U.S. Route 49

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U.S. Route 49 marker

U.S. Route 49
Route information
Length: 516 mi[citation needed] (830 km)
Existed: 1926[citation needed] – present
Southern section
South end: US 90 at Gulfport, MS
Major
junctions:
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North end: US 49E / US 49W at Yazoo City, MS
Northern section
South end: US 49E / US 49W at Tutwiler, MS
Major
junctions:
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North end: US 62 / AR 1 / AR 139 at Piggott, AR
Location
States: Mississippi, Arkansas
Highway system

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, Forrest General Hospital, 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 AR 316). 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 AR 214 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 briefly meets AR 358 before entering Paragould. The routes cross US 412 near Kirk Field in Paragould, also meeting AR 135 north of town. US 49 Business 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

US 49 in Fair Oaks, AR 
US 49 north of Brinkley, AR 
US 49 south of the US 70 junction in south Brinkley 
US 49 south of Highway 362 junction near Louisiana Purchase State Park 
US 49 and Highway 1 concur in Marvell, AR 
US 49 with U.S. Routes 61 and 278 

Major intersections

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State County Location mi[12] km Destinations Notes
Mississippi Harrison Gulfport 0.00 0.00 US 90 – Biloxi, Long Beach, Ship Island Ferry Southern terminus; road continues as 25th Street
I-10 – New Orleans, Biloxi, Mobile I-10 exit 34
MS 53 north – Poplarville, Lyman Fish Hatchery
MS 67 south – D'Iberville, Biloxi Interchange
Stone Wiggins MS 149 north to MS 29 – Downtown Wiggins, South Wiggins, Flint Creek Water Park
MS 26 – Poplarville, Lucedale Interchange
MS 149 south to MS 29 – Downtown Wiggins, Flint Creek Water Park
Forrest MS 13 north – Lumberton
Hattiesburg US 98 to I-59 – Columbia, Laurel, Lucedale, Mobile Interchange
Edwards Street (MS 969)
US 11 (Broadway Drive) – Purvis Interchange
MS 198 west (Hardy Street) to I-59 / US 98 – Columbia
Old Highway 42 - Petal Former MS 42 east
I-59 / MS 42 east – New Orleans, Gulf Coast, Laurel, Airport I-59 exit 67; south end of MS 42 overlap
MS 42 west – Sumrall, Prentiss North end of MS 42 overlap
Covington MS 598 east – Sanford
Seminary MS 589 south – Sumrall
MS 590 east – Seminary
Collins MS 184 – Downtown Collins Interchange
US 84 – Prentiss, Laurel Interchange
MS 149 north
Mount Olive MS 35 – Bassfield, Columbia, Mount Olive, Mize
MS 149 south – Mount Olive
Simpson Magee MS 149 north
MS 28 east – Mize, Laurel South end of MS 28 overlap
MS 541 north – Downtown Magee South end of MS 28 overlap
MS 28 west / MS 541 south – Georgetown, Hazlehurst North end of MS 28 / MS 541 overlap
MS 149 to MS 545 – Boswell Regional Center (Department of Mental Health) Interchange via connector roads
MS 149 south – Sanatorium South end of MS 149 overlap
Mendenhall MS 149 north North end of MS 149 overlap
MS 540
MS 13 – Mendenhall, Prentiss, Puckett Interchange
MS 149 south
Rankin Florence MS 469 – Downtown Florence, Brandon
Richland Old Highway 49 Proposed MS 149 north; northbound exit and southbound entrance
East Frontage Road Interchange; northbound exit and entrance
West Frontage Road Interchange; southbound exit and entrance
RichlandPearl line I-20 east to US 80 – Flowood, Meridian South end of I-20 overlap; I-20 exit 47A
see I-20
Jackson I-20 west / I-220 begin – Vicksburg North end of I-20 overlap; south end of I-220 overlap; I-20 exit 41
see I-220
I-220 north North end of I-220 overlap; I-220 exit 5B
Natchez Trace Parkway Interchange
Madison Flora MS 22 – Edwards, Flora, Canton, Mississippi Petrified Forest National Natural Landmark
Yazoo Bentonia Bentonia Proposed MS 830
MS 433 – Satartia, Bentonia
MS 830 east – Bentonia
MS 16 east – Benton, Canton South end of MS 16 overlap
Yazoo City MS 16 west / MS 149 north – Downtown Yazoo City North end of MS 16 overlap
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
Tallahatchie Tutwiler US 49W south (MS 3 south) / US 49E south – Indianola, Greenwood South end of MS 3 overlap; US 49 south splits into US 49E and US 49W
MS 3 north – Marks, Lambert North end of MS 3 overlap
MS 726 west
Coahoma Clarksdale MS 322 east South end of MS 322 overlap
US 61 south / US 278 west / MS 322 west – Clarksdale, Cleveland, Greenville, Delta Blues Museum Interchange; north end of MS 322 overlap; south end of US 61 / US 278 overlap
US 278 east / MS 6 – Clarksdale, Batesville North end of US 278 overlap
MS 161 south – Lyon, North Clarksdale
Friars Point-Highway 61 / Highway 61-Jonestown – Friars Point, Moon Lake Proposed MS 316
US 61 north / MS 315 south (Lula-Rich) – Tunica, Memphis, Sledge, Sardis North end of US 61 overlap
