Special routes of U.S. Route 61

U.S. Route 61 marker

U.S. Route 61
Highway system

Several special routes of U.S. Route 61 exist in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Iowa.

Business routes

Baton Rouge, Louisiana


U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Length 10.803 mi[1] (17.386 km)
Existed 1954–present

U.S. Highway 61 Business (US 61 Bus.) runs 10.80 miles (17.38 km) through Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana.[2] The route is entirely concurrent with US 190, forming a loop off of mainline US 61/US 190 (Airline Highway) through the downtown area. The business route was first put into effect in 1954 and assumed its current alignment in 1960.[3]

The entire highway is in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish.

mi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
0.000–
0.201
0.000–
0.323
US 61 / US 190 west (Airline Highway) New Orleans, Opelousas, Natchez
US 190 east (Florida Boulevard) Hammond

US 190 Bus. begins
Interchange; southern terminus of US 61 Bus.; eastern terminus of US 190 Bus.; southern end of US 190 Bus. concurrency
4.1926.746 LA 67 (North 22nd Street)
5.009–
5.090
8.061–
8.192
I-110 north Metro Airport, Natchez
I-110 south to I-10 east / I-12 New Orleans, Hammond
Exit 1C on I-110; direct access limited to I-110 (north) to US 61 Bus. (south) and US 61 Bus. (both directions) to I-110 (south)
8.34213.425 LA 3164 (Scenic Highway)Northern terminus of LA 3164
10.756–
10.803
17.310–
17.386
US 61 north (Scenic Highway) Scotlandville, St. Francisville
US 61 south (Airline Highway) / US 190 Opelousas, Natchez

US 190 Bus. ends
Interchange; northern terminus of US 61 Bus.; western terminus of US 190 Bus.; northern end of US 190 Bus. concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

St. Francisville, Louisiana


U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location St. Francisville, Louisiana
Length 1.729 mi[4] (2.783 km)
Existed c.1959c.2013

U.S. Highway 61 Business (US 61 Bus.) ran 10.73 miles (17.27 km) through St. Francisville, a town in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.[5] The route followed a portion of former US 61 that was bypassed by the current alignment around 1959. Like several other special routes in Louisiana, the designation was unofficial, not recognized by AASHTO or printed on the official state highway maps. It was signed along portions of LA 3057 (Commerce Street) and LA 10 (Jackson Road). Signage was removed around 2013 when new highway markers were installed following the widening of mainline US 61 to four lanes and a change in several highway designations in the area.[5]

The entire highway was in St. Francisville, West Feliciana Parish.

mi[4]kmDestinationsNotes
0.0000.000 US 61 Baton Rouge, Natchez
LA 3057 begins
Southern terminus of US 61 Bus. and LA 3057; southern end of LA 3057 concurrency
0.9741.568 LA 10 west (Ferdinand Street)Southern end of LA 10 concurrency
1.4122.272 LA 3057 north (Commerce Street)Northern end of LA 3057 concurrency
1.693–
1.729
2.725–
2.783
US 61 Baton Rouge, Natchez
LA 10 east Jackson
Northern end of LA 10 concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Natchez, Mississippi


U.S. Route 61 Business
Location Natchez, Mississippi

US 61 BUS in Natchez, MS uses part of US 425/US 84, then turns onto Homochitto Street. US 61 BUS turns right onto South Martin Luther King Jr. Street. US 61 BUS then turns onto a pair of one way streets concurrent with US 84 BUS (East Franklin Street northbound; Saint Cathrine Street southbound); Mississippi Highway 555 continues northward. The routes then merge into a divided highway before meeting mainline US 61/US 84.

Vicksburg, Mississippi


U.S. Route 61 Business
Location Vicksburg, Mississippi

Keokuk, Iowa


U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location Keokuk, Iowa

U.S. Route 61 BUS in Keokuk, Iowa travels concurrent with US 136 and US 218 for its entire length. US 61 uses a more direct bypass alignment to the northwest of downtown Keokuk.

Fort Madison, Iowa


U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location Fort Madison, Iowa
Length 9.573 mi[6] (15.406 km)
Existed 2012–present

U.S. Route 61 Business was created through Fort Madison, Iowa, along the former routing of US 61. The main route was rerouted around town along a new four-lane bypass in 2012. It begins at the interchange with Iowa Highway 2 (Iowa 2) west of Fort Madison. The two routes run east together into town. Iowa 2 splits away to cross the river near downtown and the route turns north and heads out of town. It ends at another interchange with US 61 northeast of town. From 2011 to 2013, the portion of highway north of Iowa 2 was known officially as Iowa 961, but it was not signed as such.

Muscatine, Iowa


U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location Muscatine, Iowa
Existed 1984–present

U.S. Highway 61 Business was created in 1984 after U.S. Highway 61 (US 61) was rerouted around Muscatine on a new four-lane bypass. It begins on the southern edge of Muscatine at the intersection of US 61 and Iowa Highway 92 (Iowa 92). US 61 Business heads north through Muscatine's industrial area and into the downtown riverfront. It is joined by Iowa 38 and Iowa 92 at an intersection near the foot of the Norbert F. Beckey Bridge. The intersection marks the southern end of Iowa 38 while Iowa 92 crosses the bridge into Illinois. A few blocks later, the three routes are joined by Iowa 22. All four routes continue north for a mile before meeting US 61.

