Mississippi Highway 53

MS 53 is located in Harrison, Hancock, and Pearl River counties.[3][4][5] The highway is legally defined in Mississippi Code § 65-3-3,[6] as part of the state highway system. The section from US 49 to MS 26 is known as the Larkin I. Smith Memorial Highway.[1]

The highway starts at its intersection with US 49 and North Swan Road in northern Gulfport. The road travels westward towards the unincorporated area of Lyman after crossing over a KCS Railway railroad.[3] MS 53 travels northwestward through Lizana and rural western Harrison County.[7] At Herman Ladner Road, the highway turns westward and crosses the Wolf River, entering Hancock County.[3]

Near Sellers in Hancock County, the road travels northwest to its T-intersection at MS 603. MS 53 turns northward at the intersection, and shifts westward at Dogwood Lane, south of the county line. The highway enters Pearl River County past Road 205.[4] Once inside Pearl River County, the road intersects multiple private driveways through the farmland.[7] At Savannah, MS 53 intersects Savannah Millard Road, which has an interchange at I-59. Past Jesse Wells and Restertown Roads, the highway intersects a road that leads to the Poplarville-Pearl River County Airport.[5] The highway enters Poplarville near the diamond interchange at I-59,[8] and it becomes concurrent with MS 26.[7] MS 53 ends at US 11 after crossing a Norfolk Southern railroad and Jumpoff Creek.[7][8]

MS 53 in Lizana

The road that became MS 53 existed at least since 1928, as a gravel road from Lyman to Poplarville.[9] A small section of the road near Poplarville was paved in 1939.[10][11] By 1948, a few miles of the road near Lyman was paved,[12][13] and MS 53 was designated along the road two years later.[14][15] Almost all of MS 53 in Harrison County was paved by 1953. A small portion in Pearl River County was also paved during this time.[16][17] The Pearl River section of the highway was near completely paved by 1956,[18][19] and all of the highway was completely paved one year later.[19][20] By 1967, an interchange was created at I-59 and MS 53.[21][22]