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Interstate 59

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"I-59" redirects here. For the Japanese submarine I-59, see Japanese submarine I-159.
Interstate 59 marker
Interstate 59
Map
I-59 highlighted in red
Route information
Length445.23 mi[1] (716.53 km)
Existed1960–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end I-10 / I-12 in Slidell, LA
Major intersections
North end I-24 near Wildwood, GA
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesLouisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
Counties
Highway system
← LA 58LA→ LA 59
← MS 57MS→ US 61
← SR 57AL→ SR 59
← SR 58GA→ SR 59
← SR 405GA SR 406→ SR 407

Interstate 59 (I-59) is an Interstate Highway located in the southeastern United States. It is a north–south route that spans 445.23 miles (716.53 km) from a junction with I-10 and I-12 at Slidell, Louisiana, to a junction with I-24 near Wildwood, Georgia.

The highway connects the metropolitan areas of New Orleans, Louisiana; Birmingham, Alabama; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, running closely parallel to the older U.S. Route 11 (US 11) corridor for the entire distance. Approximately one-third of the route, spanning 153 miles (246 km) from Meridian, Mississippi, to Birmingham, Alabama, overlaps that of the east–west I-20.

I-59 is a four-lane freeway along its entire route, other than a short stretch from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to the southern terminus of I-459 and in Birmingham, where it widens to six lanes or more. Aside from the metropolitan areas it passes through, the I-59 corridor is mainly rural in nature, especially in Georgia.

Route description

[edit]
Lengths
  mi[1] km
LA 11.48 18.48
MS 171.72 276.36
AL 241.36 388.43
GA 20.67 33.27
Total 445.23 716.53

Louisiana

[edit]
Main article: Interstate 59 in Louisiana

I-59 spans 11.48 miles (18.48 km) in Louisiana, the shortest distance in the four states through which it travels. The route begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with I-10 (exit 267) and I-12 (exit 85) at the northeastern corner of Slidell, a city in St. Tammany Parish. From this interchange, connections are made to New Orleans and Hammond, as well as Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Heading north, I-59 has two exits serving the town of Pearl River, where it begins a concurrency with US 11. Immediately afterward, the highway crosses the West Pearl River and passes through an interchange with Old US 11, a portion of the pre-Interstate alignment serving the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area. I-59 then travels through the Honey Island Swamp for six miles (9.7 km) before crossing the main branch of the Pearl River into Mississippi.[2][3][4]

Mississippi

[edit]
Main article: Interstate 59 in Mississippi
See also: Interstate 20 in Mississippi
I-59 cosigned with I-20 in Mississippi; other cosigned routes are listed on the shields of the next sign

In Mississippi, I-59 continues to run parallel with US 11, traversing mainly rural areas but going through or bypassing the towns of Picayune, Poplarville, Hattiesburg, Moselle, Ellisville, Laurel, and Meridian.

For its length in Mississippi, I-59 either runs concurrently with, or runs close to, US 11. Between the towns of Pearl River and Picayune, US 11 travels concurrent with I-59. The highway also has concurrencies with US 98 in Hattiesburg; Mississippi Highway 42 (MS 42) just north of Hattiesburg; US 84 and MS 15 in Laurel; and US 80, US 11, and MS 19 in the Meridian area.[citation needed]

A notoriously sharp S-curve, at milepost 96 in Laurel, was the subject of a large reconstruction project that began in 2006. Those sharp curves were the legacy of an overpass over the Southern Railway on a town bypass with design dating from before the Interstate Highways, and they featured a 40-mile-per-hour (64 km/h) speed limit, one of the lowest anywhere on the Interstate Highway System. This work was completed in 2009.[5]

Just west of Meridian, I-20 joins I-59 and these two highways continue together for 153 miles (246 km), across the border with Alabama to and through Birmingham. The exit numbers are given as those of I-59.[citation needed]

At 4:00 pm on August 27, 2005, for the first time in its history, the southbound lanes of I-59 were temporarily redirected northward to accommodate evacuation for Hurricane Katrina. This was a previously agreed to joint plan by the states of Mississippi and Louisiana called contraflow lane reversal. The program began at the Louisiana–Mississippi state line and continued 21 miles (34 km) north to Poplarville.[citation needed]

Alabama

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See also: Interstate 20 in Alabama
Main article: Interstate 59 in Alabama
I-59/I-20 approaching I-65 in downtown Birmingham

I-59 and I-20 travel together for about 40 percent of their route through Alabama, passing northeast through Tuscaloosa before finally parting ways in eastern Birmingham.

In Birmingham, many wrecks and accidents occur near the crossover interchange of I-20/I-59 and I-65 (commonly called "Malfunction Junction"). On two occasions, 18-wheelers crashed and burned fiercely enough to melt the support beams of overpasses. Beginning in eastern Birmingham, I-59 continues on its own northeast, passing by Gadsden and Fort Payne in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains before entering Georgia.

