Was MS 373 originally US 45?

[cbalducc]

MS 373 is an access road for Columbus Air Force Base, just north of its namesake Mississippi town.  Its alignment makes me wonder if it was an old route for US 45 that was abandoned when the base was built.

http://goo.gl/maps/82h9

God bless,

CKB

[usends]

Certainly looks like you may be right.  According to Wiki, the base opened in 1941.  Historic MDoT maps indicate a possible alignment change between the 1946 and 1948 editions...
http://www.gomdot.com/Divisions/IntermodalPlanning/Resources/Maps/StateHighwayMapsArchive.aspx
...which may have been required for a runway expansion.

[NE2]

From the 1940 census:






Looks like it was, though it was on Stinson Creek Road south of the base.

[cbalducc]

Thanks, NE 2!  I never would have guessed to look where you did!