Interstate 59

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.

Interstate 59 marker

Interstate 59

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

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

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

At the bottom of I-12's eastbound ramp to LA 59, travelers also find a shield for I-59, some 20 miles (32 km) farther east

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

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.

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]

I-59 cosigned with I-20 in Mississippi

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

StateParish/CountyLocationmi[10][11][12]kmExitDestinationsNotes
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
0.0
19.405
0.0
Louisiana–Mississippi state line
MississippiPearl River0.50.801

US 11 north / MS 607 south Nicholson, NASA John C. Stennis Space Center
North end of US 11 concurrency
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
Forrest58.694.359
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
Jones75.6121.776Hattiesburg-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
94.5152.195

US 84 west / MS 15 north (16th Avenue)
South end of US 84/MS 15 concurrency; signed as exits 95A (south) and 95B (north)
95.0152.995CBeacon StreetLaurel S-curve southbound
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
Jasper113.3182.3113 MS 528 Heidelberg, Bay Springs
118.2190.2118Vossburg, Paulding
Clarke125.9202.6126 MS 18 Rose Hill, Pachuta
133.6215.0134 MS 513 South Enterprise, Rose HillRose Hill not on northbound sign
136.8220.2137North Enterprise
Lauderdale141.6227.9142Savoy
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
150.5242.2151Valley Road, 49th Avenue
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
155.4250.1156Jimmie Rodgers Pkwy
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
0.0
276.3
0.0
Mississippi–Alabama state line
AlabamaSumter0.8041.2941

To US 80 east Cuba, Demopolis
3
I-85 north Montgomery
Proposed interchange; future southern terminus of I-85
8.04112.9418 SR 17 York
17.05927.45417 SR 28 Livingston, Boyd
23.14137.24223 CR 20 Gainesville, Epes
Greene32.22951.86832Boligee
40.76665.60740 SR 14 Aliceville, Eutaw
45.33472.95845Union
52.24484.07952 US 11 / US 43 Knoxville
Tuscaloosa62.466100.52962 SR 300 FostersSR 300 is an unsigned route
Tuscaloosa68.083109.56968Northport Tuscaloosa Western Bypass
71.367114.85471
I-359 north / SR 69 Tuscaloosa, Moundville
Signed as exits 71A (south) and 71B (north); unsigned US 11; access to Tuscaloosa National Airport, Lake Lurleen State Park, Shelton State Community College, and Stillman College
73.003117.48773 US 82 (McFarland Boulevard)Access to the University of Alabama and DCH Regional Medical Center
75.961122.24776 US 11 (Skyland Boulevard)
77.102124.08477Buttermilk Road
79.895128.57979 US 11 Tuscaloosa, Coaling
86.295138.87886Brookwood, Vance
89.253143.63989Mercedes Drive
97.138156.32897

US 11 south / SR 5 south West Blocton, Centreville
South end of US 11/SR 5 concurrency
100.292161.404100Abernant, BucksvilleUnsigned eastern terminus for SR 216
Jefferson104.159167.628104Rock Mountain LakeMcAshan 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 (Academy Drive)
North end of US 11/SR 5 concurrency
110.021177.062110Splash Adventure Parkway
112.341180.79511218th Street, 19th Street
113.280182.30611318th Avenue
115.520185.911115Allison–Bonnet Memorial Drive, Jaybird Road
Fairfield118.304190.392118Valley Road Fairfield
Birmingham119.025191.552119Lloyd Noland ParkwaySigned as exit 119A southbound
119.727192.682119BAvenue ISouthbound exit and northbound entrance
120.934194.624120 SR 269 (20th Street) / Ensley AvenueSouthern terminus of SR 269
121.238195.114121Bush BoulevardSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
123.374198.551123 US 78 (Arkadelphia Road) JasperUnsigned SR 5
124.740200.750124 A-B I-65 Montgomery, HuntsvilleSigned as exits 124A (south) and 124B (north); hybrid interchange
124.740200.750124 C17th Street Downtown BirminghamInterchange incorporated into Malfunction Junction; former exit removed
125.639202.19612522nd Street Downtown BirminghamSigned as exit 125 southbound
126.239203.162126A
US 31 / US 280 east / Carraway Boulevard Civic Center
Western terminus of US 280
126.825204.105126B31st Street North
128.257206.410128 SR 79 (Tallapoosa Street)
129Airport Boulevard
130.301209.699130
I-20 east Atlanta
North end of I-20 concurrency
131.801212.113131Oporto–Madrid BoulevardNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
132.214212.778132 US 11 (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, Tarrant, Oneonta
Trussville137.202220.805137
I-459 south Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Atlanta
Northern terminus of I-459
140.802226.599141Trussville, 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 Argo
Saint Clair153.911247.696154 SR 174 Odenville, Springville
156.178251.344156 SR 23 Springville, Ashville, St Clair Springs
166.322267.669166 US 231 Ashville, Oneonta
173.650279.463174Steele
EtowahAttalla181.294291.764181 SR 77 Attalla, Rainbow City
182.058292.994182
I-759 east Gadsden
Western terminus of I-759
183.030294.558183 US 278 (SR-74) / US 431 (SR-1/5th Avenue) Attalla, Gadsden
Gadsden188.082302.689188
SR 211 to US 11 Noccalula Falls Park
DeKalb205.148330.154205 SR 68 Collinsville, Crossville
218.654351.890218 SR 35 Fort Payne, Rainsville
222.152357.519222 US 11 Fort Payne
224.100360.65422449th Street
231.419372.433231 SR 40 / SR 117 Valley Head, Hammondville
239.642385.666239
To US 11 / Sulphur Springs Road
 241.179
0.0
388.140
0.0
Alabama–Georgia state line
GeorgiaDade4.16.64Rising FawnDeer Head Cove Road; old exit 1
Trenton11.518.511 SR 136 (White Oak Gap Road) TrentonTo the Georgia Welcome Center and to the Cloudland Canyon State Park; old exit 2
17.327.817Slygo Road New EnglandOld exit 3
19.531.4 I-24 (SR 409) Nashville, ChattanoogaNorthern terminus; northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-24 exit 167
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes

See also

References

  1. "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. Google (May 14, 2017). "Overview Map of I-59 in Louisiana" (Map). Google Maps. Google. 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". Google Maps. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
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