I-59 from Gadsden at milemarker 182 to Stephen's Gap at milemarker 193 had degraded over the decades since it was opened into a rough concrete highway. Between 2010 and 2014, a construction project called "Project 59" took place between Gadsden and Fort Payne. This project consisted of reconstructing the Interstate Highway with unbonded concrete (without any space cracks) as well as modifications to the width and vertical clearance of the bridges and overpasses in the segment.

Georgia

[edit]

I-59 has a short trek through Georgia, with only three exits before ending at I-24 several miles west of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Wildwood, Georgia. The entire route of I-59 in Georgia is named Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. I-59's southbound location is marked Birmingham instead of Gadsden in Georgia. Gadsden is the next city that I-59 southbound is traveling to right before the route reaches Birmingham. For services, I-59 has no direct access to the Georgia Welcome Center, instead I-59's Georgia Welcome Center is located in Trenton. Drivers must take I-59 Trenton exit 11 to get access to the Georgia Welcome Center. Within Georgia, it carries unsigned designated as State Route 406 (SR 406) for internal Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) purposes.[6]

History

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Interstate 59 was first designated in 1960. Within Louisiana, Interstate 59 was first constructed across the Pearl River as the replacement route for US 11 at St. Rose starting in 1958. The stretch southward into Slidell along with I-10 south to the Twin Bridges opened in 1965-66. Interstate 59 in Mississippi opened initially from the Louisiana state line toward Picayune and from Hattiesburg to Laurel in 1963. All of the route south of the overlap with I-20 was completed by 1969.[7] The stretch of I-59/I-20 running through downtown Birmingham was completed in 1973. This stretch was reconstructed starting in January 2019 and ending in early-2020.[8]

Future

[edit]

I-59 will be widened on the north side of Birmingham, Alabama between I-459 (exit 137) and Chalkville Mountain Road (exit 141) as announced by Governor Kay Ivey on August 31, 2023. The project is expected to cost $80 million.[9]

Exit list

[edit]
StateParish/CountyLocationmi[10][11][12]kmOld exitNew exitDestinationsNotes
LouisianaSt. TammanySlidell0.000–
0.842		0.000–
1.355		1
 I-10 / I-12 west – New Orleans, Bay St. Louis, Hammond		Southern terminus of I-59; eastern terminus of I-12; signed as exits 1A (I-12), 1B (I-10 east) and 1C (I-10 west); I-10 exit 267; I-12 exit 85
​3.424–
4.156		5.510–
6.688		3

 US 11 south / LA 1090 south – Pearl River		Southern end of US 11 concurrency; northern terminus of LA 1090
Pearl River5.170–
5.636		8.320–
9.070		5A LA 3081 – Pearl RiverNorthern terminus of LA 3081
​6.264–
6.765		10.081–
10.887		5BHoney Island SwampTo Old US 11
​11.638–
11.957		18.730–
19.243		11Pearl River Turnaround
Pearl River12.058
0.00		19.405
0.00		Louisiana–Mississippi line
MississippiPearl River​0.50.801

 US 11 north / MS 607 south – Nicholson, John C. Stennis Space Center		North end of US 11 concurrency; north end of MS 607
Picayune4.06.44
 MS 43 south – Picayune, Kiln		South end of MS 43 concurrency
6.09.76
 MS 43 north – North Picayune		North end of MS 43 concurrency
​10.516.910Carriere
​14.924.015McNeill
​19.531.419Millard
​26.743.027 MS 53 – Necaise, Poplarville
​29.647.629 MS 26 – Poplarville, Wiggins
​35.457.035Hillsdale Road
Lumberton41.166.141 MS 13 – Lumberton
LamarPurvis51.382.651 MS 589 – Purvis
Forrest​58.694.359
 US 98 east – Lucedale, Mobile		South end of US 98 concurrency
​60.597.460 US 11 – South Hattiesburg, Downtown Hattiesburg
LamarHattiesburg64.8104.365
 US 98 west (MS 198 east) / Hardy Street – Columbia		North end of US 98 concurrency; signed as exits 65A (MS 198) and 65B (US 98) northbound
Forrest67.4108.567
 US 49 / MS 42 west – Hattiesburg, Jackson		South end of MS 42 concurrency; signed as exits 67A (south) and 67B (north)
69.6112.069
 MS 42 east (Evelyn Gandy Parkway) – Petal		North end of MS 42 concurrency
​73.1117.673Monroe Road
Jones​75.6121.776Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport
​78.0125.578Sanford Road
​80.3129.280Moselle
​85.6137.885 MS 590 – Ellisville
Ellisville88.2141.988 MS 29 / MS 588 – Ellisville
​90.3145.390 US 11 (Ellisville Boulevard)
Laurel92.9149.593 US 11 – South Laurel
94.5152.195A-B

