MS Bound

[US71]

In a few weeks, I'll be making my annual trek to southern Mississippi. As I often do, I am hoping to avoid Interstates as much as possible. Given that, I have a tentative routing of US 71 to Shreveport, US 80 to Jackson, MS (plus looking for a couple bridges near Vicksburg, MS), then south on US 49 to Hattiesburg (tracing some "forgotten" alignments along the way).

Coming home is where it gets fun! I have narrowed it to 3 options:

1) US 11 to US 90 near New Orleans, then old US 90 to Lafayette. From there, either US 167 or I-49 to Alexandira, US 167 to Ruston, US 80 back to Shreveport and US 71 back home.  Estimated time 2-2 1/2 days.

2) US 98 from Hattiesburg to Pensacola, FL, then back west on US 90. Pick up US 11 near New Orleans, back to Hattiesburg, then west on US 98 to Natchez, MS. From Natchez, either US 65 or US 425 to Pine Bluff, then I-530 (or maybe AR 365) to Little Rock and I-40 back home.  Estimated time 2-2 1/2 days.

3) "Best of Both Worlds": US 98 to Pensacola, US 90 to New Orleans, then old US 90 to Lafayette, then north to Alexandria, 167 to Ruston, 80 to Shreveport, then home on 71.  Estimated time 3-3 1/2 days.


I'm leaning towards #2 or #3: I've never been to Florida and I've only been to Alabama once (spent a weekend in Cullman back in 2007).

Any "must see's" along either routing?

[cjk374]

I don't know how you feel about road construction, but there's plenty of that to see on US 167 between Alexandria and Ruston (the TIMED projects to widen the road to divided 4-lane). 

I know the bridges you seek on old 80--over the Big Black River east of Bovina--a DEFINITE MUST SEE!!  Also, if u want to see another big bridge over the same river, turn right on Warriors Trail (just before you get to the Big Black River).  There is a HUGE concrete arch bridge that carries the Kansas City Southern mainline over it.  Watching a train go overhead on this structure is really awesome (to me anyway).

[berberry]

...US 80 to Jackson, MS (plus looking for a couple bridges near Vicksburg, MS)...

I hope you're not thinking you can drive across the old MS River bridge, because it closed in 1993.  On rare occasions it opens for pedestrian traffic, and it opens only to participants each year for the Run Through History.  It is almost certain that unless you join that run, you won't make a direct visit to the old bridge.

Still, the old bridge is indeed a charmer and most certainly worth a special stop.  You'll be able to get very close to it and study it.  Some of the best views possible are available from the state's Welcome Center, including a central point between the old and new bridges.  You should also drive a few hundred yards north, up Washington Street, to Riverfront Park, and see the view of both bridges from a beautiful bend in the river.  You'll notice a high overlook above the park accessible from Washington Street as you enter the park. That overlook is also well worth a minute.

...then south on US 49 to Hattiesburg...

If you like interesting old interchanges, don't miss the cloverleaf at US 11 in south H'burg.  Also, the old alignments of 49 through Magee and Mendenhall are a nice diversion from the 4-lane road.  You might  want to turn east from the main 49 at Seminary, MS (a very short distance south of Collins) and see a stretch of what I believe is the first paved segment of Hwy 49 in Mississippi.  As you cross the RR tracks, you can turn south onto the antique roadway.

I hope you enjoy your trip.

[berberry]

Watching a train go overhead on this structure is really awesome (to me anyway).

Me, too!  Wow, I haven't thought of that in many years, but I did that once a couple decades ago.  Thanks for mentioning.

One of the worst highway disasters in MS history occurred at that Hwy 80 bridge in the early 1950s.  During a nighttime, fog-laden heavy thunderstorm, an even older structure washed away.  Weather conditions prevented motorists from noticing the missing bridge until it was too late.  The carnage, from what I've read, was horrific.  

[agentsteel53]

Laurel.


Clinton.

[berberry]

I see the I-20 sign in Clinton fairly often, but I've never see the one in Laurel.  Where exactly is it, please?

[berberry]

I mentioned Washington Street in Vicksburg a few minutes ago but forgot to point out, in case you didn't know, that Washington carried the earliest alignments of US 80 and 61 through a significant portion of this town.  Clay Street, which intersects Washington at the center of downtown, was another segment of the same alignment for both highways.

[NE2]

I know the bridges you seek on old 80--over the Big Black River east of Bovina--a DEFINITE MUST SEE!!  Also, if u want to see another big bridge over the same river, turn right on Warriors Trail (just before you get to the Big Black River).  There is a HUGE concrete arch bridge that carries the Kansas City Southern mainline over it.  Watching a train go overhead on this structure is really awesome (to me anyway).

