Editing Interstate 49 (section)

==History==
===Louisiana===
The original plans for the Interstate Highway System did not include a north&ndash;south connection between [[Interstate 10 in Louisiana|I-10]] and [[Interstate 20 in Louisiana|I-20]] within Louisiana. In 1965, Governor [[John McKeithen]] proposed a toll road to perform this function and extend it to New Orleans, but the idea was never carried out.<ref name="Adv. 4-9-1986">{{cite news |date = April 9, 1986 |title = Moving northward |newspaper = Morning Advocate |location = Baton Rouge |page = 3B }}</ref> In the mid-1970s, the [[Federal Highway Administration]] (FHWA) approved an Interstate Highway to run between US&nbsp;190 in Opelousas and I-20 in Shreveport, a route that was designated as I-49 by the [[American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials]] (AASHTO) in the summer of 1977.<ref name="AASHTO 1977">{{AASHTO minutes |year=1977S |page=2 |access-date=January 19, 2016 |link=yes |v-link=yes}}</ref> The mileage was gained from mileage released from other highways the states did not build and {{convert|153|mi|km}} from a supplemental reserve.<ref name="fha50a"/> In 1981, AASHTO approved a slight extension of the designation along the existing route of US&nbsp;167 from Opelousas south to I-10 in Lafayette.<ref name="AASHTO 1981">{{AASHTO minutes |year=1981A |page=2 |access-date=January 19, 2016 |v-link=yes}}</ref> In its early history, I-49 was commonly referred to as the North&ndash;South Expressway.<ref name="Adv. 4-9-1986"/>

Construction of I-49 began in 1981 between Opelousas and the small town of Washington.<ref name="DOTD 1979/80">{{cite map |publisher = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |title = Louisiana |date = 1979 |author = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |author-link = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |edition = 1980 }}</ref><ref name="DOTD 1981">{{cite map |publisher = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |title = Louisiana |date = 1981 |author = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development }}</ref> This segment joined the portion running concurrent with US&nbsp;167, an existing [[limited-access highway]], and was completed by 1983.<ref name="DOTD 1981"/><ref name="DOTD 1983">{{cite map |publisher = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |title = Louisiana |date = 1983 |author = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development }}</ref> By the following year, virtually all remaining rural portions of the route were under construction,<ref name="DOTD 1983"/><ref name="DOTD 1984">{{cite map |publisher = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |title = Louisiana |date = 1984 |author = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development }}</ref> and 95 percent of this mileage was completed and opened to traffic between late 1987 and late 1989.<ref name="Adv. 3-29-1987">{{cite news |last = Leblanc |first = Doug |date = March 29, 1987 |title = Interstate 49 Expected to be Finished by 1991 |newspaper = Sunday Advocate |location = Baton Rouge |page = 1B }}</ref><ref name="Adv. 11-10-1989">{{cite news |date = November 10, 1989 |title = New Stretch of Interstate to be Opened |newspaper = Morning Advocate |location = Baton Rouge |page = 7B }}</ref> The remaining portions running through the urban centers of Alexandria and Shreveport required a much greater expenditure of time and funding. The entire length of the {{convert|212|mi|km|adj=on}} road was completed on May&nbsp;1, 1996, with the opening of a {{convert|16.6|mi|km|adj=on}} section in downtown Alexandria named the [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] Highway. The total cost of I-49's construction was about $1.38&nbsp;billion (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|1380000000|1996}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}).<ref name="fha50a"/> In 1991, the [[Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act]] (ISTEA) was passed designating an extension of I-49 to Kansas City, Missouri as "High Priority Corridor 1."<ref>{{Cite web |date = December 15, 2012 |title = Bill Summary & Status - 102nd Congress (1991 - 1992) - H.R.2950 - THOMAS (Library of Congress) |url = http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d102:HR02950: |access-date = April 15, 2025 |website = Thomas |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121215195446/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d102:HR02950: |archive-date = December 15, 2012 }}</ref>