 US 84 west / MS 15 north (16th Avenue)		South end of US 84/MS 15 concurrency; signed as exits 95A (south) and 95B (north)
95.0152.995CLeontyne Price BoulevardFormerly Beacon Street
95.6153.996A4th Avenue / Masonite Road
96.0154.596B
 MS 15 south (Cook Avenue) – Richton		North end of MS 15 concurrency
96.8155.897
 US 84 east (Chantilly Street) – Waynesboro		North end of US 84 concurrency
98.6158.799 US 11
​104.1167.5104Sandersville
Jasper​113.3182.3113 MS 528 – Heidelberg, Bay Springs
​118.2190.2118Vossburg, Paulding
Clarke​125.9202.6126 MS 18 – Rose Hill, Pachuta
​133.6215.0134 MS 513 – South Enterprise, Rose HillRose Hill not on northbound sign
​136.8220.2137North Enterprise
Lauderdale​141.6227.9142Savoy
​147.9238.0149

 I-20 west / US 80 west – Jackson		South end of I-20/US 80 concurrency
Meridian149.9241.2150

 US 11 south / MS 19 north – Philadelphia, Meridian Airport		South end of US 11/MS 19 concurrency
150.5242.2151James Chaney Dr
151.4243.715229th Avenue
152.8245.9153

 MS 145 south / MS 493 north (22nd Avenue) – Quitman
153.7247.4154



 US 11 north / US 80 east / MS 19 south / MS 39 north – De Kalb, Butler		North end of US 11/US 80/MS 19 concurrency; signed as exits 154A (south) and 154B (north) northbound; north end of MS 39
155.4250.1156Jimmie Rodgers Parkway
156.5251.9157 US 45 – Quitman, MaconSigned as exits 157A (south) and 157B (north)
​160.0257.5160Russell
​164.6264.9165Toomsuba
​168.2270.7169 US 11 / US 80 – Kewanee
 171.7
0.000		276.3
0.000		Mississippi–Alabama line
AlabamaSumterCuba0.8041.2941

 To US 80 east (SR 8 east) – Cuba, Demopolis
​3
 I-85 north – Montgomery		Proposed interchange; future southern terminus of I-85
York8.04112.9418 SR 17 – York
Livingston17.05927.45417 SR 28 – Livingston, Boyd
​23.14137.24223
 CR 20 to SR 39 – Gainesville, Epes
GreeneBoligee32.22951.86832 CR 20 – Boligee, West Greene
Eutaw40.76665.60740 SR 14 – Aliceville, Eutaw
​45.33472.95845 CR 208 – Union
Knoxville52.24484.07952 US 11 / US 43 (SR 7 / SR 13) – Knoxville
Tuscaloosa​62.466100.52962SR 300 – Fosters
​68.033109.48968Joe Mallisham Parkway
Tuscaloosa71.367114.85471 I-359 / SR 69 (US 11 / SR 7) – Tuscaloosa, MoundvilleSigned as exits 71A (SR 69 south) & 71B (I-359/SR 69 north); southern terminus of I-359; parclo interchange
73.003117.48773 US 82 / SR 6 (McFarland Boulevard)Luther Stancel Pate III Memorial Bridge
75.961122.24776 US 11 / SR 7 (Skyland Boulevard)
77.102124.08477Buttermilk RoadFormerly signed for Cottondale
79.895128.57979 US 11 (SR 7) – Coaling, Cottondale
86.295138.87886Brookwood, Vance
89.253143.63989Mercedes Drive
​97.138156.32897

 US 11 south / SR 5 south (SR 7 south) – West Blocton, Centreville		South end of US 11/SR 5 concurrency
​100.292161.404100SR 216 – Lake ViewEastern terminus of SR 216
Jefferson​104.159167.628104Rock Mountain Lake RoadAccess via McAshan Drive
​106.201170.914106 I-459 – Gadsden, Montgomery, AtlantaSouthern terminus of I-459; proposed future southern terminus of I-422
Bessemer108.396174.446108