Slight correction: this is the "Meridian Speedway" from Meridian to Shreveport. KCS's main line goes south from Kansas City through Shreveport to Port Arthur.

[US71]

I hope you're not thinking you can drive across the old MS River bridge, because it closed in 1993.  On rare occasions it opens for pedestrian traffic, and it opens only to participants each year for the Run Through History.  It is almost certain that unless you join that run, you won't make a direct visit to the old bridge.

No, there are a couple bridges in town I'm looking for. Hall's Ferry Rd for one and I may go visit Fairground St again.

This my 5th annual trip to Mississippi. I've seen a lot, but always wind up missing something. I've been digging through some old DeLorme's trying to find stuff I've missed or creative ways of getting to where I'm going.

It was easy the first 3 years, but now I'm having to get more creative in my routings

[berberry]

No, there are a couple bridges in town I'm looking for. Hall's Ferry Rd for one and I may go visit Fairground St again.

My guess for your Halls Ferry destination would be the bridge at Confederate Avenue, which was originally part of the National Park.  Beautiful old brick bridge, you'll love it:  take the Halls Ferry (1C) exit from I-20 and turn north.  It's about a half-mile to that bridge.

After seeing it, you really shouldn't miss another that's very nearby and just as beautiful, running over railroad tracks.  It also once belonged to the park, but now it's a part of I-20 Frontage Road, of all things.  This segment of the Frontage is not in view of the interstate.  It's actually kinda secluded.  From Halls Ferry where you're visiting the first bridge, take the ramp that runs up to Confederate Avenue and turn left.  You'll pass over the first bridge and continue down a lovely old winding road for about a mile.  When you come to a stop sign, you're at Frontage Road.  I-20 is just out of sight to your left.  Turn right, away from 20, and you'll soon see the other bridge.  Cross over it and continue a hundred yards or so and you're back to Washington Street, directly across from the Riverfront Park, which I mentioned earlier.

It was easy the first 3 years, but now I'm having to get more creative in my routings

Yeah, and it takes a bit of extra time to follow old highways, but it's usually worth it.  I love to do what you're doing, only somewhere else.  I use these roads in Vicksburg so often I almost never think of their history, even though I know a fair amount about it.

[froggie]

I see the I-20 sign in Clinton fairly often, but I've never see the one in Laurel.  Where exactly is it, please?

He won't tell you because he's afraid someone will either steal the sign or officials will take it down.

Regarding US71's proposed routings:

- MDOT has plans for a new interchange at US 49/MS 35, but I'm not sure if they've begun construction yet.  In the meantime, it's a traffic signal.

- US 49's OLD old alignment goes east of Okatona Creek once you're south of Seminary.  It can be difficult to follow as you approach Hattiesburg.

- At one point, old MS 42 through Petal was going to become MS 142.  I don't think this has happened.

- Instead of 98 east from Hattiesburg, take one of the old 49 alignments (either old 49E or 49W) south.  On the south side of Brooklyn, near an old, still-remaining truss bridge, is where the old 49E/49W split used to be.  From Brooklyn, you can take county roads back to 98 at Beaumont or McLain....which would be more interesting than what I consider the boringness of MS 26 east of Wiggins.

- Construction's still underway on a new-alignment US 98 just east of the MS/AL state line.

[berberry]

Instead of 98 east from Hattiesburg, take one of the old 49 alignments (either old 49E or 49W) south.

Are you sure?  I'm thinking it must be plain ol' 49.  Those E and W divided alignments, to my knowledge, never existed anywhere outside the Delta (towns of Yazoo City, Indianola, Greenwood, et. al.)

[US71]

Instead of 98 east from Hattiesburg, take one of the old 49 alignments (either old 49E or 49W) south.

Are you sure?  I'm thinking it must be plain ol' 49.  Those E and W divided alignments, to my knowledge, never existed anywhere outside the Delta (towns of Yazoo City, Indianola, Greenwood, et. al.)

I just found some remnants south of Hattiesburg using the DeLorme atlas. I'll have to Google some it to get a better idea where they are.

[Alps]

I see the I-20 sign in Clinton fairly often, but I've never see the one in Laurel.  Where exactly is it, please?

See my site:  www.alpsroads.net/roads/ms/us_11 - not too far down (you can explore my other MS pages for ideas too)

[cjk374]

...US 80 to Jackson, MS (plus looking for a couple bridges near Vicksburg, MS)...

Still, the old bridge is indeed a charmer and most certainly worth a special stop.  You'll be able to get very close to it and study it.  Some of the best views possible are available from the state's Welcome Center, including a central point between the old and new bridges.  You should also drive a few hundred yards north, up Washington Street, to Riverfront Park, and see the view of both bridges from a beautiful bend in the river.  You'll notice a high overlook above the park accessible from Washington Street as you enter the park. That overlook is also well worth a minute.

