kansas-Missouri)|Interstate 670]] interchange in downtown Kansas City with south Kansas City with [[Interstate 435]] and [[Interstate 470 (Missouri)|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. ==Exit list== {| class=wikitable !Parish !Location ![[Exit number|#]] !Destinations !Notes |- !colspan=5|Southern terminus - [[Image:I-10.svg|20 px]] [[Interstate 10]] - [[Lafayette, Louisiana]]<br>[[Image:US 167.svg|25 px]] continues northward cosigned with [[Image:I-49.svg|20 px]] |- |rowspan=6|[[Lafayette Parish, Louisiana|Lafayette]] |rowspan=4|[[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]] | |[[Image:I-10.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 10 (Louisiana)|I-10]] east - [[Baton Rouge (LA)|Baton Rouge]] | |- |1A |[[Image:I-10.svg|20px]] I-10 west - [[Lake Charles (LA)|Lake Charles]] | |- |1B |Pont Des Mouton Road | |- |2 |[[Image:Louisiana 98.svg|20 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 98|LA 98]] (Gloria Switch Road) | |- |[[Carencro, Louisiana|Carencro]] |4 |[[Louisiana Highway 726|LA 726]] - [[Carencro (LA)|Carencro]] | |- | |7 |[[Image:Louisiana 182.svg|20 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 182|LA 182]] | |- |rowspan=9|[[Saint Landry Parish, Louisiana|Saint Landry]] |[[Grand Coteau, Louisiana|Grand Coteau]] |11 |[[Image:Louisiana 93.svg|20 px]] [[Lousiana Highway 93|LA 93]] - [[Sunset (LA)|Sunset]], [[Grand Coteau (LA)|Grand Coteau]] | |- |rowspan=3|[[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]] |15 |[[Louisiana Highway 3233|LA 3233]] (Harry Guilbeau Road) | |- |17 |Judson Walsh Drive | |- |18 |[[Image:Louisiana 31.svg|20 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 31]] (Creswell Lane) | |- | |19 |[[Image:US 190.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 190]] - Baton Rouge, [[Opelousas (LA)|Opelousas]] |Splits into exits 19A (Baton Rouge) and 19B (Opelousas) northbound. |- | |23 |[[Image:US 167.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 167]] north/[[Louisiana Highway 744|LA 744]] - [[Ville Platte (LA)|Ville Platte]] |US 167 joins southbound and splits northbound. |- |[[Washington, Louisiana|Washington]] |25 |[[Image:Louisiana 103.svg|20 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 103|LA 103]] - [[Washington (LA)|Washington]], [[Port Barre (LA)|Port Barre]] | |- | |27 |[[Image:Louisiana 10.svg|20 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 10|LA 10]] - [[Lebeau (LA)|Lebeau]] | |- | |40 |[[Image:Louisiana 29.svg|20 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 29|LA 29]] - Ville Platte | |- |rowspan=2|[[Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana|Avoyelles]] | |46 |[[Image:Louisiana 106.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 106|LA 106]] - [[St. Landry, Louisiana|St. Landry]] | |- | |53 |[[Image:Louisiana 115.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 115|LA 115]] - [[Bunkie (LA)|Bunkie]] | |- |rowspan=20|[[Rapides Parish, Louisiana|Rapides]] | |56 |[[Image:Louisiana 181.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 181|LA 181]] - [[Cheneyville (LA)|Cheneyville]] | |- | |61 |[[Image:US 167.svg|25px]] U.S. 167 - [[Turkey Creek (LA)|Turkey Creek]], [[Meeker, Louisiana|Meeker]] | |- | |66 |[[Image:Louisiana 112.