Opening of Bella Vista bypass important to Texarkana, region

Another piece of the I-49 puzzle falls into place

BELLE VISTA, Ark. — For decades, completing Interstate 49 along the west edge of Arkansas has been a major goal for the state government, economic developers, and stake-holders along the route.

On Thursday, another piece of the puzzle fell in place.

The Bella Vista bypass in the northwest corner of the state opened Thursday, featuring a host of dignitaries and the governors of Arkansas and Missouri, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Gov. Mike Parson, respectively.

The project’s completion leaves the stretch between Texarkana and Fort Smith as the road’s missing piece.

“The completion of the I-49 Bella Vista Bypass is a very important step in connecting I-49 North to Texarkana, said Curt Green on Friday. “Every mile of I-49 that is completed, helps us obtain funding to finish I-49 from Texarkana to Ft Smith ( commonly known as the Missing Link).

Green is a businessman and developer from Texarkana. He is also the president of the I-49 International Coalition.

“I consider the Bella Vista completion a major economic story to the future of Texarkana,” Green said. “In 2012, I-49 between Joplin and Kansas City was opened. In 2016, I-49 between Texarkana and Shreveport was opened and now in 2021,t he Bella Vista Bypass is opened.”

I-49 is a north-south interstate corridor that when completed with connect our Southern border and Gulf Coast with Canada. The corridor fills the void between I-35 going north from Dallas and I-35 going north from Memphis to St. Louis.

I-49 going South from Texarkana ties into ports in Southern Louisiana. I-69 underway and is mapped to tie Texarkana to Houston. All these elements put Texarkana in the center of a giant transportation hub.

Photo courtesy of the Interstate 49 International Coalition Members of the Interstate 49 International Coalition at the opening of the Interstate 49 Bella Vista bypass on Thursday. From left, I49IC Gar Eisele, Mena, Arkansas; Lorie Robertson, Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, I49IC Fort Smith, Arkansas; Kevin Welch, I49IC, Joplin, Missouri; Gard Wayt; I49IC executive director, Shreveport, Louisiana; Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson; Arkansas Department of Transportation Commissioner Keith Gibson, Fort Smith; ARDOT Commissioner Marie Holder; ARDOT Commission Vice Chairman Alec Farmer, Jonesboro; and Curt Green, I49IC president, Texarkana.