FORT SMITH (KFSM) - State leaders came together Tuesday (Jan.13) in Fort Smith to talk about the future of Interstate 49 through Sebastian County.
Leaders also talked about other area road projects in the works now and projects planned in the future.
According to highway commissioner Dick Trammel, the whole project will cost more than $350 million.
Right now, crews are hard at work building sections of the Bella Vista bypass which runs from Bentonville to Fayetteville. They're also working on the six miles of what will soon be Interstate 49 through Sebastian County.
Also in the works, a new bridge which will give drivers direct access from Interstate 40 to Interstate 49 in Alma.
Trammel said now the problem is funding all of these projects. "We are just trying to educate the people with our needs and why we need it," said Trammel.
According to Trammel, "What we have to do to get the project done is have federal funding and state funding, not just one or the other."