MS 1 south – Friars Point, North Delta Museum
Mississippi River 334
0.00
538
0.00
Helena Bridge
Arkansas Phillips Helena-West Helena 0.99 1.59 US 49B north / Great River Road north / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. (Biscoe Drive) – Business District South end of Great River Road overlap
1.35 2.17 AR 20 / Great River Road south to AR 44 – Lakeview, Elaine, Harbor and Industrial Park North end of Great River Road overlap
3.98 6.41 AR 242 to AR 185
6.28 10.11 US 49B south (North Sebastian Street) – Business District
6.88 11.07 AR 185 north – Municipal Airport
Walnut Corner 12.48 20.08 AR 1 north / AR 85 south – Barton, Lake View
Kindall 15.45 24.86 AR 316 north – Rondo
Poplar Grove 17.58 28.29 AR 316 south – Trenton
Marvell 20.62 33.18 AR 243 north
21.52 34.63 AR 1 south – DeWitt
27.56 44.35 AR 39 south – Postelle, Turner
29.67 47.75 AR 86 west – Holly Grove
Monroe 33.56 54.01 AR 362 east – Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park
35.60 57.29 AR 39 north – Blackton
36.70 59.06 AR 366
38.67 62.23 US 79 – Clarendon, Marianna, Stuttgart, Holly Grove
41.30 66.47 AR 39S – Monroe
43.55 70.09 AR 39 south / AR 241 to AR 17 – Rich
50.67 81.55 AR 238S west
Brinkley 51.80 83.36 US 70 west – DeValls Bluff South end of US 70 overlap
52.55 84.57 AR 238 east (West Sycamore Street)
53.39 85.92 US 70 east (West Cypress Street) North end of US 70 overlap
54.97 88.47 I-40 (US 63) – Little Rock, Memphis I-40 exit 216
56.13 90.33 AR 17 north – Cotton Plant
Woodruff 62.47 100.54 AR 38 west – Cotton Plant
Hunter 66.28 106.67 AR 306 east to AR 78
71.61 115.25 AR 269 north to AR 145
Penrose 76.23 122.68 AR 284 east to AR 193
Cross Fair Oaks 80.26 129.17 US 64 west – Bald Knob South end of US 64 overlap
80.28 129.20 US 64 east – Wynne North end of US 64 overlap
Tilton 84.88 136.60 AR 364 east – Vanndale
Hickory Ridge 90.44 145.55 AR 42 to AR 37 – Cherry Valley
Poinsett Fisher 96.67 155.58 AR 214 east – White Hall
Waldenburg 102.74 165.34 AR 14 – Newport, Harrisburg
104.9 168.8 AR 956-1 – Lake Hogue Public Fishing
109.34 175.97 AR 214 west – Grubbs
PoinsettCraighead
county line
113.42 182.53 AR 158
Craighead Jonesboro 120.50 193.93 AR 226S west to AR 226 / US 67
125.53 202.02 US 63 north / AR 18 east (Southwest Drive) – Walnut Ridge, Hoxie South end of US 63 overlap; US 49 south follows exit 45
126.75 203.98 AR 1B (Harrisburg Road) US 63 exit 44
128.40 206.64 US 63 south / AR 1 south (Stadium Boulevard) / Caraway Road – Memphis, Harrisburg North end of US 63 overlap; south end of AR 1 overlap; US 49 north follows exit 42
129.53 208.46 US 63B south / AR 18 (East Highland Drive) – Blytheville
131.74 212.01 AR 91 north (East Johnson Avenue) to AR 141 – Jonesboro Business District AR 91 southern terminus
132.31 212.93 AR 351 north / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. (Old Greensboro Road) South end of AR 351 overlap
132.75 213.64 AR 351 (Airport Road) – Airport North end of AR 351 overlap
136.7 220.0 US 49B north – Brookland Business District
140.60 226.27 US 49B south – Brookland Business District
Greene Paragould 144.65 232.79 AR 69 north
US 412S
147.34 237.12 AR 358 east
147.87 237.97 AR 358 west
149.71 240.93 US 412 / US 49B north – Walnut Ridge, Cardwell MO, Paragould Business District, Airport
149.97 241.35 US 49Y to US 412 west – Walnut Ridge
151.13 243.22 AR 135 / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. – Corning, Business District
151.88 244.43 US 49B south
Marmaduke 161.44 259.81 AR 34 – Business District
Clay Rector 168.86 271.75 AR 90 west – Rector Business District South end of AR 90 overlap
169.37 272.57 AR 119 south
Hargrave Corner 172.33 277.34 AR 90 east – Kennett MO North end of AR 90 overlap
Piggott 182.33 293.43 US 62 / AR 1 north / Crowley's Ridge Pkwy. – Corning, St. Francis, Piggott Business District Northern terminus; north end of AR 1 overlap; road continues as Thornton Avenue
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

U.S. Route 49E

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U.S. Route 49E
Location: Yazoo City-Tutwiler
Length: 85.862 mi[13] (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

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U.S. Route 49W
Location: Yazoo City-Tutwiler
Length: 81.894 mi[13] (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

Related Routes

Special routes

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References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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.
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  11. Official Mississippi Highway Map of 1936, retrieved September 29, 2011
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  13. 13.0 13.1 [1]

External links

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Browse numbered routes
AR 48 AR AR 50
MS 48 MS MS 50