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 112|LA 112]] - [[Forest Hill (LA)|Forest Hill]], [[Lecompte (LA)|Lecompte]] | |- |[[Woodworth, Louisiana|Woodworth]] |73 |[[Louisiana Highway 3265|LA 3265]] - [[Woodworth (LA)|Woodworth]] | |- |rowspan=11|[[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] |80 |[[Image:US 71.svg|20px]][[Image:No image.svg|2 px]][[Image:US 167.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 71]]/U.S. 167 south (MacArthur Drive) |Northbound exit and southbound entrance. |- |80 |[[Image:US 71.svg|20px]][[Image:No image.svg|2 px]][[Image:US 167.svg|25px]] U.S. 71 south/U.S. 167 south (MacArthur Drive) |Southbound exit and northbound entrance.<br>[[Image:US 71.svg|20 px]] {{scaps|Bypass}} begins northbound and ends southbound. |- |81 |[[Image:To plate.svg|20 px]]<br>[[Image:US 71.svg|20 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 3250|LA 3250]]/{{scaps|To}} U.S. 71 north (Sugarhouse Road) - {{scaps|To}} MacArthur Drive |Southbound exit and northbound entrance. |- |83 |Broadway Avenue | |- |84 |[[Image:US 167.svg|25px]][[Image:No image.svg|2 px]][[Image:Louisiana 28.svg|20px]][[Image:No image.svg|2 px]][[Image:Louisiana 1.svg|20 px]] U.S. 167 north/[[Lousiana Highway 28|LA 28]] east/[[Louisiana Highway 1|LA 1]] (Pineville Expressway) - Casson Street |Northbound exit and southbound entrance.<br>U.S. 167 joins southbound and splits northbound.<br>Access to [[Image:Louisiana 28.svg|20 px]] {{scaps|Business}}.<br>LA 28 joins northbound and exits southbound. |- |84 |[[Image:US 167.svg|25px]][[Image:No image.svg|2 px]][[Image:Louisiana 28.svg|20 px]] U.S. 167 north/LA 28 east (Pineville Expressway) |Southbound exit and northbound entrance.<br>LA 28 joins northbound and leaves southbound. |- |85A |Martin Luther King Drive, Downtown [[Alexandria (LA)|Alexandria]] |Northbound exit and southbound entrance. |- |85A |[[Image:Business plate.svg|25px]][[Image:No image.svg|2 px]][[Image:To plate green.svg|20 px]]<br>[[Image:US 165.svg|25px]][[Image:No image.svg|2 px]][[Image:Louisiana 1.svg|20 px]] U.S. Route 165 {{scaps|Business}}/{{scaps|To}} LA 1 (Elliot Street) - Downtown [[Alexandria (LA)|Alexandria]] |Southbound exit and northbound entrance. |- |85B |Monroe Street, Medical Center Drive |Northbound exit and southbound entrance. |- |86 |[[Image:US 71.svg|20px]][[Image:No image.svg|2 px]][[Image:US 165.svg|25px]] U.S. 71/[[U.S. Route 165]] (MacArthur Drive) |LA 28 joins southbound and leaves northbound.<br>[[Image:US 71.svg|20 px]] {{scaps|Bypass}} begins southbound and ends northbound. |- |90 |[[Image:Louisiana 498.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 498|LA 498]] (Air Base Road) | |- | |94 |[[Parish Road 23 (Rapides Parish, Louisiana)|Parish Road 23]] (Rapides Station Road) | |- | |98 |[[Image:Louisiana 1.svg|20 px]] LA 1 - [[Boyce (LA)|Boyce]] |Northbound exit and southbound entrance. |- | |99 |[[Image:Louisiana 8.svg|20 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 8|LA 8]] east/[[Louisiana Highway 1200|LA 1200]] - [[Boyce (LA)|Boyce]] |LA 8 joins northbound and leaves southbound. |- | |103 |[[Image:Louisiana 8.svg|20 px]] LA 8 west - [[Flatwoods, Louisiana|Flatwoods]] |LA 8 joins southbound and leaves northbound. |- | |107 |[[Lena, Louisiana|Lena]] | |- |rowspan=8|[[Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] | |113 |[[Image:Louisiana 490.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 490|LA 490]] - [[Chopin, Louisiana|Chopin]] | |- | |119 |[[Image:Louisiana 119.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 119|LA 119]] - [[Cloutierville, Louisiana|Cloutierville]] | |- | |127 |[[Image:Louisiana 120.