 US 11 north / SR 5 north / SR 7 north (Academy Drive)		North end of US 11/SR 5 concurrency
110.021177.062110Splash Adventure Parkway
112.341180.79511218th Street / 19th Street
Brighton113.280182.30611318th Avenue – Brighton
Midfield115.520185.911115Allison–Bonnett Memorial Drive / Jaybird Road
Fairfield118.304190.392118Valley Road – Fairfield
119.025191.552119Lloyd Nolan ParkwaySigned as exit 119A southbound
Ensley119.727192.682119BAvenue ISouthbound exit and northbound entrance
120.934194.624120 SR 269 (20th Street Ensley) / Ensley AvenueSouthern terminus of SR 269
121.238195.114121Bush BoulevardSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Birmingham123.374198.551123 US 78 / SR 4 (Arkadelphia Road)
124.740200.750124A6th Avenue North – DowntownEastbound exit only
124B-C I-65 – Montgomery, HuntsvilleSigned as exits 124B (south) and 124C (north); I-65 exits 261B-C; hybrid interchange
125.221201.524124D17th Street N. – DowntownEastbound exit and westbound entrance
125.639202.196125B22nd Street – DowntownClosed; was signed as exit 125 westbound
126.239203.162126A

 US 31 south / US 280 east (SR 3 south)


 Carraway Boulevard to US 31 north (SR 3 north)		Western terminus of US 280
126.825204.105126B31st Street N. / 25th Street N. – Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
128.257206.410128 SR 79 (Tallapoosa Street)
129.621208.605129Airport Boulevard
130.301209.699130
 I-20 east – Atlanta		North end of I-20 concurrency; I-20 exit 130A
131.801212.113131Oporto–Madrid BoulevardNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
132.214212.778132 US 11 / SR 7 (1st Avenue North)No access from I-59 north to US 11 south, from US 11 south to I-59 north, or from US 11 north to I-59 south
133.814215.3531334th Avenue SouthNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
134.383216.268134
 To SR 75 (Roebuck Parkway) – Center Point
137.202220.805137
 I-459 south – Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Atlanta		Northern terminus of I-459
Trussville140.802226.599141Trussville, Pinson
143.647231.177143Deerfoot Parkway / Mount Olive Church Road
​147
 I-422 south		Proposed interchange; future northern terminus of I-422
​147.647237.615148
 To US 11 (SR 7) – Argo
St. Clair​153.911247.696154 SR 174 – Odenville, Springville
​156.178251.344156 SR 23 – St. Clair Springs, Springville
Ashville166.322267.669166 US 231 (SR 53) – Ashville, Oneonta
Steele173.650279.463174Steele
EtowahGadsden181.294291.764181 SR 77 – Attalla, Rainbow City
Gadsden–Attalla line182.058292.994182
 I-759 east – Gadsden		Western terminus of I-759
Attalla183.030294.558183 US 278 / US 431 (SR 74 / SR 1) – Attalla, Gadsden
Reece City–Gadsden line188.082302.689188
 SR 211 to US 11 (SR 7) – Gadsden, Reece City
DeKalbCollinsville205.148330.154205 SR 68 – Collinsville, Crossville
Fort Payne218.654351.890218 SR 35 – Fort Payne, Rainsville
222.152357.519222 US 11 (SR 7) – Fort Payne
224.100360.65422449th Street NW
Hammondville231.419372.433231 SR 40 / SR 117 – Valley Head, Hammondville
​239.642385.666239
 To US 11 (SR 7) / Sulphur Springs Road
 241.179
0.00		388.140
0.00		Alabama–Georgia line
Southern end of unsigned SR 406 concurrency
GeorgiaDade​4.16.614Rising FawnAccess via Deer Head Cove Road
Trenton11.518.5211 SR 136 (White Oak Gap Road) – TrentonTo the Georgia Welcome Center and to the Cloudland Canyon State Park
​17.327.8317Slygo Road – New England
​19.531.44– I-24 – Nashville, Chattanooga
SR 406		Northern terminus; northern end of unsigned SR 406 concurrency; old exit 4 was I-24 west; I-24 exit 167
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways as of December 31, 2016". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. February 22, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  2. ^ "Overview Map of I-59 in Louisiana" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  3. ^ Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Office of Multimodal Planning (February 2012). St. Tammany Parish (East Section) (PDF) (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  4. ^ Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Office of Multimodal Planning (February 2012). District 62: Official Control Section Map / Construction and Maintenance (PDF) (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  5. ^ Richardson, Ontario (September 11, 2009). "Laurel S-Curve renamed, reopened". WDAM-TV. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  6. ^ Office of Transportation Data (2003). Interstate Mileage Report (438 Report) (PDF). Georgia Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2006.
  7. ^ "Interstate 59 - Interstate-Guide.com". Interstate-Guide. September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Pillion, Dennis (January 9, 2019). "Why did I-20/59 become I-59/20 after 40 years?". al. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Turner, Alyssa (August 31, 2023). "Governor Ivey Announces Widening of I-65, Hoover Interchange Project and Widening of I-59". Office of the Governor of Alabama.
  10. ^ "La DOTD GIS Data". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. September 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  11. ^ "Milepost Web". October 27, 2016.
  12. ^ "Overview Map of Interstate 59 in Georgia" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
[edit]
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