U.S. Route 49

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

U.S. Route 49 marker
U.S. Route 49
Route information
Length516 mi[citation needed] (830 km)
Existed1926[citation needed]–present
Southern section
South end US 90 at Gulfport, MS
Major
junctions
  • I-10 at Gulfport, MS
  • I-59 at Hattiesburg, MS
  • I-20 / I-55 at Jackson, MS
North end US 49E / US 49W at Yazoo City, MS
Northern section
South end US 49E / US 49W at Tutwiler, MS
Major
junctions
  • US 61 at Clarksdale, MS
North end US 62 / AR 1 / AR 139 at Piggott, AR
Location
StatesMississippi, Arkansas
Highway system
  • United States Numbered Highway System
MS 48MS US 49E
AR 48AR AR 50

U.S. Route 49 (US 49) is a north–south United States highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Piggott, Arkansas, at an intersection with US Route 62/Highway 1/Highway 139 (US 62/AR 1/AR 139). Its southern terminus is in Gulfport, Mississippi, at an intersection with U.S. Route 90. US 49 is approximately 516 miles (830 km) in length.

It was at the junction of US 49 and U.S. Route 61 that blues singer Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the Devil. The highway is also the subject of songs by Big Joe Williams and Howlin' Wolf (Chester Arthur Burnett).

Route description[]

Mississippi[]

Lengths
  mi[1] km
MS 334 538
AR 182 293
Total 516 830

US 49 has historically been one of the most important highways in Mississippi. It was the state's first highway to see a significant rural segment four-laned.[2] Today, it is the only four-laned route directly connecting Jackson, the state's capital and largest city, to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.[3] Some urban segments along this portion of the route maintain three or more traffic lanes in each direction. US 49 serves as a primary hurricane evacuation route for Gulf Coast residents.[4]

Southern terminus of US 49 at US 90 in Gulfport

US 49 begins near the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi at a junction with US 90. It provides a major connection between the port, casinos, beaches and downtown with I-10 (exits 34A-B), where it has its first major junction being a full service cloverleaf interchange on the city's north end. The crossing of these two roads is officially recognized by the state of Mississippi as the Castilgia Interchange.[5] North of I-10, US 49 passes through suburban areas and enters De Soto National Forest. Various state highway interchanges and junctions are encountered before the route passes near Camp Shelby, then through an interchange with US 98 just south of Hattiesburg. At this point, travelers have an option of continuing on US 49 through Hattiesburg or using the I-59/US 98 bypass which reconnects with US 49 in the northern part of the city. Continuing on US 49 brings one to a cloverleaf interchange at US 11, one of very few in the South to lack merging lanes between loop ramps, thus altering the usual weaving patterns which plague many of these interchanges.

US 49 passes Hattiesburg's primary medical facility, , and the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi before arriving at another, more standard cloverleaf interchange with I-59. Those who used the aforementioned bypass, wishing to reconnect with US 49 North to the state capital, must use exit 67B. It is also at I-59, where Mississippi Highway 42 (MS 42) runs with US 49 for a short distance as suburban development is soon encountered as the road returns to rural environs. Eventually, MS 42 departs from the four-laned highway and branches off to the west toward smaller towns, starting with Sumrall. Interchanges between Hattiesburg and Jackson provide access to various state highways, and one at Collins provides access to US 84.

US 49W passing through the Mississippi Delta north of Yazoo City

At Jackson, US 49 upgrades to Interstate Highway standards before joining I-20 using a two-lane flyover. About a mile later, I-20/US 49 merges with I-55 at a stack interchange. I-20/I-55/US 49 crosses the Pearl River into Hinds County and bypasses Downtown Jackson, where I-55 departs to the south. US 49/I-20 continue west until US 49 ends its run with I-20 and joins I-220 before turning northwest to Yazoo City. A split in the highway, rare in the U.S. Highway System, begins here; both routes head into the Mississippi Delta, US 49W serving the towns of Belzoni and Indianola, where it junctions with US 82 and its four-lane segment ends, while two-laned US 49E serves Tchula before encountering US 82 at Greenwood. Both routes continue north from US 82 and are linked again at Tutwiler. Continuing northwest, the highway passes through an interchange with US 61 as it enters Clarksdale. It is at Clarksdale that US 49 encounters "The Crossroads", the legendary junction with State Street (an old alignment of US 61) where the great blues musician Robert Johnson is reputed to have sold his soul to the devil.[6]

From Clarksdale, US 49 continues north and crosses the Mississippi River using the Helena Bridge where it enters Arkansas near the town of Helena.