"Interstate&nbsp;49 North" was a {{convert|36|mi|km|adj=on}} construction project that extended the highway from I-20 in Shreveport to the Arkansas state line and was divided into 11 segments. On November&nbsp;27, 2013, the first {{convert|18.9|mi|km|adj=on}} section between LA&nbsp;1 and US&nbsp;71 opened to traffic,<ref name="ladoti49n"/> and the extension to a point just south of the Arkansas state line opened in March&nbsp;2014.<ref name="I-49 North">{{cite web |author = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |title = I-49 North |url = http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/home.aspx?key=21 |publisher = Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |access-date = August 16, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160616180919/http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/home.aspx?key=21 |archive-date = June 16, 2016 |url-status = dead }}</ref> On May&nbsp;31, 2017, a {{convert|4.25|mi|km|adj=on}} portion between [[LA 3194]] (Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) and LA&nbsp;1 in Shreveport was opened to northbound traffic.<ref name="KSLA">{{cite news |url = http://www.ksla.com/story/35549101/louisiana-to-open-part-of-new-stretch-of-i-49-on-wednesday |title = Louisiana to Open Part of New Stretch of I-49 on Wednesday |first = Curtis |last = Heyen |date = May 30, 2017 |location = Shreveport, LA |publisher = [[KSLA|KSLA News 12]] |access-date = June 3, 2017 }}</ref>  On June&nbsp;15, 2018, the entire {{convert|5.25|mi|km|adj=on}} portion of I-49 between I-220 and LA&nbsp;1, including an interchange with I-220, was opened to traffic.<ref>{{Cite news |url = http://www.ksla.com/story/38438351/ladotd-opens-new-ramps-along-i-49-i-220-in-caddo-parish |title = LaDOTD opens new ramps along I-49, I-220 in Caddo |author = KSLA Staff |access-date = June 23, 2018 |language = en }}</ref> The remaining interchange ramps opened to traffic on October&nbsp;17, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2018/10/17/new-shreveport-49-220-interchange-officially-opens/1671011002/ |title = New Shreveport I-49, I-220 interchange officially opens |work = shreveporttimes.com |access-date = October 18, 2018 |language = en }}</ref>

===Arkansas and Missouri===
Arkansas and Missouri pursued an I-49 designation for US&nbsp;71 and [[Interstate 540 (Arkansas)|I-540]] for many years. In the early 2000s, there were plans by both states to rename the roadway as such between [[Interstate 44 in Missouri|I-44]] west of [[Joplin, Missouri|Joplin]] and [[Interstate 40 in Arkansas|I-40]] at [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]] once a new bypass of US&nbsp;71 had been completed around [[Bella Vista, Arkansas]], and north to [[Pineville, Missouri]].<ref name="jopgl070511"/> However, the AASHTO Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbers and Interstate Highways denied the I-49 designation at their annual meeting in September&nbsp;2007 because none of the new roadway was yet under construction.<ref name="aash070929"/> During this time, there was also some debate as to whether the [[Interstate 29|I-29]] designation should be extended farther south from its current terminus in Kansas City to either Joplin or all the way to Fort Smith.<ref name="aard020609"/>

[[File:Northern end of the future Bella Vista Bypass.jpg|thumb|A [[ghost ramp]] is at the northern end of the Bella Vista Bypass in 2011; the bypass was built and opened on October&nbsp;1, 2021.]]
[[File:I-49 Milepost Marker.jpg|thumb|upright|This I-49 milepost marker south of [[Carthage, Missouri]], was temporarily turned so as not to be visible to traffic in April 2012.]]
The I-49 designation, consisting of {{convert|180|mi|km}} in Missouri, became official at noon on December&nbsp;12, 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/02/3793979/us-71-south-to-become-i-49.html |title = US&nbsp;71 from Kansas City to Joplin to become Interstate&nbsp;49 |newspaper = [[Kansas City Star]] |date = September 2, 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120906005115/http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/02/3793979/us-71-south-to-become-i-49.html |archive-date = September 6, 2012 }}</ref> The designation applies to current US&nbsp;71 between I-435 in south Kansas City and Route H at [[Pineville, Missouri|Pineville]] (McDonald County), which was expanded to Interstate standards beginning in 2010.<ref name="MoDOTPR">{{cite press release |author = Southwest District Office |publisher = [[Missouri Department of Transportation]] |url = http://www.modot.org/southwest/news_and_information/District8Release.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=148419 |title = New I-49 Signs Being Installed Along US&nbsp;71 |access-date = December 23, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121109050722/http://modot.org/southwest/news_and_information/District8Release.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=148419 |archive-date = November 9, 2012 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref> The last of the expansion projects was completed in December&nbsp;2012. I-49 also runs concurrently with I-44 between exits&nbsp;11 and 18 east of [[Joplin, Missouri|Joplin]].

