A lot of US Highway 49 between Jackson and Gulfport, Mississippi is in rough shape. It was one of the first highways in Mississippi to be four-laned. I think work began in the late 1940s and was completed by the 1970s.
As the only north-south artery between the Mississippi Gulf Coast and points north, Highway 49 carries a lot of traffic. This traffic has increased since the 1990s when casinos came to the coast. There are also eighteen wheelers to and from the ports along the coast, especially the Port of Gulfport. Heavy vehicles are also in and out of Camp Shelby south of Hattiesburg.
Suburban sprawl south of Jackson makes this portion of Highway 49 a real bottleneck. There is a median planted with crape myrtles between Richland and Florence, plus a lot of buildings along both sides of the highway. Widening it will be a real challenge. There is also sprawl north of Gulfport, which is now Mississippi's second-largest city due to annexation. There is even development along the highway at Wiggins, where a traffic light was installed about ten years ago for a Wal-Mart SuperCenter.
Two of the lanes have a humpback profile, up and down hills. This needs realigning. God bless.
Quote from: cbalducc on April 12, 2011, 06:40:27 PM
a traffic light was installed about ten years ago for a Wal-Mart SuperCenter.
I'm reminded of a solution whose refrain is "it's the only way to be sure".
I apologize for the abrupt ending of my Highway 49 observations. The Internet at the public library is set to sign off about 15 minutes before closing. I am at the Delta State library now, using a quick search computer well beyond the five minute limit!
I assume the older alignment has the roller-coaster profile. The highway that diverts into the communities along the way is usually numbered Highway 149.
The present alignment of most of Mississippi's federal highways were built in the late 1930s. However, some roads were designated federal highways in the late 1920s. Those are often winding roads that still exist. In south Mississippi, you will find such roads labeled "Old Highway 11" or whatever. In fact, there once existed a Highway 49W and 49E south of Hattiesburg.
When the late-1930s era highways were four-laned, a new set of lanes was usually built next to the old and towns were bypassed. Unfortunately, the "old side" was left intact, with its roller-coaster profile and tighter clearances. There are several intersections where a reduced speed limit is posted, but seldom observed. God bless.
Most of the Jackson to Gulfport work began in the '50s and was done in the '60s. The worst of the "roller coaster" sections is near Camp Shelby, but MDOT has gone in and reconstructed some segments, most notably between Saucier and Wiggins.
The state has a long-range goal of converting this segment of US 49 to a freeway, but they don't have the money for it.
Personally, I like the rolling hills of the original 49 lanes. They add to the charm of traveling 49...as well as U.S. 98.
Quote from: froggie on April 12, 2011, 09:23:07 PM
The state has a long-range goal of converting this segment of US 49 to a freeway, but they don't have the money for it.
I wonder if this includes I-59 around Hattiesburg of it will be built entirely on a new corridor. I think if it utilizes existing US 98 and I-59, then I-59 should be widened to six lanes between US 49 north and US 98 east.
Quote from: froggie on April 12, 2011, 09:23:07 PM
Most of the Jackson to Gulfport work began in the '50s and was done in the '60s. The worst of the "roller coaster" sections is near Camp Shelby, but MDOT has gone in and reconstructed some segments, most notably between Saucier and Wiggins.
The state has a long-range goal of converting this segment of US 49 to a freeway, but they don't have the money for it.
I know they replaced a couple bridges just south of US 98 back in 2009, I think.
I traveled over those new bridges earlier this month. They are near Camp Shelby's north entrance. I think they were completed last year.
I remember when Highway 49 between Yazoo City and Jackson was a two-lane. Talk about some "ups-and-downs" between Yazoo City and Bentonia! :wow: Whoever built the new lanes had to cut through a lot of bluffs.
I think it was complete by 1978. God bless.
Quote from: brownpelican on April 13, 2011, 12:53:03 AM
Personally, I like the rolling hills of the original 49 lanes. They add to the charm of traveling 49...as well as U.S. 98.
Have you ever explored old 49W south of Hattiesburg?
Quote from: codyg1985 on April 18, 2011, 09:42:29 AM
Quote from: froggie on April 12, 2011, 09:23:07 PM
The state has a long-range goal of converting this segment of US 49 to a freeway, but they don't have the money for it.