The legendary "Crossroads" at Clarksdale, the inspiration for the song "Cross Road Blues"
Split of US 49 in Tutwiler

In May 2005 portions of extant US 49E were renamed the "Emmett Till Memorial Highway".[7]

The Mississippi section of US 49 and the routes of US 49E and US 49W are defined at Mississippi Code Annotated § 65-3-3.

Arkansas[]

US 49 enters Arkansas near Helena-West Helena in Phillips County. US 49 Business runs around the north part of the city, with the main route meeting AR 242 in the southern portion. US 49 continues west to Walnut Corner where the route meets AR 1 (and briefly ). The US 49/AR 1 concurrency ends in Marvell, and US 49 enters Monroe County.

Upon entering Monroe County, US 49 turns north to begin a concurrency with AR 39. US 49 also crosses US 79 before meeting US 70 near Brinkley. The route crosses Interstate 40 north of Brinkley prior to entering Woodruff County. US 49 runs northeast through rural Woodruff County, not crossing of concurring with any important routes before crossing into Cross County.

The route meets US 64 in Fair Oaks, and meets AR 42 in southern Hickory Ridge. It then enters Poinsett County, concurring with from Fisher until Waldenburg. The route crosses AR 14 in Waldenburg.

US 49 runs along south Jonesboro, with US 49 Business formerly running into town. US 49 concurs with US 63 until again joining AR 1. The two routes angle north through downtown Jonesboro, crossing US 63 Business and passing by ASU Stadium before leaving town. US 49/AR 1 pass around Brookland, with US 49 Business serving the community.

Entering Greene County, US 49/AR 1 intersects US 412 and briefly meets AR 358 before entering Paragould. The routes cross US 412B near Kirk Field in Paragould, also meeting AR 135 north of town. US 49B also rejoins US 49/AR 1 north of Paragould.

Continuing northeast through rural Greene County, US 49/AR 1 meet AR 34 in Marmaduke and AR 90 in Rector. The route turns north to Piggott at Hargrave Corner, terminating at US 62/AR 139. The Arkansas portion of US 49 is mainly two-lane undivided.

History[]

One of the original US highways, US 49 was extended north from Clarksdale, Mississippi to US 70 in Brinkley, Arkansas via U.S. Route 61 and Highway 6 in 1963.[8] US 49 was again extended north in 1978, replacing Highway 39 between Brinkley and Jonesboro.[9] Highway 1 between Jonesboro and Piggott was redesignated as US 49 in 1979.[10]

It is notable that for several years during the 1930s, a second split route existed on US 49 in South Mississippi, similar to but shorter than the split that still exists in the Delta region.[11] Between Brooklyn and Hattiesburg, travelers had the option of a 24-mile-long (39 km) direct route via US 49W, or a somewhat shorter but broken route on US 49E, serving the Forrest County Agricultural High School and the small community of McLaurin, Mississippi.

Gallery[]

Major intersections[]

StateCountyLocationmi[12][13]kmDestinationsNotes
MississippiHarrisonGulfport0.000.00 US 90 – Biloxi, Long Beach, Ship Island FerrySouthern terminus; road continues as 25th Street
4.4–
4.9
7.1–
7.9
I-10 – New Orleans, Biloxi, MobileI-10 exit 34
9.415.1 MS 53 north – Poplarville, Lyman Fish Hatchery
20.0–
20.6
32.2–
33.2
MS 67 south – D'Iberville, BiloxiInterchange
StoneWiggins32.952.9
MS 149 north to MS 29 – Downtown Wiggins, South Wiggins, Flint Creek Water Park
34.2–
34.6
55.0–
55.7
MS 26 – Poplarville, LucedaleInterchange
36.759.1
MS 149 south to MS 29 – Downtown Wiggins, Flint Creek Water Park
Forrest41.666.9 MS 13 north – Lumberton
54.687.9S Lake Drive – Paul B. Johnson State ParkAccess road into park
Hattiesburg62.3–
62.8
100.3–
101.1

