Ryan Evitts can set his alarm later and get home a little earlier because his commute to work between Webb City and Bentonville, Ark., just got quicker.

Evitts, a project manager with CEI solutions for Land and Life, has been putting up with the traffic bottleneck in Bella Vista, Ark., for seven years.

He estimates that the opening I-49 between Missouri and Arkansas on Friday will cut his drive time 10 minutes each way during peak traffic times (7:15 – 7:45 a.m. and 5:15 – 5:45 p.m.).

“I typically try to get to the office before the morning congestion occurs,” Ryan says. But now he hopes he can leave later, not worried about being stuck in rush-hour traffic.

Evitts is certainly used to the long commute. Prior to his seven years of driving to Bentonville he drove to Springfield for five years.

“I love it.” Ryan says.

“The drive?”

“No, the work.”

A benefit of the pandemic has been that he can work from home certain days of the week. “It’s reduced my amount of travel, which I do love.”

Ryan is on the Webb City Planning and Zoning Commission. His wife, Kerri, owns Eclipse Hair and Nail Salon on Main Street.