U.S. Route 61
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2021) |
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North end | I-35 in Wyoming, MN | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
States | Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota | |||
Highway system | ||||
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U.S. Route 61 or U.S. Highway 61 (U.S. 61) is a major
The highway is often called the Blues Highway because of its long history in
Route description
Louisiana
US 61 in Louisiana is four-laned from its southern terminus in New Orleans to the Mississippi state line, where the highway continues to Natchez as a four-lane highway.
The section of US 61 from New Orleans to
Mississippi
US 61 is divided from the Tennessee state line to U.S. 82 in Leland. The highway south of Vicksburg to Natchez is mostly divided and four-lane; only short sections through Port Gibson are two lane. From Natchez to the Louisiana state line, US 61 is now divided and four lanes. The Mississippi Department of Transportation is now[when?] widening the highway between Vicksburg and Leland to four lanes, beginning with replacement of the Yazoo River bridge at Redwood in Warren County.
The road is also known as the Blues Highway because it runs through the Mississippi Delta country, which was an important source of blues music. Highway 61 has been referenced in music by various artists with roots in the region.
The former junction of US 61 and
Like Route 66 in the Western U.S., the iconic US 61 sign is so strongly identified with the Clarksdale area that it is used to market different products and services. US 61 is defined in Mississippi Code Annotated § 65-3-3.
Tennessee
US 61 enters Memphis from Walls as South 3rd Street in South Memphis, then joins I-55 as they cross the Mississippi River to West Memphis, a distance of approximately 12 miles (19 km).
Arkansas
US 61 runs through the state for 76 miles (122 km) from West Memphis to just north of Blytheville, near the Missouri border.
The route enters Arkansas in a concurrency with I-55 and US 64, US 70, and US 79 near West Memphis. The route skirts the northwest edge of the city, briefly meeting Interstate 40 before continuing north with I-55, US 63 and US 64. US 61 overlaps I-55 until an area near Turrell, when US 61 branches east but continues to run parallel to I-55. Southbound US 61 appears disconnected after the reconstruction of the Interstate 555/US 63 interchange in the early 2000s. The old alignment of US 61 between West Memphis and Turrell is currently signed as Arkansas Highway 77. The route runs through many small towns in Mississippi County, and becomes a city street in Osceola. Continuing north, the route crosses over I-55, south of Blytheville. In the city, US 61 becomes South Division Street until crossing Main Street (AR 18). The route runs north through the rest of Blytheville and beyond until a junction with AR 150 near Yarbro. After this junction, the route continues due north to Missouri.
Missouri
US 61 enters Missouri south of
After meeting I-64 and US 40, US 61 turns west with them and its overlap with the
US 61 runs along the western side of the Mississippi River between Memphis, Tennessee, and Dubuque, Iowa, and therefore never enters the state of Illinois.
Iowa
US 61 enters Iowa overlapped with US 136 near
After I-80, the highway turns back north as a freeway until
A four-lane freeway bypass of Fort Madison was completed and opened to traffic in November 2011. A project to widen a five-mile (8.0 km) segment between the Louisa–Muscatine county line near Letts and the south junction of Iowa 92 near Grandview to a four-lane expressway was completed in December 2017. Construction on widening US-61 to a divided highway is under way[when?] between Burlington and Mediapolis. The remaining segments between Iowa 92 and Mediapolis, and between the northern end of the Keokuk bypass and the Missouri state line have not been programmed yet[when?] by the Iowa DOT.
Wisconsin
On the opposite bank of the Mississippi, US 61 and US 151 enter Grant County, with US 61 going north through Wisconsin about 120 miles (190 km) to La Crosse. US 151 separates from US 61 at Dickeyville, with US 61 proceeding through Lancaster, Fennimore, and Boscobel. At Readstown US 61 and US 14 join and proceed together to La Crosse.
In 2004, a new two-lane Mississippi River Bridge opened in La Crosse, creating a four-lane highway from downtown La Crosse to the Minnesota state line. The new bridge brings traffic into La Crosse, and is located just south of the old Cass Street Bridge which continues to be used by traffic heading towards Minnesota.
Minnesota
The four-lane highway continues north to La Crescent. US 61 follows the Mississippi River through southeast Minnesota through the cities of Winona, Lake City, and Red Wing. It crosses the river at Hastings using the Hastings Bridge and joins US 10 before entering St. Paul. Within the city, the route follows I-94 for a short distance, and then follows Mounds Boulevard, East 7th Street, and Arcade Street through the east side of St. Paul.
The 120 miles (190 km) section of US 61 from La Crescent to Cottage Grove is officially designated the Disabled American Veterans Highway.
The portion of US 61 north of
History
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2007) |
US 61 once ran 1,714 miles (2,758 km) from
The northern section of US 61 in Minnesota was separated when I-35 was constructed, and decommissioned in 1991.
Mississippi
The section of US 61 in northwestern Mississippi, between the state line and Clarksdale, has received numerous changes since 1990, when casinos were legalized by the state, in concert with expanding suburban development from Memphis into Mississippi. The resulting boom in casino development in Tunica County, coupled with dramatic population and development growth in DeSoto County south of Memphis has led to relocating most of the highway and expanding to a divided four-lane highway.
