Primary route
I-49
Gulf Coast corridor toward Kansas City
Length481.3 mi
Designated1984
States3
Junctions5
About I-49
From Lafayette, LA (I-10) to Kansas City, MO (I-435/I-470 area)
Interstate 49 is a north-south route planned to connect the Gulf Coast region of Louisiana with the Kansas City area, spanning portions of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri. The established main section runs from Lafayette, Louisiana, north through Alexandria and Shreveport, and continues into western Arkansas and southwestern Missouri. As a developing corridor, the route is signed in segments rather than as one continuous highway across all of its states.
In Louisiana the route is a complete freeway between Lafayette and Shreveport, serving the central and northwestern parts of the state. North of Shreveport the corridor continues toward Texarkana, through western Arkansas near Fort Smith and Fayetteville, and into Missouri toward Joplin and the Kansas City region, where existing freeway segments carry the I-49 designation. The intent of the corridor is to provide a continuous high-standard route between the Gulf and the central plains.
Because the route is being assembled from new construction and upgraded existing highways, there are gaps where the corridor is not yet built to Interstate standards. The Louisiana and northwest Arkansas portions are the most fully developed, while connecting links continue to advance over time.
State-by-state mileage
| State | Miles |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | 239.3 |
| Arkansas | 110.0 |
| Missouri | 132.0 |
| Total | 481.3 |
History
Interstate 49 was first designated in 1996 for the completed Louisiana freeway between Lafayette and Shreveport. The designation was later extended to additional segments in Arkansas and Missouri as the longer corridor toward Kansas City was built and upgraded, leaving the route signed in pieces during construction.
Major cities and places
LafayetteAlexandriaShreveportFort SmithFayettevilleJoplin
Did you know
- First designated in 1996 along the Lafayette to Shreveport freeway in Louisiana.
- A segmented corridor still being assembled toward the Kansas City area.
- Crosses Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri when complete.
- One of the longest primary Interstates with no auxiliary routes.