Missouri State Route 249 (two-fortynine, I-49, get it?) is a new freeway being constructed around the east side of Joplin. Currently, Joplin is served by Interstate 44 and a US 71 freeway that runs north from Arkansas and I-540. Such notable names as Langston Hughes and Jackass’ Preston Lacy can claim Joplin as a hometown.

Let’s take a look at the as-yet-incomplete SR 249 – aka the Range Line bypass – after the jump

The route is signed well in advance along US 71 coming north. The US 71 freeway was recently upgraded and a new alignment built south past Neosho.

MSSU is signed as a secondary control point for MO 249, and is mentioned again before the Newman Road exit. Joplin is home to MSSU and two bible colleges. The whole metro area has about 166,000 residents.

At Interstate 44, a mostly-cloverleaf interchange is encountered. US 71 follows I-44 briefly to the east and then continues northward to Carthage and Kansas City. Here, MO 249 is given Joplin as a control point.

With the state abbreviation dropped from the sign, Tulsa is the control point for I-44 westbound. This marks the southern beginning of SR 249.

Woops! The bane of DOTs everywhere, the dreaded US-highway-in-the-wrong-spot problem.

In two places northbound, it is signed as a US highway. Perhaps the ulterior motives of the DOT, numbering this freeway as a loop of a possible future I-49, shone through here.

The first exit along SR 249 northbound is Business Loop I-44 and SR 66. SR 66 is the former routing of US 66, which was replaced mostly by I-44 from St. Louis to Oklahoma City.

Finally, a MO 249 shield, just before the freeway’s end at Highway VV / Zora St. The freeway is entirely 2 lanes in each direction, and is mostly paved with concrete. Some asphalt sections exist, however.

A large stop sign greets northbound drivers along the route before Highway VV. There are no “Freeway Ends” signs or indicators, only this large stop warning and a VMS that says “Pavement Ends 1/4th mile”.

Zora Street marks the terminus of the freeway, which is being built north to Business US 71 in Carterville. The entire road is due to be opened in January, 2009. For now, all traffic must exit.

SR 249 temporarily runs east along VV and then north to Business US 71. The routing runs parallel to the route of the new freeway.

The northern terminus of MO 249 will be at this stack.

(click here http://www.modot.mo.gov/southwest/route249/documents/Linemap249.pdf for a rendering from MoDot) with Business US 71, also due to open in January 2009. The stack has 7 bridges, with the highest ramp at about 80 feet tall. It is going to be the first stack interchange in southwest Missouri, and the residents of Carterville (population 1,700) are understandably proud.