Missouri
The present-day course of US 61 south of St. Louis largely follows the original course of the Spanish colonial road El Camino Real. In 1776, when the Spanish lieutenant governor recognized that the two principal communities of St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve needed an overland connection, he wrote his superior requesting permission. Construction then began, with parts of the Spanish road following old Indian trails. The road had been reportedly constructed by 1779, and then extended further south to the provincial posts at Cape Girardeau and New Madrid, and extended northwest to the post of St. Charles.[5] The sole rationale for the Camino Real was a military road to connect the several district posts for defense and administrative purposes. Much of the road was a simple trace for horses and foot travelers, and by 1796 transport large enough to require the use of wagons was largely being moved up the Mississippi River.[6]
The original Spanish name el camino real was conferred by Colonel George Morgan in honor of Charles IV of Spain, the reigning King of Spain (1788-1808). The government road was known as le Chemin du Roi or Rue Royale by the local French-speaking population and known as King's Highway or the old King's Trace by early American settlers. Because the road led to the French colonial "Illinois Country", which also included parts of present-day Missouri, early American settlers sometimes referred to it as the Illinois Road.[7] It is also known as the Royal Road of the King's Domain in St.Charles County, Missouri.[8] King's Highway or Kingshighway continues as street names in present-day St.Charles, St.Louis, Perryville, Cape Girardeau, Sikeston and New Madrid.[9] [10]
When it was designated in 1926, US 61 replaced most of Route 9, which had been established in 1922 between Arkansas and Iowa. The only part that did not become part of US 61 was north of
Iowa
Prior to 1958, US 61 followed the route now known as Iowa 22 between Davenport and Muscatine. US 61 was then rerouted onto the old Iowa 22 which passed through Blue Grass.
Starting in the early 1980s, US 61 between Davenport and
In 1983, two multi-lane one-way routes were designated through Davenport starting at the northern city limits. Southbound traffic used the newly constructed Welcome Way until it merges with Harrison Street just north of 35th Street; northbound traffic use Brady Street (which had been a two-way, four-lane street). Other two-way stretches of the highway through Davenport have four (or more) lanes. In 2010, in large part due to a railroad bridge with a low clearance in downtown Davenport, US 61 through Davenport was moved to Interstates 80 and 280, with signing taking place in the fall of 2011; the highway through Davenport was redesignated as "US 61 Business."
A 7.5-mile (12.1 km) bypass around Muscatine was opened in 1984, but other changes on the stretch south of Davenport would not happen for another decade. The changes came as follows:
- 1996 – The completion of a 4-mile (6.4 km), four-lane stretch between Blue Grass and I-280in Davenport.
- November 2000 — A 14-mile (23 km) stretch between Blue Grass and the Muscatine bypass was opened.
- May 2001 — A 3-mile (4.8 km) bypass around Blue Grass.
- July 2002 — A 7+1⁄2-mile (12.1 km) stretch, from the Muscatine bypass to the southern tip of Muscatine County, just north of Letts.
- December 2017 — A new stretch of divided highway from the Muscatine-Iowa 92and County Highway G48.
The final stretch completed a continuous multi-laned link between Dickeyville, Wisconsin south to Grandview.
Illinois
Prior to the construction of the
Minnesota
US 61 follows the west bank of the Mississippi River from the Wisconsin border through Hastings where it crosses the river and proceeds to St. Paul. North from the city of Wyoming, Old US 61 continues as "Forest Boulevard" in Chisago County, and then as "County 61" through Pine and Carlton counties before ending at MN 210. The original US 61 had continued east along MN 210 to Carlton and north on present-day MN 45 to Scanlon before turning northeast on what is now "County 61 / Old US 61" through Esko.
I-35 has replaced the original US 61 descending Thompson Hill into West Duluth, from which most of the city of Duluth can be seen entering town, including the Aerial Lift Bridge and the waterfront. The original US 61 in the city of Duluth had previously followed Cody Street, Grand Avenue, Superior Street, Second Street, Third Street, and London Road.
The original US 61 between
Starting in 2012 Chisago, Carlton and Pine Counties began placing "OLD US 61" markers along the former routing of US 61 through their respective counties.
Major intersections
- Louisiana
- US 90 in New Orleans
- I-10 in New Orleans
- I-310 in St. Rose
- US 51 in LaPlace
- I-10 southeast of Sorrento
- I-12 in Baton Rouge
- US 190 in Baton Rouge. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- I-110 in Baton Rouge
- I-110 in Baton Rouge
- Mississippi
- US 84 / US 425 in Natchez. US 61/US 84 travels concurrently to west-southwest of Washington.
- US 84 / US 98 west-southwest of Washington
- I-20 / US 80 in Vicksburg. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- US 82 / US 278 east of Leland. US 61/US 278 travels concurrently to Clarksdale.
- .
- US 49 in Clarksdale. The highways travel concurrently to west-northwest of Rich.
- Tennessee
- I-55 in Memphis
- US 64 / US 70 / US 79 in Memphis. US 61/US 64 travels concurrently to Marion, Arkansas. US 61/US 70/US 79 travels concurrently to West Memphis, Arkansas.
