• Southern Terminus: Currently at I‑10 in Lafayette.

• Ongoing planning aims to extend I‑49 south along US 90 toward New Orleans (the “Lafayette Connector”)—an elevated six‑lane freeway predominantly on the Evangeline Thruway corridor, with extension to LA 88 underway since Nov 15, 2022 

• A Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and design work for the New Orleans extension are expected by late 2025 

• Local sentiment reflects frustration over slow progress: one Redditor noted that “Future corridor of I‑49” signs have stood for nearly 30 years, and it “will never be done in our lifetime” unless significant funding or political shifts occur 

• I‑49 designation replaced earlier US 71/I‑540 segments north of Fort Smith.

• The Bella Vista Bypass near Bentonville was formally added to I‑49 in November 2021, completing a 19‑mile link and extending I‑49 northward 

• Construction is underway to extend the Interstate further south from Alma to Barling, including a new bridge over the Arkansas River. The first of four projects was awarded in October 2024 and represents the final phases toward completing the Fort Smith–Texarkana stretch 

• I‑49 was officially designated on December 12, 2012, converting approximately 184 mi of US 71 between the Arkansas border and southeast Kansas City to Interstate standards 

• This included completion of the Missouri–Arkansas Connector near Pineville in Sept 2021 

• The corridor has seen infrastructure improvements such as interchange upgrades (e.g., MO 7 bridge, diverging‑diamond design, finished April 2024) 

 

• Strategic Connectivity: I‑49 links key Gulf ports at New Orleans and Lafayette with hubs like Fort Smith, Kansas City, and beyond—as part of a major North–South freight route that extends via I‑29 to Canada 

• Economic Development: The “Midway Corridor” plan in Louisiana aims to harness growth and attract businesses along I‑49 between New Orleans and Shreveport 

• Completion Timeline: Missouri section done; Arkansas working on southern fill‑ins with construction from 2024 onward; Louisiana’s southern link remains the most contentious and unfunded portion.

 

Segment Status

Missouri (AR border → Kansas City) Completed Dec 2012; final link done Sept 2021

Arkansas (Fort Smith → Alma/Barling) Under construction since 2024; first phase underway

Louisiana (Lafayette → New Orleans) Planning/design phase; projected build post-2025; community debate ongoing

 

I‑49 represents a transformative corridor aimed at stitching together the central U.S. from Canada down to the Gulf Coast. While Missouri’s section is fully operational, and Arkansas is progressing, Louisiana’s extension remains uncertain—constrained by funding, environmental reviews, and public debate.

 

However, once complete, I‑49 will serve as a continuous interstate backbone for freight and regional development.