Interstate 59

Interstate 59 (I-59) is an Interstate Highway located in the southeastern United States. It is a north–south route that spans 445.23 miles (716.53 km) from a junction with I-10 and I-12 at Slidell, Louisiana, to a junction with I-24 near Wildwood, Georgia.

Interstate 59
I-59 highlighted in red
Route information
Length445.23 mi[1] (716.53 km)
Existed1960–present
Major junctions
South end I-10 / I-12 in Slidell, LA
 
North end I-24 in Wildwood, GA
Location
StatesLouisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
Counties
Highway system
← LA 58LALA 59 →
← SR 57ALSR 59 →
← SR 405GA SR 406SR 407 →

The highway connects the metropolitan areas of New Orleans, Louisiana; Birmingham, Alabama; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, running closely parallel to the older U.S. Route 11 (US 11) corridor for the entire distance. Approximately one-third of the route, spanning 153 miles (246 km) from Meridian, Mississippi, to Birmingham, Alabama, overlaps that of the east–west I-20.

I-59 is a four-lane freeway along its entire route, other than a short stretch extending from north of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, through Birmingham, where it widens to six lanes or more.

Route description
Lengths
 mi[1]km
LA 11.48 18.48
MS 171.72 276.36
AL 241.36 388.43
GA 20.67 33.27
Total 445.23 716.53

Louisiana
At the bottom of I-12's eastbound ramp to LA 59, travelers also find a shield for the unrelated I-59, some 20 miles (32 km) farther east

I-59 spans 11.48 miles (18.48 km) in Louisiana, the shortest distance in the four states through which it travels. The route begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with I-10 (exit 267) and I-12 (exit 85) at the northeast corner of Slidell, a city in St. Tammany Parish. From this interchange, connections are made to New Orleans and Hammond, as well as Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Heading north, I-59 has two exits serving the town of Pearl River, where it begins a concurrency with US 11. Immediately afterward, the highway crosses the West Pearl River and passes through an interchange with Old US 11, a portion of the pre-interstate alignment serving the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area. I-59 then travels through the Honey Island Swamp for 6 miles (9.7 km) before crossing the main branch of the Pearl River into Mississippi.[2][3][4]

Mississippi

In Mississippi, I-59 continues to run parallel with US 11, traversing mainly rural areas, but going through or bypassing the towns of Picayune, Poplarville, Hattiesburg, Ellisville, Moselle, Laurel, and Meridian.

For its length in Mississippi, I-59 either travels concurrent with, or runs close to, US 11. Between the towns of Pearl River and Picayune, US 11 travels concurrent with I-59. The highway also has concurrencies with US 98 in Hattiesburg; Mississippi Highway 42 (MS 42) just north of Hattiesburg; US 84 and Mississippi Highway 15 (MS 15) in Laurel, and US 80, US 11, and MS 19 in the Meridian area.

A notoriously sharp S-curve, at milepost 96 in Laurel, was the subject of a large reconstruction project. Those sharp curves were the legacy of an overpass over the Southern Railway on a town bypass with design dating from before the Interstate Highways, and they featured a 40 mph (65 km/h) speed limit, one of the lowest anywhere on the Interstate Highway System. This work was completed in 2009.

A stretch of I-59 in Mississippi

Just west of Meridian, I-20 joins I-59 and these two highways continue together for 145 miles (233 km), across the border with Alabama to and through Birmingham. The exit numbers are given as those of I-59.

At 4:00 p.m. on August 27, 2005, for the first time in its history, the southbound lanes of I-59 were temporarily redirected northward to accommodate evacuation for Hurricane Katrina. This was a previously agreed to joint plan by the states of Mississippi and Louisiana called contraflow lane reversal. The program began at the Louisiana–Mississippi state line and continued 21 miles (34 km) north to Poplarville.

Alabama
I-59 (co-signed with I-20) approaching I-65 in downtown Birmingham

I-59 and I-20 travel together for about 40 percent of their route through Alabama, passing northeast through Tuscaloosa before finally parting ways in eastern Birmingham.

