Forging an interstate
Multiple projects edge I-49 closer to reality in Arkansas

By George Waldon

Interstate 49 officially doesn't exist in Arkansas, but progress is pushing construction of the highway south on a 65-mi. course from Texarkana, Ark., toward Shreveport, La.

The new north-south roadway eventually will link two east-west corridors: Interstate 30 at Texarkana and Interstate 20 at Shreveport. For now, the I-49 designation is strictly in Louisiana and covers 208 mi. from Interstate 10 at Lafayette to Interstate 20 at Shreveport.

James Construction Group LLC of Baton Rouge is finishing work on four Arkansas highway contracts totaling $70 million in the Texarkana area connected with the project. The company has completed work on the remaining Arkansas portion of the Texarkana Bypass, officially dubbed Ark. Hwy. 245 or locally known as Loop 245.

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The $9 million base and surfacing contract entailed two overpass bridges and 2 mi. of new interstate-grade highway from U.S. Highway 71 to the Texas state line. JCG officially completed work on this segment in January, but the ribbon cutting was awaiting finishing touches on the final Texas portion of the bypass in March.

When the southern loop opens, the bi-state sections built to interstate standards are expected to be designated Interstate 130. Plans call for some of the older sections of Loop 245 in Arkansas to be upgraded to interstate-quality standards.

Much of the Arkansas section of the bypass is destined to become part of I-49.

The route will include a spur of new interstate highway envisioned to split off Loop 245 northeastward to connect with a new intersection at I-30. This will serve as the jumping-off point for new roadway extending I-49 north from Texarkana. Construction of the new interstate between I-30 at Texarkana and Interstate-40 near Fort Smith is estimated to cost more than $1.8 billion.

Except for a small section near the Missouri state line, the future I-49 corridor in Arkansas is finished north of I-40.

JCG is nearing completion on a $27 million base and surfacing contract for the first 6-mi. section of future I-49 roadway extending south from the Texarkana Bypass. The overall contract included ramp construction and two overpass bridges connected with the bypass interchange.

JCG also was awarded an $18 million base and surfacing contract for the next 6-mi. stretch of new roadway that includes two overpass bridges at U.S. 71 in Fouke.

This section is about 40 percent complete. When finished this summer, the two sections from Texarkana to Fouke will be opened to traffic. Where the concrete paving has stopped and is awaiting the return of drier and warmer weather, row after row of green epoxy-coated dowel baskets are laid out across the base at 15-ft. intervals.

The location of the steel baskets marks the spot for a future joint between sections of concrete. Road construction on these three JCG contracts involved applying 6 in. of crushed stone, followed by a 4-in. coating of open-graded asphalt and 1 ft. of concrete.

The asphalt, which doesn't have sand in the mix, is porous and creates a drainage layer that helps water flow to the underdrain on the slope side of the highway and adds life to the roadway.

"Whether it's rain or not, controlling water is an important part of a job like this," said Glenn Dunlap, project manager for JCG. The topography of Miller County features plenty of wet subgrade thanks to numerous springs and creeks.

Dealing with ground water issues was a big part of JCG's $16 million contract to build the I-49 road bed from the new Sulfur River Bridge to Ark. Hwy. 160 east of Doddridge. About 1.5 million cu. yds. of soil was excavated locally to build the foundation for the section of interstate, which rises 24 to 25 ft. from its base.

In some locations, cement and lime were put into the subgrade to help with stabilization. In other areas, undercuts were made and filled with rock. Water is diverted away from the road base through pipe underdrains, ranging in size from 3-ft. by 3-ft. to 1-ft. by 1-ft.. JCG installed about 14,000-ft. (1.7 miles) of underdrainage on this section.

The starting point of the contract was a challenge that required the excavation and relocation of 400,000 cu. yds. of dirt.

"We relocated the Sulfur River a little bit," Dunlap said. A 500-ft. section of the channel was filled and the river bend was re-channeled in preparation for the I-49 roadbed.

The re-channeling work was dictated by the Sulfur River Wildlife Management Area, just upstream of the U.S. 71 bridge. This forced the routing of the I-49 roadway east of the U.S. 71 bridge. The two 6-mi. sections from Fouke to Doddridge are expected to open to traffic by the end of 2005. That leaves a five-mile gap to the Louisiana state line, which is in the design stage.

Randy Ort, spokesman for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, said design consultants are also working on 40 mi. of what will become I-49 from I-30 in Texarkana north to U.S. 70 at De Queen. He added that there are no construction plans yet.

The all-important specter of funding hovers over both ends of the extension work. But highway officials in Arkansas are committed to finish the 5 mi. south of Doddridge to coincide with work in Louisiana.

Ken Perret, assistant secretary for planning and programming for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, said the entire 37-mi. route of I-49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas state line is in the design stage. Work on a $30 million dirt and drainage contract, a 6-mi. project, will start later this year on the roadbed between Mira and the Arkansas state line and is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete.

"We hope to get some additional funding for the whole route from Shreveport," Perret said. "That is a high priority for our governor." Estimates for the entire Shreveport to Arkansas portion of I-49 are pegged at $400 million.

Work is in motion to continue I-49 southeast from Lafayette to tie in with the New Orleans interstate network. Much of that effort involves upgrading about 75 mi. of U.S. Highway 90 to interstate standards at an estimated cost of $1.9 billion.