The Bella Vista Bypass, a five-mile stretch of Interstate 49 from Pineville to the Missouri and Arkansas border, is now open.

A ribbon-cutting was held Thursday afternoon.

The new road opened to traffic Thursday night.

MoDOT says I-49 now runs 290 miles between Kansas City and Fort Smith, Arkansas.

It’s official! I-49 Missouri/Arkansas Connector is OPEN to traffic connecting #KCMO to #FtSmithArk. This photo is of the first driver to travel on new SB lanes. For details, click: https://t.co/XbpDSrGBJi#MoDOTSW pic.twitter.com/F7qRFRM6JZ

— MoDOT Southwest (@MoDOT_Southwest) October 1, 2021

Today we celebrated the completion of the I-49 MO/AR Connector w/ officials, community members & citizens from both sides of the state line. This completes the final 5 miles of I-49 in MO! The road will officially open to traffic in less than 24 hrs! https://t.co/5DLlA4s5Wl

— MoDOT Southwest (@MoDOT_Southwest) September 30, 2021