In Birmingham, many wrecks and accidents occur near the cross-over interchange of I-20/I-59 and I-65 (commonly called "Malfunction Junction"). On two occasions, 18-wheelers crashed and burned fiercely enough to melt the support beams of overpasses. Beginning in eastern Birmingham, I-59 continues on its own northeast, passing by Gadsden and Fort Payne in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, before entering Georgia.

I-59 from Gadsden at mile marker 182 to Stephen's Gap at mile marker 193 had degraded over the decades since it was opened into a rough concrete highway. Between 2010 and 2014, a construction project called "Project 59" took place between Gadsden and Fort Payne. This project consisted of reconstructing the Interstate Highway with unbonded concrete (without any space cracks) as well as modifications to the width and vertical clearance of the bridges and overpasses in the segment.

Georgia

I-59 has a short trek through Georgia, with only three exits before ending at I-24 several miles west of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Wildwood, Georgia. Within Georgia it carries unsigned designated as State Route 406 (SR 406) for internal Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) purposes.[5]

National Highway System

The entire length of I-59 is part of the National Highway System, a system of routes determined to be the most important for the nation's economy, mobility, and defense.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Exit list
StateParish/CountyLocationmi[18][19][20]kmExitDestinationsNotes
LouisianaSt. TammanySlidell0.000–
0.842		0.000–
1.355		1 I-10 – New Orleans, Bay St. Louis
I-12 west – Hammond		Southern terminus of I-59; eastern terminus of I-12; signed as exits 1A (I-12 west), 1B (I-10 east), and 1C (I-10 west)
​3.424–
4.156		5.510–
6.688		3 US 11 south / LA 1090 south – Pearl RiverSouthern end of US 11 concurrency; northern terminus of LA 1090
Pearl River5.170–
5.636		8.320–
9.070		5A LA 3081 – Pearl RiverNorthern terminus of LA 3081
​6.264–
6.765		10.081–
10.887		5BHoney Island SwampTo Old US 11
​11.638–
11.957		18.730–
19.243		11Pearl River Turnaround
Pearl River12.058
0.0		19.405
0.0		Louisiana–Mississippi state line
MississippiPearl River​0.50.801 US 11 north / MS 607 south – Nicholson, NASA John C. Stennis Space CenterNorth end of US 11 concurrency
Picayune4.06.44 MS 43 south – Picayune, KilnSouth end of MS 43 concurrency
6.09.76 MS 43 north – North PicayuneNorth end of MS 43 concurrency
​10.516.910Carriere
​14.924.015McNeill
​19.531.419Millard
​26.743.027 MS 53 – Necaise, Poplarville
​29.647.629 MS 26 – Poplarville, Wiggins
​35.457.035Hillsdale Road
Lumberton41.166.141 MS 13 – Lumberton
LamarPurvis51.382.651 MS 589 – Purvis
Forrest​58.694.359 US 98 east – Lucedale, MobileSouth end of US 98 concurrency
​60.597.460 US 11 – South Hattiesburg, Downtown Hattiesburg
LamarHattiesburg64.8104.365 US 98 west (MS 198 east) / Hardy Street – ColumbiaNorth end of US 98 concurrency; signed as exits 65A (MS 198) and 65B (US 98) northbound
Forrest67.4108.567 US 49 / MS 42 west – Hattiesburg, JacksonSouth end of MS 42 concurrency; signed as exits 67A (south) and 67B (north)
69.6112.069 MS 42 east (Evelyn Gandy Parkway) – PetalNorth end of MS 42 concurrency
​73.1117.673Monroe Road
Jones​75.6121.776Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport
​78.0125.578Sanford Road
​80.3129.280Moselle
​85.6137.885 MS 590 – Ellisville
Ellisville88.2141.988 MS 29 / MS 588 – Ellisville
​90.3145.390 US 11 (Ellisville Boulevard)
Laurel92.9149.593 US 11 – South Laurel
94.5152.195 US 84 west / MS 15 north (16th Avenue)South end of US 84/MS 15 concurrency; signed as exits 95A (south) and 95B (north)
95.0152.995CBeacon StreetLaurel S-curve southbound
95.6153.996A4th Avenue, Masonite Road
96.0154.596B MS 15 south (Cook Avenue) – RichtonNorth end of MS 15 concurrency
96.8155.897 US 84 east (Chantilly Street) – WaynesboroNorth end of US 84 concurrency
98.6158.799 US 11
​104.1167.5104Sandersville
Jasper​113.3182.3113 MS 528 – Heidelberg, Bay Springs
​118.2190.2118Vossburg, Paulding
Clarke​125.9202.6126 MS 18 – Rose Hill, Pachuta
​133.6215.0134 MS 513 – South Enterprise, Rose HillRose Hill not on northbound sign
​136.8220.2137North Enterprise
Lauderdale​141.6227.9142Savoy
​147.9238.0149 I-20 west / US 80 west – JacksonSouth end of I-20/US 80 concurrency
Meridian149.9241.2150 US 11 south / MS 19 north – Philadelphia, Meridian AirportSouth end of US 11/MS 19 concurrency
150.5242.2151Valley Road, 49th Avenue
151.4243.715229th Avenue
152.8245.9153 MS 145 south / MS 493 north (22nd Avenue) – Quitman
153.7247.4154 US 11 north / US 80 east / MS 19 south / MS 39 north – De Kalb, ButlerNorth end of US 11/US 80/MS 19 concurrency; signed as exits 154A (south) and 154B (north) northbound
