Interstate 49 in Missouri

Highway in Missouri

Not to be confused with Missouri Route 49 or Missouri Route 249.

This article is about the section of Interstate 49 in Missouri. For the entire route, see Interstate 49.

Interstate 49

I-49 highlighted in red

Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length| 183.96 mi[1] (296.05 km)
Existed| December 12, 2012–present
NHS| Entire route
Major junctions
South end|  I-49 at the Arkansas state line
Major intersections|

* US 71 in Pineville
* US 60 in Neosho
* I-44 / Route 249 in Joplin
* Route 171 in Jasper
* US 160 in Lamar
* US 54 in Nevada

North end|  I-435 / I-470 / US 50 / US 71 in Kansas City
Location
Country| United States
State| Missouri
Counties| McDonald, Newton, Jasper, Barton, Vernon, Bates, Cass, Jackson
Highway system

* Interstate Highway System

* Main
* Auxiliary
* Suffixed
* Business
* Future

* Missouri State Highway System

* Interstate
* US
* State
* Supplemental

| ←  Route 48| | →  Route 49

|
|

Interstate 49 (I-49) is an Interstate Highway in the US state of Missouri that was designated on December 12, 2012. It overlaps U.S. Route 71 (US 71) in the western part of the state, beginning at the Arkansas state line, and ending at I-435 and I-470 on the southeast side of Kansas City.

Upon completion, the highway will connect Kansas City to Texarkana, Arkansas and Shreveport along with Lafayette, Louisiana and New Orleans, Louisiana.

## Route description

[edit]

Northern terminus of I-49 at the Grandview Triangle in Kansas City, Missouri

I-49 enters Missouri from the Arkansas state line on the Bella Vista Bypass near Pineville. After continuing north for five miles (8.0 km), US 71 rejoins I-49 at exit 4 and is concurrent with it for the remainder of its length. It passes through many smaller communities before reaching Joplin. In Joplin, I-49 junctions with I-44 and begins a short overlap with I-44 between exits 11 and 18, heading east.

Just a few miles east of Joplin, I-49 leaves I-44, heads north, and enters Carthage. I-49 then passes through Nevada and other communities before reaching the Kansas City area. I-49 intersects with I-470 and I-435, which provide connections to I-70, Downtown Loop, I-35, and I-29.

In south Kansas City, at Bannister Road just north of the Grandview Triangle, the I-49 designation ends, the freeway continues as US 71, which proceeds into downtown Kansas City as Bruce R. Watkins Memorial Drive.

## History

[edit]

Former southern terminus of I-49 as seen in 2011, near Pineville, Missouri; a connection from this point to CR 34 west of Bella Vista, Arkansas, opened in 2021.

Arkansas and Missouri pursued an I-49 designation for US 71 and I-540 for a number of years. In the early 2000s, there were plans by both states to renumber the roadway as such between I-44 west of Joplin and I-40 at Fort Smith once new roadway had been completed around Bella Vista, Arkansas, and north to Pineville, Missouri.[2] However, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering denied the I-49 designation at their annual meeting in September 2007 because none of the new roadway was under construction.[3]

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) announced the Joplin-to-Kansas City upgrade of US 71 in August 2010, to be done with the intention of bringing the I-49 designation to Missouri.[4] The I-49 upgrade involved removing all at-grade intersections and constructing interchanges and overpasses at 15 sites between Harrisonville and Lamar.[5] The two-year project represented a shift in funding priorities for MoDOT, which, in 2007, had announced the indefinite postponement of its portion of the Bella Vista bypass project, citing a $139 million (equivalent to $197 million in 2023[6]) funding gap in Arkansas between construction costs and toll revenues, and Arkansas's commitment to only a two-lane bypass constructed over six years.[7]

MoDOT began installing I-49 trailblazer signage (without shields) as well as gantry signs and milemarkers, about 1200 signs in all, in February 2012\. I-49 signage shields were covered or turned from view until the I-49 designation was given final approval by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This includes milemarkers at 0.2-mile (0.32 km) intervals along the entire alignment apart from I-44.[8]

The I-49 designation in Missouri became official at noon on December 12, 2012.[9] The designation applies to 180 miles (290 km) of current US 71 between Bannister Road (Route W) in south Kansas City and Route H at Pineville (McDonald County) which was upgraded to Interstate standards beginning in 2010.[4] The last of the upgrade projects were completed in December 2012, but some designations about seven miles (11 km) north of the Arkansas state line still have not been built to meet Interstate standards.

