Ground broken for I-49 expansion

George "Clay" Mitchell, Fort Smith Times Record
·1 min read
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Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Congressman Steve Womack attended the groundbreaking Thursday for the expansion of Interstate 49 from Barling to Alma.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation will begin building a section of I-49 from Chaffee Crossing in Barling to the I-40 intersection at Alma that includes a new bridge over the Arkansas River.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks during the groundbreaking on Oct. 13 of the I-49 expansion in Barling, Ark. The expansion is to connect part of the completed project in Sebastian County to the I-49 exchange near Alma in Crawford County including a new bridge across the Arkansas River.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks during the groundbreaking on Oct. 13 of the I-49 expansion in Barling, Ark. The expansion is to connect part of the completed project in Sebastian County to the I-49 exchange near Alma in Crawford County including a new bridge across the Arkansas River.

Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority officials said the interstate expansion will bring more economic growth to Chaffee Crossing.

I-49 is a major transportation corridor that will open up the Fort Smith regional market to greater domestic and international trade. The timing is perfect for this project to coincide with explosive growth in Chaffee Crossing, officials have stated.

Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, served as moderator for the groundbreaking on Oct. 13 of the I-49 expansion in Barling, Ark. The expansion is to connect part of the completed project in Sebastian County to the I-49 exchange near Alma in Crawford County including a new bridge across the Arkansas River.
Lorie Tudor, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, served as moderator for the groundbreaking on Oct. 13 of the I-49 expansion in Barling, Ark. The expansion is to connect part of the completed project in Sebastian County to the I-49 exchange near Alma in Crawford County including a new bridge across the Arkansas River.

Voters decided to fund the project in November 2020 as a part of Issue 1, which allotted money to multiple highway projects. The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority donated a portion of its land to make the project possible.

Daniel Mann, executive director and CEO of Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority/Chaffee Crossing said, “October 13, 2022 was another great day for Chaffee Crossing and the River Valley. The official groundbreaking for I-49 is a game changer for our region. This 13.7 mile extension will connect us to I-40 and our colleagues in Northwest Arkansas."

Rep. Steve Womack speaks during the groundbreaking on Oct. 13 of the I-49 expansion in Barling, Ark. The expansion is to connect part of the completed project in Sebastian County to the I-49 exchange near Alma in Crawford County including a new bridge across the Arkansas River.
Rep. Steve Womack speaks during the groundbreaking on Oct. 13 of the I-49 expansion in Barling, Ark. The expansion is to connect part of the completed project in Sebastian County to the I-49 exchange near Alma in Crawford County including a new bridge across the Arkansas River.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Ground broken Thursday for the Interstate 49 expansion plan