The entire route is in Muscatine, Muscatine County.

mikmDestinationsNotes
0.000.00
US 61 / Iowa 92 / Great River Road south
3.766.05 Iowa 38 begins / Iowa 92 eastSouth end of Iowa 38 and Iowa 92 overlaps
4.487.21
Iowa 22 east / Great River Road north (Washington Street)
North end of Great River Road overlap; south end of Iowa 22 overlap
5.759.25 US 61 / Iowa 22 west / Iowa 92 west
Iowa 38 north
North end of Iowa 22 and Iowa 92 overlaps
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Davenport, Iowa


U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location Davenport, Iowa
Existed 2010–present

U.S. Route 61 Business was created in 2010 when U.S. Route 61 was rerouted around Davenport on I-280 and I-80. The route begins on the southwest end of town at the interchange with I-280. From there, it heads towards the Mississippi River along River Drive. For six blocks, US 61 Bus. is overlapped by US 67, which joins from the south at the Centennial Bridge and parts to the north when US 61 Bus. turns off. For the most of the remaining trip through Davenport, the route runs along two one-way streets: Brady Street (northbound) and Harrison Street (southbound). Near 5th Street in downtown Davenport, the Iowa Interstate Railroad crosses over Brady and Harrison streets. The vertical clearance of both bridges is only 11 feet 8 inches (3.56 m), which causes many trucks that attempt to pass beneath the bridge to hit or become stuck. This bridge was a major factor in US 61's realignment. Just south of Kimberly Road, which carries US 6, the southbound lanes of US 61 Bus. turn onto Harrison Street from Welcome Way. North of 53rd Street, the two directions rejoin as one road. The route ends at the I-80 interchange on the northern side of town. The entire route is inventoried as Iowa Highway 461, but it not signed as such.[7]

A low bridge hangs over a street
This low bridge was one of reasons US 61 relocated onto the interstates around Davenport

The entire route is in Davenport, Scott County.

mi[8]kmDestinationsNotes
0.00.0 I-280 / US 61
1.62.6
Iowa 22 west / Great River Road south
South end of Great River Road overlap
5.28.4 US 67 south (Centennial Bridge)South end of US 67 overlap
5.79.2
US 67 north / Great River Road north (River Drive)
North end of US 67 and Great River Road overlap
8.513.7 US 6 (Kimberly Road)
11.117.9 I-80 / US 61
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Maquoketa, Iowa


U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location Maquoketa, Iowa
Existed 1998–present

The business route through Maquoketa follows Main Street through the downtown business district, and Iowa Highway 64 along Platt Street. The route is unsigned, aside from a few circle "City Route 61" signs along Main Street.

Although not designated until 1998, Main Street had essentially served as a "Business 61" since at least the mid-1970s, when U.S. 61 was moved to a two-lane bypass around the south and west parts of the city. The two-lane segment was upgraded to four lanes in the summer of 1996, as part of a massive four-lane project of U.S. 61 between Dubuque and De Witt.

Bypass route

Baton Rouge, Louisiana


U.S. Highway 61 Bypass
Location Baton Rouge
Length 6.7 mi[9] (10.8 km)
Existed c.1941c.1963

U.S. Highway 61 Bypass (US 61 Byp.) ran 6.7 miles (10.8 km) through Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana.[9] It followed the Airline Highway, a four-lane bypass of the downtown area constructed in 1941. The designation remained in effect until about 1963, when its route was assumed by mainline US 61.[3][10]

The entire highway was in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish.

mi[9]kmDestinationsNotes
0.00.0 US 61 south (Airline Highway) New Orleans

US 190 east / US 61 Bus. north / US 190 Bus. west (Florida Boulevard) Baton Rouge, Hammond

US 190 Byp. begins
Traffic circle; southern terminus of US 61 Byp.; eastern terminus of US 190 Byp.; southern end of US 190 Byp. concurrency
2.03.2 LA 37 (Greenwell Springs Road) Greenwell Springs
5.48.7 LA 67 (Plank Road) Clinton
6.710.8
US 61 north / US 61 Bus. south / US 190 Bus. east (Scenic Highway) Baton Rouge, Natchez
US 190 west (Airline Highway) Opelousas

US 190 Byp. ends
Interchange; northern terminus of US 61 Byp.; western terminus of US 190 Byp.; northern end of US 190 Byp. concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. 1 2 "La DOTD GIS Data". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  2. Google (September 22, 2017). "Overview Map of US 61 Business (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Louisiana Department of Highways (December 1960). Louisiana (Map). Scale not given. Baton Rouge: Louisiana Department of Highways.
  4. 1 2 "La DOTD GIS Data". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Google (August 16, 2017). "Overview Map of Former US 61 Business (St. Francisville, Louisiana)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  6. "2013 Volume of Traffic on the Primary Road System of Iowa" (PDF). Iowa Department of Transportation. January 1, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
  7. Highway and Street Map of Davenport, Iowa (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. March 22, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  8. Google. "Overview Map of US 61 Business (Davenport, Iowa)" (Map). Google Maps. Google.
  9. 1 2 3 Louisiana Department of Highways, Traffic and Planning Section (1952). East Baton Rouge Parish (Map) (January 1, 1958 ed.). Scale not given. Baton Rouge: Louisiana Department of Highways.
  10. Louisiana Department of Highways (June 1, 1963). Louisiana (Map). Scale not given. Baton Rouge: Louisiana Department of Highways.
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