The [[Missouri Department of Transportation]] (MoDOT) began installing I-49 trailblazer signage (without shields) along with gantry signs and milemarkers, about 1200 signs in all, in February&nbsp;2012. Signage bearing I-49 shields was covered or turned from view until the I-49 designation received final approval by FHWA. This includes milemarkers at {{convert|0.2|mi|km|adj=on}} intervals along the entire alignment apart from I-44.<ref name="MoDOTPR"/>

The US&nbsp;71 expansion involved removing all at-grade intersections and constructing interchanges and overpasses at 15 sites between Harrisonville and Lamar. The two-year project represented a shift in funding priorities for MoDOT, which, in 2007, announced the indefinite postponement of its portion of the Bella Vista bypass project, citing a $139-million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|139000000|2007}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) funding gap in Arkansas between construction costs and toll revenues, and Arkansas's commitment to only a two-lane bypass constructed over six years.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper = Joplin Independent |title = Missouri Gateway to Bella Vista Bypass Scrapped |url = http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/l-marble1192477593 |date = October 15, 2007 |access-date = February 14, 2012 |archive-date = February 4, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120204015244/http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/l-marble1192477593 |url-status = dead }}</ref> MoDOT announced the Joplin-to-Kansas City expansion of US&nbsp;71 in August&nbsp;2010, to be done with the intention of bringing the I-49 designation to Missouri.<ref name="modot100804"/>

Most of the {{Convert|10.2|mi|km|adj=on}} corridor in Kansas City, constructed between 1990 and 2001,<ref>{{cite press release |first = Steve |last = Porter |publisher = Missouri Department of Transportation |title = Bruce R. Watkins Drive Is Smoother Months Ahead of Schedule |url = http://www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity/newrelease/District4News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=35205 |date = July 28, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100601185134/http://www.modot.mo.gov/kansascity/newrelease/District4News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=35205 |archive-date = June 1, 2010 |url-status = dead }}</ref> was built to Interstate standards. However, three at-grade intersections—at Gregory Boulevard (71st&nbsp;Street), 59th&nbsp;Street, and 55th&nbsp;Street—prevent the I-49 designation from being extended all the way to downtown. All three of these intersections were on the Kansas City Police Department's 2010 list of "Top 20 Crash Sites in Kansas City", at #9, #6 and #4, respectively,<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.kmbc.com/download/2011/0104/26366262.pdf |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.kmbc.com/download/2011/0104/26366262.pdf |archive-date = October 9, 2022 |url-status = live |title = Kansas City PD Top 20 Crash Sites, 2010 |location = Kansas City, MO |publisher = KMBC-TV }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and Watkins Drive has the reputation among commuters as "one of the city's most accident-prone stretches of road".<ref name="kcur100615"/> Many neighborhood associations in Kansas City have historically objected to expanding Watkins Drive to a freeway.<ref name="pitch050526"/> MoDOT has gone on record stating a court order keeps them from removing the stoplights, making conversion of this stretch unlikely. A MoDOT blog post says "Ample right of way was acquired to someday allow MoDOT to reconstruct the three signal-controlled, at-grade intersections to grade-separated interchanges, allowing traffic on Bruce R. Watkins Drive to flow unimpeded. Neither MoDOT nor the city of Kansas City can initiate this change. It is up to the citizens, who must raise the issue again through the court system to amend the class-action agreement."<ref name="modotbc"/>

The I-49 designation carries through the [[Three Trails Crossing]] (aka the '''Grandview Triangle''') interchange to guide motorists onto US&nbsp;71 north of I-435 and terminates north of I-435 and south of Bannister Road (Route W) around the 190.0&nbsp;mile marker.{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}} From this point north, US&nbsp;71 follows Bruce R. Watkins Drive,<ref>{{cite news |publisher = Missouri Department of Transportation |work = Pathways |title = Kansas City's Vital Link |url = http://www.modot.org/newsandinfo/publications/Pathways/fall2001/pdf/vital_link.pdf |date = Fall 2001 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081012081356/http://www.modot.org/newsandinfo/publications/Pathways/fall2001/pdf/vital_link.pdf |archive-date = October 12, 2008 }}</ref> a parkway which directly connects the [[Interstate 70 in Missouri|I-70]]/[[Interstate 670 (Kansas-Missouri)|I-670]] interchange in downtown Kansas City, and the [[Interstate 35 in Missouri|I-35]]/I-29/I-70 interchange just to the north, to south Kansas City and [[I-435]], [[Interstate 470 (Missouri)|I-470]], and I-49.

