Page 10 - 2025 Van Buren Chamber Community Profile

COMMUNITY

of I-49 from Highway 22 to I-40 between Boyd and Petty both stated “We are
Barling and Alma, just east of Fort Smith, thankful to the members for recognizing
will include a new bridge across the the importance of this corridor to the
Arkansas River, a major component of the region, to the state and to the nation.
McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation Investment in our state’s infrastructure is
System. Interchanges will be constructed vital to the growth of our economy.”
at Highway 22, Gun Club Road, Clear “This project, particularly the I-49
Creek Road, and I-40. Gun Club Road Arkansas River bridge, is a significant
will be improved to highway standards milestone toward our goal of completing
between future I-49 and Highway 59. the I-49 corridor from Fort Smith to
“Interstate 49 has been a major driver Texarkana,” said Arkansas Highway
of economic growth in Arkansas, and Commissioner Keith Gibson. “When
continuing toward the completion of this finished, I-49 will offer a safer and more
project will only expand on that success,” efficient north-south highway in western
said Governor Sarah Sanders. “Arkansas is Arkansas. The convergence of two major
a transportation and logistics powerhouse interstate highways, I-49 and I-40, in the
because we sit at the center of America’s River Valley will form a crossroads from the
heartland, and I’m proud to work with our Canadian border to the Gulf Coast, and
state and federal partners to invest in the from the East Coast to the West Coast with
infrastructure that connects the Natural the River Valley as the centerpiece. When
State with the nation.” combined with the area’s major railway
Senator Justin Boyd and Senator Jim systems and waterway transportation
Petty recently facilitated a Joint House opportunities, I-49 will generate significant we’re grateful that our Congressional
and Senate Transportation Committee economic benefits and development not Delegation, our Governor, and our
meeting in Fort Smith to update the only to the region but to the entire state Legislature supports that mission,” said
membership on the status of Interstate 49. of Arkansas.” ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor. “We are
The members voted unanimously to write a “ARDOT has made it a priority to eager to begin work on this critical first
letter of support for the project. Senators complete Interstate 49 in Arkansas and piece from Highway 22 to Gun Club Road.”

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10 Van Buren Chamber 2025 Community Profile vanburenchamber.org