In 2012, Missouri had $40 million (equivalent to $52.5 million in 2023[6]) available for its portion of the Bella Vista bypass but moved the money elsewhere in 2013.[10] They planned on using money from a proposed constitutional amendment which would have raised the sales tax; however, this was defeated by voters in August 2014\. Arkansas announced it will not extend its section to Missouri until construction begins on the Missouri section.[11]

In March 2019, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved the remaining funding needed to complete the portion of the Bella Vista Bypass within the state.[12] On April 1, 2020, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a $58.7 million contract for the construction of the five-mile (8.0 km) portion of highway. Construction started on May 11, 2020,[13] and the entire bypass opened on October 1, 2021, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony held the day prior.[14]

## Exit list

[edit]

County| Location| mi[15]| km| Exit[15]| Destinations| Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

McDonald| ​| 0.000| 0.000| |
I-49 south – Fort Smith| Continuation into Arkansas
​| 2.166| 3.486| 2|  Route 90 – Noel, Jane[16]|
​| 4.798–
4.989| 7.722–
8.029| 4|
US 71 south – Bella Vista| Southbound exit and northbound entrance; southern end of US 71 overlap
Pineville| 5.987| 9.635| 5|  Route H – Pineville, Noel|
​| 7.821| 12.587| 7|  Route EE – Pineville, Lanagan|
​| 10.953| 17.627| 10|  Route 76 – Anderson|
Goodman| 16.033| 25.803| 16|

US 71 Bus. south / Route 59 – Goodman, Anderson| Southbound exit and northbound entrance
​| 17.217| 27.708| 17|  Route B / Route BB – Goodman|
Newton| ​| 20.749| 33.392| 20|
I-49 BL north / Route AA|
Neosho| 24.305| 39.115| 24|  US 60 – Seneca, Neosho|
27.321| 43.969| 27|
I-49 BL south / Route 86 – Racine, Neosho|
​| 30.315| 48.787| 30| Iris Road|
Tipton Ford| 33.322| 53.627| 33|
I-49 BL north / Route 175 (Gateway Drive)|
​| 35.343| 56.879| 35|  Route V – Diamond|
Newton–Jasper
county line| ​| 39.352| 63.331| 39A|  Route FF (32nd Street)| Signed as exit 39 southbound
Jasper| ​| 39.501| 63.571| 39 (NB)
11 (SB)|

I-44 west / Route 249 north to Route 66 – Joplin, Tulsa| Southern end of I-44 overlap; signed as exits 39B (north) and 39C (west) northbound
​| 41.090| 66.128| 13| Prigmor Avenue – Joplin| Opened November 2015
​| 43.325| 69.725| 15|
I-44 BL west / Route 66 – Duenweg, Joplin| Southbound exit and northbound entrance
Fidelity| 46.318| 74.542| 18 (NB)
46 (SB)|

I-44 east / Route 59 south – Springfield, Diamond| Northern end of I-44 overlap; signed as exits 18A (south) and 18B (east) northbound, exits 46A (south) and 46B (east) southbound
47.650| 76.685| 47| Cedar Road|
Carthage| 50.151| 80.710| 49|
Route 571 north (Garrison Avenue)| Northbound exit and southbound entrance
50.946| 81.990| 50|  Route HH (Fir Road) – Carterville| Roundabout Diamond Interchange opened Oct 15th, 2024
52.071| 83.800| 51| Fairview Avenue|
53.775| 86.542| 53|

I-49 BL south / Route 96 / Route 171 north / Route 571 south (Central Avenue) – Webb City|
55.844| 89.872| 55| Civil War Road|
​| 56.920| 91.604| 56|  Route V (Garrison Avenue) / Route D – Alba| Southbound exit and northbound entrance
​| 63.314| 101.894| 63|  Route M / Route N|
Jasper| 66.516| 107.047| 66|  Route H / Route K – Jasper|
Barton| ​| 70.689| 113.763| 70|  Route 126 – Pittsburg, Golden City|
​| 74.702| 120.221| 74| 30th Road| Opened November 2013
Lamar| 77.271| 124.356| 77|  US 160 – Mindenmines, Lamar|
​| 80.803| 130.040| 80|  Route DD / Route EE|
​| 83.819| 134.894| 83|  Route V / Route C – Irwin|
Vernon| ​| 89.042| 143.299| 88|  Route N / Route B – Bronaugh, Sheldon|
​| 92.065| 148.164| 91|  Route BB / Route DD – Bellamy|
​| 96.050| 154.577| 95|  Route E – Milo|
Nevada| 101.386| 163.165| 101|

I-49 BL north / Route K to US 54 west – Nevada, Camp Clark|
102.483| 164.930| 102A|  US 54 – Nevada, El Dorado Springs| Signed as exit 102 northbound
103.131| 165.973| 102B|
I-49 BL south – Nevada| Southbound exit and northbound entrance
103.787| 167.029| 103| Highland Avenue|
​| 107.263| 172.623| 107|  Route M – Compton Junction|
​| 110.595| 177.985| 110|  Route D – Stotesbury|
​| 112.351| 180.811| 112| Horton|
​| 116.570| 187.601| 116|  Route TT|
Bates| Rich Hill| 120.974| 194.689| 120|  Route A / Route B – Rich Hill, Osceola|
​| 129.539| 208.473| 129|
Route 52 east – Appleton City| Southern end of Route 52 overlap
​| 130.795| 210.494| 130|