US 98 to I-59 – Columbia, Laurel, Lucedale, Mobile
Interchange
65.1104.8Edwards Street ( north)
67.5–
67.9
108.6–
109.3
US 11 (Broadway Drive) – PurvisInterchange
69.1111.2

MS 198 west (Hardy Street) to I-59 / US 98 – Columbia
70.7113.8Old Highway 42 - PetalFormer MS 42 east
71.6–
72.0
115.2–
115.9
I-59 / MS 42 east – New Orleans, Gulf Coast, Laurel, AirportI-59 exit 67; south end of MS 42 overlap
77.5124.7 MS 42 west – Sumrall, PrentissNorth end of MS 42 overlap
Covington84.2135.5 east – Sanford
Seminary88.9143.1 MS 589 south – Sumrall
89.1143.4 east – Seminary
Collins95.1–
95.5
153.0–
153.7
MS 184 – Downtown CollinsInterchange
96.4–
96.7
155.1–
155.6
US 84 – Prentiss, LaurelInterchange
104.2167.7 MS 149 north
Mount Olive104.7168.5 MS 35 – Bassfield, Columbia, Mount Olive, Mize
106.6171.6 MS 149 south – Mount Olive
SimpsonMagee113.4182.5 MS 149 north
114.1183.6 MS 28 east – Mize, LaurelSouth end of MS 28 overlap
114.2183.8 MS 541 north – Downtown MageeSouth end of MS 541 overlap
114.6184.4 MS 28 west / MS 541 south – Georgetown, HazlehurstNorth end of MS 28 / MS 541 overlap
117.0188.3
MS 149 to  – Boswell Regional Center (Department of Mental Health)
Interchange via connector roads
119.3192.0 MS 149 south – SanatoriumSouth end of MS 149 overlap
Mendenhall123.8199.2 MS 149 northNorth end of MS 149 overlap
124.1199.7
126.1–
126.4
202.9–
203.4
MS 13 – Mendenhall, Prentiss, PuckettInterchange
134.2216.0 MS 149 south
RankinFlorence145.5234.2 MS 469 – Downtown Florence, Brandon
Richland151.8244.3Old Highway 49Proposed MS 149 north; northbound exit and southbound entrance
152.6–
152.9
245.6–
246.1
East Frontage RoadInterchange; northbound exit and entrance
West Frontage RoadInterchange; southbound exit and entrance
RichlandPearl line153.8247.5
I-20 east to US 80 – Flowood, Meridian
South end of I-20 overlap; I-20 exit 47A
see I-20
HindsJackson159.7257.0 I-20 west / I-220 begin – VicksburgNorth end of I-20 overlap; south end of I-220 overlap; I-20 exit 41
see I-220
164.7265.1 I-220 northNorth end of I-220 overlap; I-220 exit 5B
167.1–
167.3
268.9–
269.2
Natchez Trace ParkwayInterchange
MadisonFlora179.0288.1 MS 22 – Edwards, Flora, Canton, Mississippi Petrified Forest National Natural Landmark
YazooBentonia186.3299.8BentoniaProposed
187.0300.9 MS 433 – Satartia, Bentonia
187.7302.1 east – Bentonia
200.7323.0 MS 16 east – Benton, CantonSouth end of MS 16 overlap
Yazoo City201.0323.5 MS 16 west / MS 149 north – Downtown Yazoo CityNorth end of MS 16 overlap
204.2328.6
US 49E north (Jerry Clower Boulevard) / US 49W north (Haley Barbour Parkway) to MS 3 south – Greenwood, Indianola, Vicksburg
Interchange; US 49 north splits into US 49E and US 49W
See US 49E and US 49W