[[Interstate 130|I-130]], a former future designation from 2000 to 2014, was removed and no longer exists as part of the Texarkana Loop.<ref name="AHTDARRAList">{{cite web |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/ARRA/ARRA%20List%20AHTD%20WEB.pdf |title = AHTD List of ARRA projects |author = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department }} (Though both are labeled "Hwy. 71" here, as described #030325 is AR 245/future I-130 & I-49, while #030354 is AR 549/future I-49.)</ref>

====Southern Arkansas segment====
[[File:Highway 549 north of US 71.jpg|thumb|The first [[reassurance marker]] on AR&nbsp;549 north of US&nbsp;71 near Texarkana.]]
A temporary designation of [[Arkansas Highway 549|AR&nbsp;549]] had been assigned to I-49 between US&nbsp;71 north of Texarkana and [[Doddridge, Arkansas|Doddridge]], {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}} from the state line.<ref>{{cite press release |first = Jeff |last = Whatley |title = Highway 549 Opens to Traffic in Texarkana Wednesday |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/news/2013/NR%2013-144.pdf |date = May 13, 2013 |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |access-date = May 27, 2013 |archive-date = February 21, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140221204155/http://www.arkansashighways.com/news/2013/NR%2013-144.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref>

I-49 has now been completed to the state line. "Future I-49" segments extending northward from Texarkana, Arkansas, plus segments from Doddridge south into Louisiana were shown on the official Arkansas 2013 Highway Map.<ref>{{cite map |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/planning_research/mapping_graphics/2013%20AR%20State%20Highway%20Map%20-%20State%20Side.pdf |format = PDF |title = State Highway Map |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |year = 2013 |cartography = Planning and Research Division |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140529163631/http://www.arkansashighways.com/planning_research/mapping_graphics/2013%20AR%20State%20Highway%20Map%20-%20State%20Side.pdf |archive-date = May 29, 2014 |url-status = dead }}{{full citation needed|date=November 2014}}</ref> The route was completed and signed as I-49 in late 2014.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

====Bella Vista Bypass====
North of I-40, I-49 previously ended south of Bella Vista prior to October 1, 2021, about {{convert|8|mi|km|spell=in}} south of the Missouri state line. Travelers were forced to travel north on {{convert|15|mi|km}} of four-lane US&nbsp;71 with intersections, traffic signals, lower speed limits, and congestion before the present northern segment of I-49 began at Pineville, Missouri. The completion of the {{Convert|19|mi|km|adj=on}} "Bella Vista Bypass" between [[Bella Vista, Arkansas]], and [[Pineville, Missouri]] filled the gap and made I-49 a continuous route from Kansas City to Alma, Arkansas.

A major hurdle to the construction of the bypass over the years was funding. The 2010 TIGER grant application submitted by the [[Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department]] (AHTD) estimated the total cost for completion in Arkansas as $291.8&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|291800000|2010}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}). The document states the portion of the bypass in Arkansas is "proposed to be constructed as a toll facility, while the Missouri portion of the Bypass will be constructed as a free route".<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/BVB/TIGER%20II%20Application%208-19.pdf |work = TIGER II Discretionary Grant Program 2010 |title = Highway&nbsp;71: Bella Vista Bypass |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |author = Staff |date = August 23, 2010 |access-date = February 14, 2012 |archive-date = November 5, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111105110831/http://www.arkansashighways.com/BVB/TIGER%20II%20Application%208-19.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref>

On August&nbsp;11, 2010, the [[US Department of Transportation]] (USDOT) announced $10&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|10000000|2010}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) in [[Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery]] (TIGER) grant funding to construct a portion of the new four-lane bypass, though the funding covered only a two-lane segment {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} long. Groundbreaking occurred on July&nbsp;8, 2011, with a public ceremony that included Transportation Secretary [[Ray LaHood]], Arkansas Governor [[Mike Beebe]], and Senator [[Mark Pryor]]. The USDOT news release refers to the project as part of the "I-49 corridor", effectively ending questions about how the new highway would be numbered.<ref name="FHWA">{{cite press release |title = U.S. Department of Transportation, Arkansas Agreement Clears Way for Construction on Bella Vista Bypass |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |date = August 11, 2010 |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1032.cfm |access-date = May 27, 2013 }}</ref> The following year, the segment between [[Arkansas Highway 72|AR 72]] north and County Road&nbsp;34 was let.<ref>{{cite web |title = Route 71, Section 19, Hwy. 72 North-Co. Rd. 34 (B.V. Bypass) (F) |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/ProgCon/PREVIOUS%20LETTING%20PLANS/2012/May%202012/090293.pdf |date = March 7, 2012 |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |work = Construction Documents |access-date = March 10, 2014 |archive-date = March 11, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140311043228/http://www.arkansashighways.com/ProgCon/PREVIOUS%20LETTING%20PLANS/2012/May%202012/090293.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> In March 2014, AHTD anticipated completion of this first segment between AR&nbsp;72 north and AR&nbsp;72 south in spring 2014, and the next section in autumn 2014.<ref name="sbpres" >{{cite web |first1 = Scott |last1 = Bennett |title = AHTD Presentation to ASCE Day of Training |location = Fayetteville, AR |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |date = March 5, 2014 |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/PowerPoints/2014/030514_SEB_ASCENWA_Fayetteville3.pdf |access-date = March 10, 2014 |archive-date = March 11, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140311041016/http://www.arkansashighways.com/PowerPoints/2014/030514_SEB_ASCENWA_Fayetteville3.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> However, AR&nbsp;549 between AR&nbsp;72 and County Road&nbsp;34 was not completed and opened until August&nbsp;22, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title = Second section of Bella Vista Bypass opened to traffic |url = http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2015/aug/22/second-section-of-bella-vista-bypass-op/ |work = NWADG.com |date = August 22, 2015 }}</ref>

