Editing Interstate 49 (section)

==Route description==
{{lengths table|length_ref=<ref name="fhwalog1"/>}}
|-
|[[Interstate 49 in Louisiana|LA]]
|{{convert|239.25|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 49 in Arkansas|AR]]
|{{convert|124.31|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|TX
|
|-
|[[Interstate 49 in Missouri|MO]]
|{{convert|183.96|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|Total
|{{convert|547.52|mi|km|disp=table}}
|}

===Louisiana===
{{Main|Interstate 49 in Louisiana}}
The southern terminus of I-49 is located at a [[cloverleaf interchange]] with [[Interstate 10 in Louisiana|I-10]] and [[U.S. Route 167 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;167]] in the southern Louisiana city of [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]]. Southbound motorists continue through the interchange onto the Evangeline Thruway, which transitions from a [[limited-access]] portion of [[Louisiana Highway 182|LA 182]] to a major divided thoroughfare that picks up the [[U.S. Route 90 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;90]] corridor heading through the heart of Lafayette. I-49 begins its journey concurrent with US&nbsp;167 as it travels northward through [[Carencro, Louisiana|Carencro]], [[Sunset, Louisiana|Sunset]], [[Grand Coteau, Louisiana|Grand Coteau]], and [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]]. US&nbsp;167 departs from the Interstate's alignment at exit&nbsp;23 between Opelousas and [[Washington, Louisiana|Washington]], and I-49 begins to take a northwesterly path through the heavily wooded rural terrain. Various state highways provide access to the small towns and cities located along the parallel [[U.S. Route 71 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;71]] and US&nbsp;167 corridors, such as [[Lebeau, Louisiana|Lebeau]], [[Ville Platte, Louisiana|Ville Platte]], [[Bunkie, Louisiana|Bunkie]], and [[Cheneyville, Louisiana|Cheneyville]]. After crossing US&nbsp;167, I-49 travels between US&nbsp;71 and [[U.S. Route 165 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;165]] into the [[Alexandria, Louisiana metropolitan area|Alexandria metropolitan area]] in central Louisiana.

I-49 travels through downtown [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] doubling as [[U.S. Route 71 Bypass (Alexandria, Louisiana)|U.S. Highway&nbsp;71 Bypass]] (US&nbsp;71 Byp.) and is also concurrent with portions of US&nbsp;167 and [[Louisiana Highway 28|Louisiana Highway&nbsp;28]] (LA&nbsp;28). Major interchanges with US&nbsp;167 and US&nbsp;71 lead to bridges that cross the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] into the neighboring city of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]]. Continuing northwest from Alexandria, I-49 parallels the Red River and [[Louisiana Highway 1|LA&nbsp;1]] through [[Boyce, Louisiana|Boyce]] and passes just west of the historic city of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], which is reached via [[LA 6]] at exit&nbsp;138. Between Natchitoches and [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]], I-49 travels between LA&nbsp;1 and [[US 171]] and has junctions with [[U.S. Route 371 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;371]] and [[U.S. Route 84 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;84]], connecting with [[Coushatta, Louisiana|Coushatta]] and [[Mansfield, Louisiana|Mansfield]], respectively.

In Shreveport, the Interstate heads directly into the downtown area and terminates at [[Interstate 20 in Louisiana|I-20]], a route that facilitates eastbound traffic. However, through traffic bound for I-20 west and the northern segment of I-49 is directed to transfer onto [[LA 3132]] at an interchange located about {{convert|5.5|mi|km}} south of this terminus. LA&nbsp;3132 is a western freeway bypass of Shreveport known as the Inner Loop Expressway that becomes [[Interstate 220 in Louisiana|I-220]] upon intersecting I-20. On the northside of town, motorists may exit I-220 and follow the next segment of I-49, which parallels US&nbsp;71 into [[Arkansas]].

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&nbsp;vehicles per day, while the stretch of freeway between Lafayette and Carencro sees an average of 55,000&nbsp;vehicles per day, and the stretch of freeway through Opelousas sees an average of 45,000&nbsp;vehicles per day between the Judson Walsh Drive and Creswell Lane exits.