I'm not sure you'll be able to stop at the Welcome Center.  It was closed due for a major rebuilding when I was there in October.  I heard a rumor (ONLY a rumor...nothing substantiated) that the Fairgrounds Bridge (I believe you're talking about the truss bridge over the rail yard) was slated for removal. 

[US71]

I don't know how you feel about road construction, but there's plenty of that to see on US 167 between Alexandria and Ruston (the TIMED projects to widen the road to divided 4-lane).  

I know the bridges you seek on old 80--over the Big Black River east of Bovina--a DEFINITE MUST SEE!!  Also, if u want to see another big bridge over the same river, turn right on Warriors Trail (just before you get to the Big Black River).  There is a HUGE concrete arch bridge that carries the Kansas City Southern mainline over it.  Watching a train go overhead on this structure is really awesome (to me anyway).

I found Warriors Way bridge (WOW!) :
http://www.bing.com/maps/?FORM=Z9LH9#JnE9LjMyJTQwMjM0NzU1JTJjKy05MCU0MDI3MDUyNyU3ZXNzdC4wJTdlcGcuMSZiYj01Ny4wMjQ1NTQ3MzAwODkxJTdlLTYwLjE3ODkzMjE4OTUlN2UxNS4xNzA2OTkwNDQzODI1JTdlLTEyOS4xNzMwNzI4MTQ1

BTW: it's the old ICG line

[froggie]

Are you sure?  I'm thinking it must be plain ol' 49.  Those E and W divided alignments, to my knowledge, never existed anywhere outside the Delta (towns of Yazoo City, Indianola, Greenwood, et. al.)

There was a second 49 E/W split between Brooklyn and Hattiesburg that lasted until about 1936.

Google Maps actually delineates between the two south of Camp Shelby for a stretch.  US 49W also used JB Horne Rd and "Old Hwy 19" (Elks Lake Rd).

[berberry]

I'm not sure you'll be able to stop at the Welcome Center.  It was closed due for a major rebuilding when I was there in October.  I heard a rumor (ONLY a rumor...nothing substantiated) that the Fairgrounds Bridge (I believe you're talking about the truss bridge over the rail yard) was slated for removal. 

I drove past about a week ago and it looked like the grounds were open.  The welcome center sits adjacent to a small, detached parcel of the national park.  I don't know why they'd close the entire site just to work on that building. 

[berberry]

Are you sure?  I'm thinking it must be plain ol' 49.  Those E and W divided alignments, to my knowledge, never existed anywhere outside the Delta (towns of Yazoo City, Indianola, Greenwood, et. al.)

There was a second 49 E/W split between Brooklyn and Hattiesburg that lasted until about 1936.

Wow, I had no idea!  Certainly learned something new today.

[agentsteel53]

There was a second 49 E/W split between Brooklyn and Hattiesburg that lasted until about 1936.

I never knew that.  Were there any other split routes in Miss apart from the two 49 E/W splits?

[berberry]

I heard a rumor (ONLY a rumor...nothing substantiated) that the Fairgrounds Bridge (I believe you're talking about the truss bridge over the rail yard) was slated for removal. 

It's true.  That bridge has been found to be structurally unsound.  It's been closed for at least a couple years now, creating a lot of inconvenience (Washington St is a major north-south route through this town). 

As I understand, a new tunnel is being built for the railroad, and the bridge is to be completely rebuilt.

[NE2]

BTW: it's the old ICG line

It's the Alabama and Vicksburg; the IC/ICG didn't acquire it until 1926 http://www.archive.org/stream/poorsmanualofrai24newyuoft#page/2/mode/2up http://www.archive.org/stream/poorsmanualofrai24newyuoft#page/148/mode/2up

[Let's keep the disparaging remarks to a minimum... -S.]

[froggie]

I never knew that.  Were there any other split routes in Miss apart from the two 49 E/W splits?

Not for US routes.  There were some state split routes early on...of which MS 9W remains to this day.  The most prominent was MS 45W, which became ALT US 45.

[cjk374]

BTW: it's the old ICG line

Newb. It's the Alabama and Vicksburg; the IC/ICG didn't acquire it until 1926 http://www.archive.org/stream/poorsmanualofrai24newyuoft#page/2/mode/2up http://www.archive.org/stream/poorsmanualofrai24newyuoft#page/148/mode/2up

It's comforting to know I'm not the only railroad geek here!    

[Alex]

The southern U.S. 49E/49W split was fairly short. MDOT provides scans of their official highway map going back to 1928 on their web site. U.S. 49E/W to the south are displayed in the 1936 version for instance.