155.4250.1156Jimmie Rodgers Pkwy
156.5251.9157 US 45 – Quitman, MaconSigned as exits 157A (south) and 157B (north)
​160.0257.5160Russell
​164.6264.9165Toomsuba
​168.2270.7169 US 11 / US 80 – Kewanee
 171.7
0.0		276.3
0.0		Mississippi–Alabama state line
AlabamaSumter​0.8041.2941 To US 80 east – Cuba, Demopolis
​8.04112.9418 SR 17 – York
​17.05927.45417 SR 28 – Livingston, Boyd
​23.14137.24223 CR 20 – Gainesville, Epes
Greene​32.22951.86832Boligee
​40.76665.60740 SR 14 – Aliceville, Eutaw
​45.33472.95845Union
​52.24484.07952 US 11 / US 43 – Knoxville
Tuscaloosa​62.466100.52962 SR 300 – FostersSR 300 is an unsigned route
Tuscaloosa68.083109.56968Northport Tuscaloosa Western Bypass
71.367114.85471 I-359 north / SR 69 – Tuscaloosa, MoundvilleSigned as exits 71A (south) and 71B (north); unsigned US 11
73.003117.48773 US 82 (McFarland Boulevard)
75.961122.24776 US 11 (Skyland Boulevard)
77.102124.08477Buttermilk Road
​79.895128.57979 US 11 – Tuscaloosa, Coaling
​86.295138.87886Brookwood, Vance
​89.253143.63989Mercedes Drive
​97.138156.32897 US 11 south / SR 5 south – West Blocton, CentrevilleSouth end of US 11/SR 5 concurrency
​100.292161.404100Abernant, BucksvilleUnsigned eastern terminus for SR 216
Jefferson​104.159167.628104Rock Mountain LakeMcAshan Drive
​106.201170.914106 I-459 north – Gadsden, Montgomery, AtlantaSouthern terminus of I-459
Bessemer108.396174.446108 US 11 north / SR 5 north (Academy Drive)North end of US 11/SR 5 concurrency
110.021177.062110Splash Adventure Parkway
112.341180.79511218th Street, 19th Street
113.280182.30611318th Avenue
115.520185.911115Allison–Bonnet Memorial Drive, Jaybird Road
Fairfield118.304190.392118Valley Road – Fairfield
Birmingham119.025191.552119Lloyd Noland ParkwaySigned as exit 119A southbound
119.727192.682119BAvenue ISouthbound exit and northbound entrance
120.934194.624120 SR 269 (20th Street) / Ensley AvenueSouthern terminus of SR 269
121.238195.114121Bush BoulevardSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
123.374198.551123 US 78 (Arkadelphia Road) – JasperUnsigned SR 5
124.740200.750124 A-B I-65 – Montgomery, HuntsvilleSigned as exits 124A (south) and 124B (north); hybrid interchange
124.740200.750124 C17th Street – Downtown BirminghamInterchange incorporated into Malfunction Junction; former exit removed
125.639202.19612522nd Street – Downtown BirminghamSigned as exit 125 southbound
126.239203.162126A US 31 / US 280 east / Carraway Boulevard – Civic CenterWestern terminus of US 280
126.825204.105126B31st Street North
128.257206.410128 SR 79 (Tallapoosa Street)
129Airport Boulevard
130.301209.699130 I-20 east – AtlantaNorth end of I-20 concurrency
131.801212.113131Oporto–Madrid BoulevardNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
132.214212.778132 US 11 (1st Avenue North)No access from I-59 north to US 11 south, from US 11 south to I-59 north, or from US 11 north to I-59 south
133.814215.3531334th Avenue SouthNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
134.383216.268134 To SR 75 (Roebuck Parkway) – Center Point
Trussville137.202220.805137 I-459 south – Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, AtlantaNorthern terminus of I-459
140.802226.599141Trussville, Pinson
​143.647231.177143Deerfoot Parkway, Mount Olive Church Road
​147 I-422 southProposed interchange
​147.647237.615148 To US 11 – Argo
Saint Clair​153.911247.696154 SR 174 – Odenville, Springville
​156.178251.344156 SR 23 – Springville, Ashville, St Clair Springs
​166.322267.669166 US 231 – Ashville, Oneonta
​173.650279.463174Steele
EtowahAttalla181.294291.764181 SR 77 – Attalla, Rainbow City
182.058292.994182 I-759 east – GadsdenWestern terminus of I-759
183.030294.558183 US 278 (SR-74) / US 431 (SR-1/5th Avenue) – Attalla, Gadsden
Gadsden188.082302.689188 SR 211 to US 11 – Noccalula Falls Park
DeKalb​205.148330.154205 SR 68 – Collinsville, Crossville
​218.654351.890218 SR 35 – Fort Payne, Rainsville
​222.152357.519222 US 11 – Fort Payne
​22449th Street
​231.419372.433231 SR 40 / SR 117 – Valley Head, Hammondville
​239.642385.666239 To US 11 / Sulphur Springs Road
 241.179
0.0		388.140
0.0		Alabama–Georgia state line
GeorgiaDade​4.16.64Rising FawnOld exit 1
Trenton11.518.511 SR 136 – TrentonOld exit 2
​17.327.817Slygo Road – New EnglandOld exit 3
​19.531.4— I-24 (SR 409) – Nashville, ChattanoogaNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes
gollark: I stopped in order to be able to actually use my computer.
gollark: I got one a while ago, so I'm now rich.
gollark: It says 0.00 blocks per minute. Um.
gollark: I'll mine too, because why not.
gollark: Uselessness = uselessness/uselessness^uselessness uselessnes^-1

