{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/members-of-arkansas-and-missouri-congressional-delegations-announce-25-million-grant-for-critical-segment-of-i-49", "Members of Arkansas & Missouri Congressional Delegations Announce $25 Million Grant for Critical Segment of I-49", "2018-12-06", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Caroline Tabler or James Arnold (202) 224-2353\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Boozman (R-AR), and Roy Blunt (R-MO), along with U.S. Representatives Billy Long (MO-07) and Steve Womack (AR-03), announced that $25 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has been awarded to complete work on a critical segment of Interstate 49 that will connect Arkansas and Missouri.\n\nThe Arkansas/Missouri connector, often referred to as the Bella Vista Bypass, is the only portion of the more than 290-mile route between Kansas City, Missouri and Fort Smith, Arkansas that is not interstate quality. Traffic signals in Bella Vista and just across the state line in Missouri cause major traffic congestion and dramatically slow travel time.\n\nThe states have worked to complete this 18.9-mile section of I-49 at the Missouri-Arkansas line for more than 25 years. Funding for the project is being awarded from the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program which is allocated for nationally and regionally significant projects.\n\n\u201cInterstate access heralds the continued economic growth of any area, which is why completing the Bella Vista bypass is vital for Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri. Many businesses and future infrastructure projects depend on its finalization, and this funding will allow that project\u2019s construction finally to move forward. I am grateful to Secretary Chao and the Trump Administration for their dedication to improving Arkansas infrastructure,\u201d said Cotton.\n\n\u201cThis is exciting news for Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri. Securing these funds for this shovel-ready project has taken years of vigorous and persistent advocating from my team. Our hard work has finally resulted in funding for a project that will yield dividends when it comes to economic growth and quality of life in the region,\u201d Boozman said. \u201cI appreciate Secretary Chao\u2019s leadership in recognizing the importance of a project that I have championed throughout my time in Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cCompletion of the critical stretch of the I-49 Arkansas-Missouri Connector is 25 years in the making and I\u2019m thrilled we\u2019re one step closer to getting it done,\u201d said Blunt. \u201cCompleting this project will increase safety, improve the quality of life, and strengthen local economies in Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas. Missouri\u2019s transportation networks are our greatest competitive advantage, and I appreciate the partnership of our Arkansas colleagues in moving this project forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe completion of the I-49 corridor is long overdue,\u201d Long said. \u201cToday\u2019s announcement is great news for individuals and businesses in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas who have been waiting for this for more than 25 years. I am incredibly thankful for my colleagues in both Missouri and Arkansas who have long been strong advocates of I-49's completion, and their understanding of the numerous benefits it will bring to local economies in both states.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/members-of-arkansas-and-missouri-congressional-delegations-announce-25-million-grant-for-critical-segment-of-i-49"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1845780536532402, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}