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COMMUNITY

Groundbreaking Celebrated for

I-49 Bridge Project

August 22, 2025 was a momentous
day for the Arkansas Department of
Transportation (ARDOT) and the River
Valley, as a groundbreaking event was
held in Barling for the new bridge
over the Arkansas River that is part
of the Interstate 49 (I-49) extension
from Highway 22 to Interstate
40. Completion of the entire 14-
mile extension is projected to be
accomplished by 2030.
The first of four projects to
construct the next portion of I-49 was
awarded to Manhattan Road & Bridge
for $282.5 million. This first phase of
the I-49 Extension will construct a 3.1-
mile stretch of I-49 between Highway
22 in Barling and Gun Club Road in
Crawford County.
It is being funded by $90 million in
federal Community Project Funds, $25
million from a Rebuilding American
Infrastructure with Sustainability and
Equity (RAISE) grant, and $168 million
from Federal Highway funding and
State Amendment 101, the permanent
half-cent sales tax passed by Arkansas
voters in November 2020. Cranes stand ready to place structural components for the 1-49 Arkansas River bridge
spanning the river just downstream from Lock & Dam 13 in Barling. Photo by John Speck.
Continued on page 16

Ted McEvoy Tyler Whitley

Agent Agent

105 S. 6th St. 1412 Fayetteville Rd.
Van Buren, AR 72956 Van Buren, AR 72956
479-474-2673 479-471-5313
TMcEvoy@ShelterInsurance.com TylerWhitley@ShelterInsurance.com

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14 Van Buren Chamber 2026 Community Profile vanburenchamber.org