See also
  •  U.S. roads portal
  •  Mississippi portal
  •  United States portal
  •  Georgia (U.S. state) portal

References
  1. "FHWA Route Log and Finder List / Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of December 31, 2016". Federal Highway Administration. February 22, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  2. Google (May 14, 2017). "Overview Map of I-59 in Louisiana" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  3. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Office of Multimodal Planning (February 2012). St. Tammany Parish (East Section) (PDF) (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  4. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Office of Multimodal Planning (February 2012). District 62: Official Control Section Map / Construction and Maintenance (PDF) (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  5. Office of Transportation Data (2003). "Interstate Mileage Report (438 Report)" (PDF). Georgia Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2006. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. National Highway System: Louisiana (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 8, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  7. National Highway System: Slidell, LA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  8. National Highway System: Mississippi (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 8, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  9. National Highway System: Hattiesburg, MS (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  10. National Highway System: Laurel (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  11. National Highway System: Meridian (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  12. National Highway System: Alabama (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 8, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  13. National Highway System: Tuscaloosa, AL (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  14. National Highway System: Birmingham, AL (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  15. National Highway System: Gadsden, AL (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 9, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  16. National Highway System: Georgia (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 8, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  17. National Highway System: Chattanooga, TN--GA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. May 10, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  18. "La DOTD GIS Data". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. September 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  19. . October 27, 2016 https://aldotgis.dot.state.al.us/milepostmaps/default.htm. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. "Overview Map of Interstate 59 in Georgia". Google Maps. Retrieved September 12, 2016.

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