Interstate 49

Interstate 49
Interstate 49
	I-49 highlighted in red, AR 549 highlighted in blue
Route information
Length	547.52 mi (881.15 km)
Existed	1977–present
NHS	Entire route
Original segment
South end	I-10 / US 167 / LA 182 in Lafayette, LA
Major intersections	US 71 in Alexandria, LA;
North end	I-20 in Shreveport, LA
Northern Louisiana–Southern Arkansas segment
South end	I-220 in Shreveport, LA
Major intersections	I-30 in Texarkana, AR;
North end	US 71 / US 59 in Texarkana, AR
Northern segment
South end	I-40 / US 71 in Alma, AR
Major intersections	I-44 near Joplin, MO
North end	I-435 / I-470 / US 50 / US 71 in Kansas City, MO
Location
Country	United States
States	Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri
Highway system
	Interstate Highway System; Main; Auxiliary; Suffixed; Business; Future;

Interstate 49 (I-49) is a north–south Interstate Highway that exists in multiple segments: the original portion entirely within the state of Louisiana with an additional signed portion extending from I-220 in Shreveport to the Arkansas state line, three newer sections in Arkansas, and a new section that opened in Missouri. Its southern terminus is in Lafayette, Louisiana, at I-10 while its northern terminus is in Kansas City, Missouri, at I-435 and I-470. Portions of the remaining roadway in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas, which will link Kansas City with New Orleans, are in various stages of planning or construction.

Although not part of the original 1957 Interstate Highway plan, residents of Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana began campaigning for the highway in 1965 via the "US 71 - I-29 Association". The campaign called for I-29 to be extended south from Kansas City to New Orleans following much of the route along U.S. Route 71 (US 71). The plan called for creating a limited access expressway from New Orleans to the Canadian border and on to Winnipeg (via Manitoba Highway 75). When I-49 is complete, the goal of the association will have been accomplished, with only a brief gap between the Grandview Triangle and I-29 at the Kansas City Downtown Loop served by US 71 (Bruce R. Watkins Memorial Drive) or other Interstates such as I-435 and I-70 in Kansas City.

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