U.S. Route 49

U.S. Route 49
Route information
Length:	516 mi[1] (830 km)
Existed:	1926[1] – present
Major junctions
South end:	US 90 at Gulfport, MS
	I-10 at Gulfport, MS I-59 at Hattiesburg, MS I-20 / I-55 at Jackson, MS I-40 at Brinkley, AR US 63 at Jonesboro, AR
North end:	US 62 / AR 1 / AR 139 at Piggott, AR
Location
States:	Mississippi, Arkansas
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Bannered Divided Replaced

U.S. Route 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[2]	km
MS	334	538
AR	182	293
Total	516	830

U.S. Route 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.^[3] Today, it is the only four-laned route directly connecting Jackson, the state's capital and largest city, to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.^[4] Some urban segments along this portion of the route maintain three or more traffic lanes in each direction. Highway 49 serves as a primary hurricane evacuation route for Gulf Coast residents.^[5]

Southern terminus of US 49 at US 90 in Gulfport

The highway begins near the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi at a junction with U.S. Route 90. Highway 49 provides a major connection between the port, casinos, beaches and downtown with Interstate 10 on the city's north end. 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 U.S. Route 98 just south of Hattiesburg. At this point, travelers have an option of continuing on U.S. 49 through Hattiesburg or using a U.S. 98 / Interstate 59 bypass which reconnects with 49 in the northern part of the city. Continuing on 49 brings one to the cloverleaf interchange at U.S. Route 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.

U.S. 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 Interstate 59. Suburban development is soon encountered as the road returns to rural environs. Interchanges between Hattiesburg and Jackson provide access to various state highways, and one at Collins provides access to U.S. Route 84.

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

At Jackson, U.S. Highway 49 shares an alignment with segments of Interstates 20 and 220 before turning northwest to Yazoo City. A split in the highway, rare in the U.S. system, begins here, with both routes heading into the Mississippi Delta, U.S. 49W serving the towns of Belzoni and Indianola, where it junctions U.S. Route 82 and its four-lane segment ends, while two-laned 49E serves Tchula before encountering U.S. 82 at Greenwood. Both routes continue north from 82 and are linked again at Tutwiler, Mississippi. Continuing northwest, the highway passes through an interchange with U.S. Route 61 as it enters Clarksdale. It is at Clarksdale that Highway 49 encounters "The Crossroads", the legendary junction with State Street (an old alignment of U.S. 61) where the great blues musician Robert Johnson is reputed to have sold his soul to the devil.^[6]

From Clarksdale, Highway 49 continues north toward its crossing of the Mississippi River, where it enters Arkansas near the town of Helena.

The legendary "Crossroads" at Clarksdale, Mississippi inspired the song Cross Road Blues.

Split of U.S. Route 49 in Tutwiler, Mississippi

It is notable that for several years during the 1930s, a second split route existed on this highway in South Mississippi, similar to but shorter than the split that still exists in the Delta region.^[7] Between Brooklyn and Hattiesburg, travelers had the option of a 24-mile direct route via 49W, or a somewhat shorter but broken route on 49E, serving the small community of McCallum.

In May 2005 portions of extant Highway 49E were renamed the "Emmett Till Memorial Highway."^[8]

The Mississippi section of U.S. 49 and the routes of U.S. 49E and 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.^[9] US 49 was again extended north in 1978, replacing Highway 39 between Brinkley and Jonesboro.^[10] Highway 1 between Jonesboro and Piggott was redesignated as US 49 in 1979.^[11]

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 in Helena-West Helena, AR

US 49 with U.S. Routes 61 and 278

Major intersections

State	County	Location	mi[12]	km	Destinations	Notes
Mississippi	Harrison	Gulfport			US 90 – Biloxi, Long Beach, Ship Island Ferry
					I-10 – New Orleans	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
					Siloam Road - Siloam
					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	interchange
		​			MS 149 south – Boswell Regional Center, Simpson County Lake
		Mendenhall			MS 149 north
					MS 540
					MS 13 – Mendenhall, Prentiss, Puckett	interchange
		D'Lo			Walnut Street - D'Lo, D'Lo Water Park
		​			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 / West Frontage Road	interchange
		Pearl			I-20 east to US 80 – Flowood, Meridian, Airport	south end of I-20 overlap; US 49 south follows exit 47A
		Richland			I-55 north – North Jackson, Grenada	I-20 exit 46; south end of I-55 overlap
		see I-20
		Jackson			I-20 west – Vicksburg	north end of I-20 overlap; south end of I-220 overlap; US 49 north follows exit 41
			see I-220
					I-220 north / Medgar Evers Boulevard	north end of I-220 overlap; US 49 north follows 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 / US 49W north / MS 3 south – Greenwood, Indianola, Vicksburg	interchange
	Gap in route
	Tallahatchie	Tutwiler			US 49E south / US 49W south – Greenwood, Indianola	south end of MS 3 overlap
					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
	Poinsett–Craighead 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	north end of AR 1 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

See also

• List of U.S. Routes in Arkansas

Related Routes

• Arkansas Highway 349
• Mississippi Highway 149

Bannered 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

Route map: Bing / Google

1. Droz, Robert V. U.S. Highways : From US 1 to (US 830). URL accessed 02:55, 4 July 2006 (UTC).
2. "U.S. Route Number Database" (Dec 2009 ed.). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
3. Official Mississippi Highway Map of 1960 retrieved 7 Sept 2011
4. Official Mississippi State Highway Map, retrieved 7 Sept 2011
5. Official Mississippi Hurricane Evacuation Map, retrieved 7 Sept 2011
6. Bluesman at 100; Ever at a crossroads (c) 2011 Los Angeles Times, retrieved 14 Sept 2011
7. Official Mississippi Highway Map of 1936, retrieved 29 Sept 2011
8. "Emmett Till Museum." Village of Glendora. Retrieved on October 17, 2010.
9. "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. March 20, 1963. pp. 903–904. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
10. "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. April 26, 1978. pp. 269–270. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
11. "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. April 25, 1979. p. 66. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
12. Planning and Research Division (2010). "Arkansas Road Log Database" (ZIP). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.

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