I wonder if this includes I-59 around Hattiesburg of it will be built entirely on a new corridor. I think if it utilizes existing US 98 and I-59, then I-59 should be widened to six lanes between US 49 north and US 98 east.
I've been somewhat of an advocate of re-routing US 49 and duplexing it with I-59. But the one major deal is what to do with the existing portion that currently runs through Hattiesburg. Perhaps it could be called MS 149 or even renaming it Oseola McCarthy Highway, named after the elderly lady who donated $150K to the University of Southern Mississippi in the mid-90s.
Quote from: golden eagle on April 19, 2011, 12:34:58 PM
I've been somewhat of an advocate of re-routing US 49 and duplexing it with I-59. But the one major deal is what to do with the existing portion that currently runs through Hattiesburg. Perhaps it could be called MS 149 or even renaming it Oseola McCarthy Highway, named after the elderly lady who donated $150K to the University of Southern Mississippi in the mid-90s.
149 might work, except at Wiggins which already has a 149 ;)
So do Mount Olive, Magee, D'Lo, Richland, Yazoo City, Inverness, and Clarksdale. MDOT's SOP in the case of such a reroute would indeed be to label it MS 149.
Maybe it could be in the works, but it would seem logical for MDOT to duplex MS 149 with US 49 instead of having it being broken up as it is throughout the state. They should also do that for MS 18 with I-20, but I digress.
Quote from: golden eagle on April 20, 2011, 10:08:33 AM
Maybe it could be in the works, but it would seem logical for MDOT to duplex MS 149 with US 49 instead of having it being broken up as it is throughout the state. They should also do that for MS 18 with I-20, but I digress.
The current system where the bypass gets signed US xx and the old route gets signed MS 1xx works well I think, but it would be neat if they went like Arkansas and signed the old route US xx Business or US xxB.
I agree with golden eagle. All of the discontinuous sections with the same number along that corridor could confuse travelers who aren't familiar with the area.
QuoteI agree with golden eagle. All of the discontinuous sections with the same number along that corridor could confuse travelers who aren't familiar with the area.
Not necessarily. If my destination is, say, Quitman...I know I want Hwy 145 in Quitman. Duplexing the MS 1xx route with the US xx route does nothing but create useless duplexes.
Speaking of MS 18...as configured it'd have to follow US 80, not I-20. MS 18 continues to US 80 on both sides of Jackson.
That's easy for you, me, your typical road geek, or someone with a good sense of direction. Put average Joe from (insert any other state) o the road and who knows.
Quote from: UptownRoadGeek on April 20, 2011, 12:51:36 PM
That's easy for you, me, your typical road geek, or someone with a good sense of direction. Put average Joe from (insert any other state) o the road and who knows.
How many complaints have you heard concerning the MS 1xx system for the old US routes that are now bypassing said community?
(Not necessarily you Uptown, but anyone in Mississippi)
If a 1xx route is used the same way as a Business route, then it's every bit as easy to understand. People wouldn't get any more or less confused by the same route appearing multiple times.
Quote from: Adam Smith on April 20, 2011, 10:10:28 PM
How many complaints have you heard concerning the MS 1xx system for the old US routes that are now bypassing said community?
(Not necessarily you Uptown, but anyone in Mississippi)
I wouldn't know, as I'm rarely in Mississippi. Personally, I can easily see if say I need to be somewhere on MS 1xx, but there are 2 towns before the one I'm visiting with MS 1xxs. Unless I'm using a GPS or have made the trip before, how would I know that there are actually 3+ highways with the exacy same number with no prior knowledge of the system? They could atleast add suffixes. But, if it works then there is no need to fix what isn't broken.
Quote from: US71 on April 18, 2011, 06:35:07 PM
Quote from: brownpelican on April 13, 2011, 12:53:03 AM
Personally, I like the rolling hills of the original 49 lanes. They add to the charm of traveling 49...as well as U.S. 98.
Have you ever explored old 49W south of Hattiesburg?
That's the only section I haven't done.
However, I was referring to the modern 49....one direction isn't as hilly as the other direction. The roller- coaster-like sections on modern 49 were the original lanes at one point.
The original realigned lanes, moreso...dating from ca. 1934 in the Camp Shelby area.