TallahatchieTutwiler0.00.0 US 49W south (MS 3 south) / US 49E south – Indianola, GreenwoodSouth end of MS 3 overlap; US 49 south splits into US 49E and US 49W
0.40.64 MS 3 north – Marks, LambertNorth end of MS 3 overlap
0.60.97 west
CoahomaClarksdale12.520.1 MS 322 eastSouth end of MS 322 overlap
13.020.9 US 61 south / US 278 west / MS 322 west – Clarksdale, Cleveland, Greenville, Delta Blues MuseumInterchange; north end of MS 322 overlap; south end of US 61 / US 278 overlap
116.3–
117.0
187.2–
188.3
US 278 east / MS 6 – Clarksdale, BatesvilleNorth end of US 278 overlap
118.0189.9 MS 161 south – Lyon,
27.343.9Friars Point-Highway 61 / Highway 61-Jonestown – Friars Point, Moon LakeProposed MS 316
31.851.2 US 61 north / MS 315 south (Lula-Rich) – Tunica, Memphis, Sledge, SardisNorth end of US 61 overlap
37.961.0 MS 1 south – Friars Point,
Mississippi River40.9
0.00
65.8
0.00
Helena Bridge
ArkansasPhillipsHelena-West Helena0.991.59 US 49B north / Great River Road north / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. (Biscoe Drive) – Business DistrictSouth end of Great River Road overlap
1.352.17
AR 20 / Great River Road south to AR 44 – Lakeview, Elaine,
North end of Great River Road overlap
3.986.41
AR 242 to AR 185
6.2810.11 US 49B south (North Sebastian Street) – Business District
6.8811.07 AR 185 north – Municipal Airport
Walnut Corner12.4820.08 AR 1 north / AR 85 south – Barton, Lake View
15.4524.86 north – Rondo
Poplar Grove17.5828.29 south –
Marvell20.6233.18 north
21.5234.63 AR 1 south – DeWitt
27.5644.35 AR 39 south – Postelle, Turner
29.6747.75 AR 86 west – Holly Grove
Monroe33.5654.01 AR 362 east – Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park
35.6057.29 AR 39 north – Blackton
36.7059.06
38.6762.23 US 79 – Clarendon, Marianna, Stuttgart, Holly Grove
41.3066.47 AR 39S – Monroe
43.5570.09
AR 39 south / AR 241 to AR 17 –
50.6781.55 west
Brinkley51.8083.36 US 70 west – DeValls BluffSouth end of US 70 overlap
52.5584.57 AR 238 east (West Sycamore Street)
53.3985.92 US 70 east (West Cypress Street)North end of US 70 overlap
54.9788.47 I-40 (US 63) – Little Rock, MemphisI-40 exit 216
56.1390.33 AR 17 north – Cotton Plant
Woodruff62.47100.54 AR 38 west – Cotton Plant
Hunter66.28106.67
AR 306 east to AR 78
71.61115.25
AR 269 north to AR 145
76.23122.68
AR 284 east to AR 193
CrossFair Oaks80.26129.17 US 64 west – Bald KnobSouth end of US 64 overlap
80.28129.20 US 64 east – WynneNorth end of US 64 overlap
84.88136.60 AR 364 east – Vanndale
Hickory Ridge90.44145.55
AR 42 to AR 37 – Cherry Valley
PoinsettFisher96.67155.58 east – White Hall
Waldenburg102.74165.34 AR 14 – Newport, Harrisburg
104.9168.8  – Public Fishing
109.34175.97 west – Grubbs
PoinsettCraighead
county line
113.42182.53 AR 158
CraigheadJonesboro120.50193.93