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 120|LA 120]] - [[Flora, Louisiana|Flora]], [[Cypress, Louisiana|Cypress]] | |- |rowspan=2|[[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] |132 |[[Image:Louisiana 478.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 478|LA 478]] | |- |138 |[[Image:Louisiana 6.svg|20 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 6|LA 6]] - [[Many (LA)|Many]], [[Natchitoches (LA)|Natchitoches]] | |- | |142 |[[Parish Road 547 (Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana)|Parish Road 547]] (Posey Road) | |- | |148 |[[Image:Louisiana 485.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 485|LA 485]] - [[Allen, Louisiana|Allen]], [[Powhatan (LA)|Powhatan]] | |- | |155 |[[Image:Louisiana 174.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 174|LA 174]] - [[Ajax, Louisiana|Ajax]], [[Lake End, Louisiana|Lake End]] | |- |rowspan=6|[[De Soto Parish, Louisiana|De Soto]] | |162 |[[Image:US 371.svg|25px]][[Image:No image.svg|2 px]][[Image:Louisiana 177.svg|25 px]] [[U.S. Route 371]]/[[Louisiana Highway 177|LA 177]] - [[Pleasant Hill (LA)|Pleasant Hill]], [[Coushatta (LA)|Coushatta]] | |- | |169 |Asseff Road | |- | |172 |[[Image:US 84.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 84]] - [[Mansfield (LA)|Mansfield]], [[Grand Bayou, Louisiana|Grand Bayou]] | |- | |177 |[[Image:Louisiana 509.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 509|LA 509]] - [[Carmel, Louisiana|Carmel]] | |- | |186 |[[Image:Louisiana 175.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 175|LA 175]] - [[Kingston, Louisiana|Kingston]], [[Frierson, Louisiana|Frierson]] | |- | |191 |[[Louisiana Highway 3276|LA 3276]]/[[Parish Road 16 (De Soto Parish, Louisiana)|Parish Road 16]] - [[Stonewall (LA)|Stonewall]] | |- |rowspan=8|[[Caddo Parish, Louisiana|Caddo]] | |196 |Southern Loop | |- |rowspan=7|[[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]] |199 |[[Image:Louisiana 526.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 526|LA 526]] ([[Bert Kouns Industrial Loop]]) | |- |201 |[[Louisiana Highway 3132|LA 3132]] - {{scaps|To}} [[Dallas, TX]], {{scaps|To}} [[Texarkana, Texas|Texarkana]] | |- |202 |[[Image:Louisiana 511.svg|25 px]] [[Louisiana Highway 511|LA 511]] (East 70th Street) | |- |203 |Hollywood Avenue, Pierremont Road | |- |205 |Kings Highway | |- |206 |[[Image:I-20.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 20 (Louisiana)|I-20]] - [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Monroe (LA)|Monroe]] |Northbound exit and southbound entrance. |- |207 |Pete Harris Drive/Allen Avenue | |- !colspan=5|[[Image:I-49.svg|20 px]] Northern terminus - [[Image:I-20.svg|20 px]] [[Interstate 20]] in [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]]<br>I-49 continues north as Pete Harris Drive<br>Murphy Street continues south as I-49 |- |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.i49south.org/ I-49 South Project] *[http://www.i49connector.com/ I-49 Connector in Lafayette, LA] *[http://www.angelfire.com/super2/gantrification/ Future I-49 South Pictures (Stephen Gantry)] *[http://public.fotki.com/apjung/roadgeeking/i-49_south_roadtrip/ Future I-49 South Pictures (Andy P. Jung)] {{interstates}} [[Category:Interstate 49| ]] [[Category:Interstate Highway System|49]] [[Category:Interstate Highways in Louisiana|49]] [[fr:Interstate 49]]