During the [[sugarcane]] season, many trucks and tractors pulling heavy cane wagons cause traffic congestion and accidents.<ref name="highway 90 sugarmill related traffic congestion">{{cite web |url = http://www.iberianet.com/news/officials-ask-patience-safe-driving-during-sugar-harvest-season/article_1e6de5d6-cdb0-52eb-85b7-f9b1c8c20c54.html |last = LeJeune |first = Henri |title = Officials ask patience, safe driving during sugar harvest season |work = The Daily Iberian |date = September 20, 2004 |access-date = January 25, 2024 }}</ref>

===Arkansas===
[[File:University of Arkansas Campus 03.jpg|right|thumb|I-49 rises into the Ozark Mountains south of Fayetteville.]]
{{Main|Interstate 49 in Arkansas}}
I-49 in Arkansas is composed of three disconnected segments: northern, southern, and a short connector skirting [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]] near Fort Chaffee designated as AR 549.

The southern segment of I-49 enters Arkansas from Louisiana. The short segment progresses northward to a temporary terminus at US&nbsp;71 and US&nbsp;59 at the Texas state line north of Texarkana.

The northern segment of I-49 in Arkansas, most of which was formerly signed as part of [[Interstate 540 (Arkansas)|I-540]], begins at [[Interstate 40 in Arkansas|I-40]] in [[Alma, Arkansas|Alma]] and runs north to [[Northwest Arkansas]] through the [[Boston Mountains]]. The freeway passes through steep, sparsely populated terrain before entering the [[Bobby Hopper Tunnel]] in [[Washington County, Arkansas|Washington County]]. Entering Northwest Arkansas, I-49 has seven exits for [[Fayetteville, Arkansas|Fayetteville]] and three exits for [[Springdale, Arkansas|Springdale]] before entering [[Benton County, Arkansas|Benton County]]. The route serves as the boundary between [[Bentonville, Arkansas|Bentonville]] and [[Rogers, Arkansas|Rogers]], with seven exits for the two cities. After an interchange with US&nbsp;71 just south of the Bentonville–Bella Vista city line, I-49 follows the Bella Vista Bypass, which runs to the south and west of [[Bella Vista, Arkansas|Bella Vista]] before crossing into Missouri.

I-49 is designated as the [[Boston Mountains Scenic Loop]] between Alma and Fayetteville. The I-49 designation replaced the I-540 designation through Northwest Arkansas in March&nbsp;2014,<ref>{{cite letter |first = Gregory G |last = Nadeau |title = Letter Approving I-49 Designation |recipient = Scott E. Bennett |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-approval-north.pdf |format = PDF |date = March 28, 2014 |access-date = May 26, 2014 |archive-date = May 27, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215757/http://www.arkansashighways.com/forums/I-49-approval-north.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> with the exception of the Bella Vista Bypass, which was constructed between July&nbsp;2011 and October&nbsp;2021.

===Missouri===
{{Main|Interstate 49 in Missouri}}
I-49 enters Missouri from Arkansas on the Bella Vista Bypass, eventually reuniting with US&nbsp;71 south of [[Pineville, Missouri|Pineville]]. Continuing northward, I-49 passes through several smaller communities, including [[Neosho, Missouri|Neosho]], before reaching [[Joplin, Missouri|Joplin]]. In Joplin, I-49 junctions with [[Interstate 44 in Missouri|I-44]] and begins a short concurrency with I-44 for exits&nbsp;11 through 18.

Just a few miles east of Joplin, I-49 leaves I-44 and heads north and enters [[Carthage, Missouri|Carthage]], intersecting with [[Interstate 49 Business (Joplin, Missouri)|Interstate&nbsp;49 Business]] (I-49 Bus.)/[[Missouri Route 171|Route&nbsp;171]], which provides an alternate route for northbound I-49 travelers through Joplin. I-49 then passes through [[Nevada, Missouri|Nevada]] and other communities before reaching the [[Kansas City metropolitan area]]. I-49 intersects with I-470 and I-435, which provides connection to [[Interstate 70 in Missouri|I-70]], [[Interstate 35 in Missouri|I-35]], and [[Interstate 29 in Missouri|I-29]].

In south Kansas City, at Bannister Road just north of the [[Grandview Triangle]], the I-49 designation ends, and the freeway continues as Interstate 435 north to I-70 west and the expressway continues as US&nbsp;71, which proceeds into [[Downtown Kansas City]] as [[Bruce R. Watkins]] Memorial Drive.