Following the passing of a ten-year half-cent sales tax measure in 2012, AHTD had acquired sufficient additional revenue to fund the southbound half of the Bella Vista Bypass without tolls.<ref>{{cite web |last = Smith |first = Jamie |title = Half-Cent Sales Tax Projects Coming into Fruition |work = The City Wire |url = http://www.thecitywire.com/node/27235#.UaQKV5wdNyA |date = April 9, 2013 |access-date = May 27, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130514075032/http://www.thecitywire.com/node/27235#.UaQKV5wdNyA |archive-date = May 14, 2013 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Since design work had been completed prior to passing the measure, AHTD was able to let the segment between AR&nbsp;72 and [[U.S. Route 71 Business (Northwest Arkansas, Arkansas)|U.S. Route&nbsp;71 Business]] (US&nbsp;71B) in February&nbsp;2014 as the first job of the Connecting Arkansas Program.<ref>{{cite web |title = Route 71, Section 19, Hwy. 71B-Hwy. 72 South (Bella Vista Bypass) (S) |work = Construction Documents |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/ProgCon/PREVIOUS%20LETTING%20PLANS/2014/February/CA0904.PDF |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |access-date = March 10, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140311033426/http://www.arkansashighways.com/ProgCon/PREVIOUS%20LETTING%20PLANS/2014/February/CA0904.PDF |archive-date = March 11, 2014 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Bids opened for next phase of Bella Vista Bypass |url = http://www.thv11.com/story/news/local/2014/02/26/arkansas-highway-department-opens-bids-for-bella-vista-bypass/5842437/ |location = Little Rock, AR |publisher = [[KTHV]] |date = February 26, 2014 |access-date = March 10, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140311041229/http://www.thv11.com/story/news/local/2014/02/26/arkansas-highway-department-opens-bids-for-bella-vista-bypass/5842437/ |archive-date = March 11, 2014 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref> AHTD anticipated completion of this project in 2016.<ref name="sbpres" />

In 2012, Missouri still had $40&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|40000000|2012}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) available for construction of its portion of the Bella Vista bypass from Pineville to the Arkansas state line. MoDOT's I-49 project manager said in an interview that "[MoDOT has] told Arkansas that whatever schedule it sets, we will meet them at the state line."<ref>{{cite news |date = December 11, 2012 |title = US&nbsp;71 Highway to become I-49 on Wednesday |publisher = [[KMBC-TV]] |location = Kansas City, MO |url = http://www.kmbc.com/news/kansas-city/U-S-71-Highway-to-become-I-49-on-Wednesday/-/11664182/17736398/-/xdgntt/-/index.html#ixzz2FWfA7GUh |url-status = dead |access-date = December 19, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031816/http://www.kmbc.com/news/kansas-city/U-S-71-Highway-to-become-I-49-on-Wednesday/-/11664182/17736398/-/xdgntt/-/index.html#ixzz2FWfA7GUh |archive-date = December 3, 2013 }}</ref> However, once Arkansas began building toward the state line, it was revealed that Missouri was $25&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|25000000|2013}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) short of the necessary funds to complete their section.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Kargas |first1 = Marissa |last2 = Leach |first2 = Sean |date = September 12, 2013 |title = Bella Vista Bypass Hits $25M Bump in the Road |work = NWA Homepage |url = http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltext-news/bella-vista-bypass-hits-25m-bump-in-the-road/d/fulltext-news/eha6UDvIMkucbPvgy-EHlw |url-status = dead |access-date = November 29, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203032549/http://www.nwahomepage.com/fulltext-news/bella-vista-bypass-hits-25m-bump-in-the-road/d/fulltext-news/eha6UDvIMkucbPvgy-EHlw |archive-date = December 3, 2013 }}</ref> A ballot initiative was defeated in August&nbsp;2014 in Missouri, which put the project on hold for nearly five years.<ref name="swtimes2013">{{cite web |last = Moritz |first = Rob |date = September 12, 2013 |title = Highway Commission Postpones Part Of Bella Vista Bypass Project |url = http://swtimes.com/news/highway-commission-postpones-part-bella-vista-bypass-project |access-date = November 29, 2013 |location = Fort Smith, AR |newspaper = The Southwest Times Record |agency = Arkansas News Bureau |archive-date = December 3, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005750/http://swtimes.com/news/highway-commission-postpones-part-bella-vista-bypass-project |url-status = dead }}</ref>