I-49 BL north / Route 52 west – Butler| Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Butler| 132.153| 212.680| 131|  Route 52 – Butler, Amoret| Northern end of Route 52 overlap
​| 136.849| 220.237| 136|
I-49 BL south / Route F / Route D – Passaic, Butler|
Adrian| 141.896| 228.359| 141|  Route 18 – Adrian, Clinton|
​| 144.417| 232.417| 144|  Route AA / Route E|
Cass| Archie| 147.789| 237.843| 147|  Route A / Route B – Archie, Drexel|
Harrisonville| 153.470| 246.986| 153| 307th Street|
157.455| 253.399| 157|
Route 7 south – Clinton| Southern end of Route 7 overlap;DDI opened Mid-April of 2024[17]
158.862| 255.664| 158|
Route 2 east (Commercial Street)| Southern end of Route 2 overlap
160.187| 257.796| 159|

Route 2 west / Route 7 north (Mechanic Street)| Northern end of Route 2 / Route 7 overlap
160.731| 258.671| 160|
Route 291 north – Lee's Summit, Harrisonville| Opened in 2016; existing diamond interchange converted to a diverging diamond interchange[citation needed]
Peculiar| 167.484| 269.539| 167|  Route C / Route J – Peculiar|
168.905| 271.826| 168| 211th Street / Peculiar Way| Diverging diamond interchange opened September 13, 2016[18]
Raymore| 172.475| 277.572| 172| North Cass Parkway|
Belton| 174.426| 280.711| 174|  Route 58 – Belton, Raymore|
175.658| 282.694| 175|  Route Y / 163rd Street|
Cass–Jackson
county line| Belton–Grandview–
Kansas City tripoint| 177.055| 284.942| 176| 155th Street – Belton| Opened on December 15, 2017[19]
Jackson| Grandview–Kansas City line| 178.043| 286.532| 177|  Route 150| Current interchange converted from the existing diamond interchange
Grandview| 178.920| 287.944| 178| 140th Street|
180.186| 289.981| 179| Main Street| This bridge was replaced and opened on November 22, 2017[citation needed]
180.747| 290.884| 180| Truman Drive| No direct northbound exit
Grandview–Kansas City line| 181.524| 292.135| 181| Blue Ridge Boulevard / Hickman Mills Drive / Longview Road|
Kansas City| 182.673| 293.984| 182| Red Bridge Road / Longview Road|
183.298–
183.981| 294.990–
296.089| 183|

I-435 / I-470 east / US 50 to I-70 west – Wichita, Lee's Summit, Des Moines, Downtown Kansas City| Signed as exits 183B (north) and 183A (east/west) [exit numbers not signed]; I-435 exit 71; western terminus and exit 1A on I-470

US 71 north – Downtown Kansas City| [exit number not signed] Continuation north; northern end of US 71 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

*       Concurrency terminus
*       Incomplete access

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
2. ^ Kennedy, Wally (May 11, 2007). "Plan holds 2008 finish for Range Line Bypass". The Joplin Globe. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
3. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (September 29, 2007). "Report for SCOH" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2017.
4. ^ a b "I-49 Coming to Missouri" (Press release). Missouri Department of Transportation. August 4, 2010. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
5. ^ "I-49 Conversion". July 10, 2016. Archived from the original on July 10, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
6. ^ a b Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
7. ^ "Missouri Gateway to Bella Vista Bypass Scrapped". Joplin Independent. October 15, 2007. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
8. ^ "New I-49 Signs Being Installed Along US 71" (Press release). Missouri Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
9. ^ "US 71 from Kansas City to Joplin to become Interstate 49". Kansas City Star. September 2, 2012.
10. ^ "US 71 Highway to Become I-49 on Wednesday". Kansas City, Missouri: KMBC-TV. December 11, 2012. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
11. ^ McGeeney, Ryan (August 7, 2014). "Bella Vista Bypass on Ice after Missouri Rejects Tax". NWA Online. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
12. ^ Rosa, Jeff Della (March 7, 2019). "Missouri to complete its part of Bella Vista Bypass by 2022". Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
13. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (April 2, 2020). "Missouri Highways & Transportation Commission Approves I-49 Missouri/Arkansas Connector" (Press release). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
14. ^ Pierre, Jesse (October 1, 2021). "Highly anticipated Bella Vista bypass opens to public, Friday morning". KNWA-TV. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
15. ^ a b Missouri Department of Transportation (May 7, 2020). MoDOT HPMAPS (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
16. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2020.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
17. ^ "MO Route 7 and I-49 Interchange Improvements". Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
18. ^ "MoDOT Kansas City added a new photo". MoDOT Kansas City. Retrieved March 4, 2022 – via Facebook.
19. ^ "I-49 and 155th". Missouri Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

KML file (edit • help)

Template:Attached KML/Interstate 49 in Missouri

KML is from Wikidata

Interstate 49

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Terminus
*[NHS]: National Highway System
*[mi]: Miles
*[km]: Kilometers