I-49 Opens From Kansas City To Arkansas

Hundreds of new signs now line the highway formerly known as 71.  The signage follows the unveiling of Interstate 49 between Kansas City and the Arkansas border. 

Victor Mendez is with the Federal Highway Administration.  He says the upgrades cost about $310 million, $250 million of that was federal money.

“If you think about today’s economic world, we’re recovering; we know the economy is coming back. But we need more people to get back to work. That’s our number one focus – to get people back to work. And through these types of investments, that’s what we’re able to do," says Mendez.

Highway officials in Arkansas and Louisiana are also working to complete Interstate 49 in their states.

When completed, I-49 will make up 900 miles. Taken together, I-49 south of Kansas City and Interstate 29 north of KC will cover 1,630 miles of highway.