The only Arkansas project remaining for a fully operational two-lane bypass was the {{Convert|7.6|mi|km|adj=on}} section between County Road&nbsp;34 and the Missouri state line; however, was is listed as TBD by AHTD.<ref name="sbpres" /> Design work was complete for the roadway project and was anticipated to be complete in 2015 for the interchange. Construction of the roadway was anticipated to be complete in 2017, assuming a one-year delay related to Missouri funding.<ref name="cap71">{{cite web |title = Highway 71: Benton County |url = http://connectingarkansasprogram.com/corridors/19/highway-71-benton-county/ |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |work = Connecting Arkansas Program |date = February 26, 2014 |access-date = March 10, 2014 |archive-date = March 11, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140311044155/http://connectingarkansasprogram.com/corridors/19/highway-71-benton-county/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> Construction on the interchange was tentatively scheduled to be complete in 2018.<ref name="cap71" /> The final segment from Rocky Dell Hollow Road to the Missouri border was scheduled to be completed with all four lanes by late 2021 to meet up with the Missouri segment. Widening this segment was begun in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last = Wood |first = Ron |url = https://mdcp.nwaonline.com/news/2020/apr/09/end-in-sight-for-completing-interstate-/ |title = End in sight for completing Interstate 49 around Bella Vista |date = April 9, 2020 |website = McDonald County Press }}</ref>

On May&nbsp;10, 2017, a {{Convert|6.4|mi|km|adj=on}} segment of the bypass between the existing {{Convert|5|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} segment near [[Hiwasse, Arkansas]], and a new temporary roundabout interchange with I-49 and US&nbsp;71 near [[Bentonville, Arkansas]], opened after three years of construction and costed over $50&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|50000000|2017}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) to complete.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://5newsonline.com/2017/05/10/new-portion-of-i-49-bypass-complete-in-bella-vista/ |title = New Portion Of I-49 Bypass Complete In Bella Vista |publisher = 5News |author = Kathryn Gilker |date = May 10, 2017 |access-date = August 23, 2017 }}</ref>

In March&nbsp;2019, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved funding for the completion of the Bella Vista Bypass.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://talkbusiness.net/2019/03/missouri-to-complete-its-part-of-bella-vista-bypass-by-2022/ |title = Missouri to complete its part of Bella Vista Bypass by 2022 |first = Jeff |last = Della Rosa |date = March 6, 2019 |work = Talk Business & Politics }}</ref> Construction bids were approved in early April&nbsp;2020, and construction was expected to finish in Arkansas by late 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/missouri-awards-contract-for-its-share-of-bella-vista-bypass/article_f34be1f4-750b-11ea-b804-439f38b7784e.html |title = Missouri awards contract for its share of Bella Vista bypass |first = Andy |last = Ostmeyer |date = April 2, 2020 |work = Joplin Globe }}</ref> The remaining {{convert|4.8|mi|km}} in Missouri were also slated to be completed by late 2021. Once Missouri completed this portion, the gap closed, and four contiguous lanes of freeway from the Kansas City region to Alma, Arkansas, near the Fort Smith area was completed. The Bella Vista Bypass opened to traffic on October&nbsp;1, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title = I-49 Bella Vista bypass now complete |url = https://www.fayettevilleflyer.com/2021/10/01/i-49-bella-vista-bypass-now-complete/ |access-date = October 1, 2021 |website = Fayetteville Flyer |date = October 2021 |language = en-US }}</ref>