U.S. 98 constitutes a four-lane highway from McComb east to Hattiesburg, and the Alabama state line. An important trucking corridor and regional highway between Hattiesburg and Mobile, Alabama. U.S. 98 was realigned to bypass the rural towns of Beaumont and McClain, and the George County seat of Lucedale during the 1980s. Traveling along northern fringes of the DeSoto National Forest and by Lake Perry and the Palestinian Gardens, speed limits throughout the scenic course of U.S. 98 between Interstate 59 and the Alabama state line are posted at 65 mph.
West from I-55 and the town of Summit, U.S. 98 takes a winding route west to Auburn and Bude with just two overall lanes. The bulk of through traffic utilizes U.S. 84, which is a four-lane corridor to the north near Brookhaven. U.S. 84 and U.S. 98 combine west to U.S. 61 near Washington, where the three overlap southwest into Natchez.
U.S. 98 Mississippi Guides
The extension of U.S. 98 west from Pensacola, Florida to Natchez, Mississippi via Mobile, Alabama and Hattiesburg was approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on November 7, 1954. The US highway replaced MS Highway 44 between Budge and U.S. 51 at Summit, MS Highway 24 from McComb east to McLain and MS Highway 15 from east of McLain to the Alabama state line.
Prior to completion of the limited access expressway linking U.S. 98 with I-59 west 2.97 miles from U.S. 49 south of Hattiesburg in December 1983, U.S. 98 combined with U.S. 49 northwest to Hardy Street at the University of Southern Mississippi campus. The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) approved the relocation of U.S. 98 on May 24, 1984. The former route extending 1.11 miles east from I-59 to U.S. 49 along Hardy Street was redesignated MS 198. West from I-59, U.S. 98 constitutes a commercial arterial to Wesley Medical Center and Turtle Creek Mall.
The four lane alignment bypassing Lucedale to the north opened to traffic by August 24, 1988. The application to formally relocate U.S. 98 onto the 9.6-mile long expressway was submitted by the Mississippi Department of Transportation in March 1994 and ultimately approved by AASHTO on April 21, 1996.
Connect with:
Interstate 55
Interstate 59
U.S. 49
U.S. 84
Highway 57
Highway 63
Page Updated 09-04-2024.