AR 226S west to AR 226 / US 67
125.53202.02 US 63 north / AR 18 east (Southwest Drive) – Walnut Ridge, HoxieSouth end of US 63 overlap; US 49 south follows exit 45
126.75203.98 AR 1B (Harrisburg Road)US 63 exit 44
128.40206.64 US 63 south / AR 1 south (Stadium Boulevard) / Caraway Road – Memphis, HarrisburgNorth end of US 63 overlap; south end of AR 1 overlap; US 49 north follows exit 42
129.53208.46 US 63B south / AR 18 (East Highland Drive) – Blytheville
131.74212.01
AR 91 north (East Johnson Avenue) to AR 141 – Jonesboro Business District
AR 91 southern terminus
132.31212.93 AR 351 north / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. (Old Greensboro Road)South end of AR 351 overlap
132.75213.64 AR 351 (Airport Road) – AirportNorth end of AR 351 overlap
136.7220.0 US 49B north – Brookland Business District
140.60226.27 US 49B south – Brookland Business District
GreeneParagould144.65232.79 AR 69 north
146.85236.33 US 412
147.34237.12 AR 358 east
147.87237.97 AR 358 west
149.71240.93  / US 49B north – Walnut Ridge, Cardwell MO, Paragould Business District, Airport
149.97241.35
to west – Walnut Ridge
151.13243.22 AR 135 / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. – Corning, Business District
151.88244.43 US 49B south
Marmaduke161.44259.81 AR 34 – Business District
ClayRector168.86271.75 AR 90 west – Rector Business DistrictSouth end of AR 90 overlap
169.37272.57 AR 119 south
172.33277.34 AR 90 east – Kennett MONorth end of AR 90 overlap
Piggott182.33293.43 US 62 / AR 1 north / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. – Corning, St. Francis, Piggott Business DistrictNorthern terminus; north end of AR 1 overlap; road continues as Thornton Avenue
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Concurrency terminus
  •       Incomplete access
  •       Route transition

U.S. Route 49E[]

U.S. Highway 49E marker

U.S. Highway 49E

LocationYazoo City-Tutwiler
Length85.862 mi[14] (138.181 km)

U.S. Route 49E (US 49E) is an 85.86-mile-long (138.18 km) U.S. Highway in the Delta region of Mississippi. It travels through Yazoo, Holmes, Leflore, and Tallahatchie counties.

U.S. Route 49W[]

U.S. Highway 49W marker

U.S. Highway 49W

LocationYazoo City-Tutwiler
Length81.894 mi[14] (131.796 km)

U.S. Route 49W (US 49W) is an 81.89-mile-long (131.79 km) U.S. Highway in the Delta Region of Mississippi, passing through Yazoo, Humphreys, Sunflower, and Tallahatchie counties.

See also[]

  • Blank shield.svg U.S. Roads portal

Related Routes[]

Special routes[]

  • U.S. Route 49 Business in Brookland, Arkansas
  • U.S. Route 49 Business in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas
  • U.S. Route 49 Business in Jonesboro, Arkansas (decommissioned)
  • U.S. Route 49 Business in Paragould, Arkansas
  • U.S. Route 49E Business in Greenwood, Mississippi (decommissioned)
  • U.S. Route 49 Business in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (decommissioned)

References[]

  1. ^ "U.S. Route Number Database" (Dec 2009 ed.). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  2. ^ Official Mississippi Highway Map of 1960 retrieved September 7, 2011
  3. ^ Official Mississippi State Highway Map, retrieved September 7, 2011
  4. ^ Official Mississippi Hurricane Evacuation Map, retrieved September 7, 2011
  5. ^ https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/2013/title-65/chapter-3/special-designations-of-portions-of-highway-system-and-bridges/section-65-3-71.17/
  6. ^ Bluesman at 100; Ever at a crossroads (c) 2011 Los Angeles Times, retrieved September 14, 2011
  7. ^ "Emmett Till Museum Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine." Village of Glendora. Retrieved on October 17, 2010.
  8. ^ "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. March 20, 1963. pp. 903–904. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  9. ^ "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. April 26, 1978. pp. 269–270. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  10. ^ "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. April 25, 1979. p. 66. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  11. ^ Official Mississippi Highway Map of 1936, retrieved September 29, 2011
  12. ^ Planning and Research Division (2010). "Arkansas Road Log Database". Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (ZIP) on June 23, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  13. ^ Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department; U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2015). General Highway Map - Greene County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). [1:62500]. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b [1]

External links[]

Route map:

KML is from Wikidata
Browse numbered routes
AR 48AR AR 50
MS 48MS MS 50
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