- I-55 in Memphis. The highways travel concurrently to Turrell.
- Arkansas
- I-40 in West Memphis. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- I-40 / US 63 / US 79 in West Memphis. US 61/US 63 travels concurrently to Turrell.
- Future I-555 / US 63in Turrell
- I-55 in Blytheville
- Missouri
- I-55 east of Steele. The highways travel concurrently to Portageville.
- I-155 / US 412 in Hayti
- US 62 southwest of Howardville. The highways travel concurrently to Sikeston.
- I-55 in New Madrid
- I-55 north of New Madrid
- Future I-57 / US 60in Sikeston
- I-55 in Scott City. The highways travel concurrently to Cape Girardeau.
- I-55 in Cape Girardeau
- I-55 north-northeast of Jackson
- I-55 south-southeast of Festus
- US 67 in Crystal City. The highways travel concurrently to the Frontenac–Ladue city line.
- I-255 in Mehlville
- US 50 in Mehlville. The highways travel concurrently to the Sunset Hills–Kirkwood city line.
- I-55 on the Concord–Mehlville–Green Park line
- I-44 / US 50 on the Sunset Hills–Kirkwood city line
- I-64 / US 40 on the Frontenac–Ladue city line. The highways travel concurrently to Wentzville.
- I-270 in Town and Country
- I-64 / I-70 / US 40 in Wentzville
- US 54 north of Bowling Green
- I-72 / US 36 in Hannibal
- US 24 south of Palmyra. The highways travel concurrently to Taylor.
- US 136 west-northwest of Alexandria. The highways travel concurrently to Keokuk, Iowa.
- Iowa
- US 218 in Keokuk. The highways travel concurrently to southwest of Montrose.
- US 34 in Burlington
- I-280 in Davenport. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- US 6 in Davenport. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- I-280 / US 6in Davenport. I-80/US 61 travels concurrently through the city.
- US 30 southwest of DeWitt. The highways travel concurrently to DeWitt.
- US 151 south of Dubuque. The highways travel concurrently to south of Dickeyville, Wisconsin.
- US 52 in Dubuque County. The highways travel concurrently for a short distance south of Dubuque .
- Wisconsin
- US 18 in Fennimore. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- US 14 in Readstown. The highways travel concurrently to Winona, Minnesota.
- US 53 in La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- I-90 north of La Crescent. The highways travel concurrently to Dakota.
- US 63 in Lake City. The highways travel concurrently to Red Wing.
- US 10 north of Hastings. The highways travel concurrently to Saint Paul.
- I-494 in Newport
- I-94 / US 12 in Saint Paul. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
- I-94 / US 10 / US 12 in Saint Paul
- I-694 in Vadnais Heights
- US 8 in Forest Lake
- I-35 in Wyoming
See also
- Avenue of the Saints
- Highway 61, a 1991 film
Special routes
- Special routes of U.S. Route 61
- U.S. Route 61 Business (Keokuk, Iowa)
- U.S. Route 61 Business (Muscatine, Iowa)
- U.S. Route 61 Business (Davenport, Iowa)
- U.S. Route 61 Business (St. Francisville, Louisiana)
- U.S. Route 61 Business (Vicksburg, Mississippi)
- U.S. Route 61 Business (Natchez, Mississippi)
Related routes
References
Notes
- ^ "Mississippi Blues Trail: Experience The Blues Where They Were Born". Tunica Travel. January 10, 2018.
- ^ "61 Highway". Mississippi Blues Trail.
- ^ Mahne, Theodore P. (June 30, 2009). "Huey Long just one chapter of storied history of New Orleans' Roosevelt Hotel, which reopens Wednesday". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, LA. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ISBN 9780826411174.
- ISBN 9780722207536.
- ^ "A History of Missouri from the Earliest Explorations and Settlements Until the Admission of the..." (TXT). Archive.org. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "The State Historical Society of Missouri, New Madrid County Place Names, 1928-1945". Shs.umsystem.edu. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "St. Charles County Place Names, 1928-1945". Shs.umsystem.edu. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ISBN 9780826263063.
- ISBN 9780826205865.
- ISBN 978-0-528-00771-2.
Sources
- Endpoints of US highways
- Adam Froehlig (December 20, 2002). Minnesota US 61. MN Highway Endings. Accessed August 27, 2004.
- Steve Riner (December 27, 2003). Details of Routes 51–75. Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. Accessed August 27, 2004.
- The Iowa Highways Page
- MEMPHIS TO NEW ORLEANS: More than just Graceland by Scott Stanton
External links
- Endpoints of U.S. Highway 61
- The Blues Highway Association, at The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University
- Felix Vallé State Historic Site Missouri Department of Natural Resources
- Ste. Genevieve Tourism
- Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve, Inc. La Maison de Guibourd Historical House
Browse numbered routes | ||||
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← AR | → US 62 | |||
← MS | → MS 63 | |||
← SR 60 | TN | → SR 61 | ||
← US 62 | ||||
← IA | → Iowa 62 | |||
← WIS 60 | WI | → WIS 62 | ||
← MN | → MN 61 |