Missouri Route 59
Route 59 is a highway in southwest Missouri running from Interstate 44/Interstate 49/U.S. Route 71 at Fidelity to the Arkansas state line where it continues as Highway 59. It replaced a large section of U.S. Route 71 and Alternate US 71 in sections. The first section was between Lanagan and the Arkansas state line when US 71 was moved down the former Route 88. In the 1990s, US 71 was moved and upgraded to interstate standards from Neosho to Lanagan and Route 59 was extended north to Neosho. When US 71 was moved east of Joplin in the late 1990s, Alternate US 71 was deleted, and Route 59 was extended north to replace that highway. The highway was numbered after Arkansas Highway 59.
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| Maintained by MoDOT | ||||
| Length | 45 mi (72 km) | |||
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Route description
Route 59 is a two-lane highway for its entire length except for a short section in southern Neosho where it forms a concurrency with Business US 71.
The highway begins at I-44/I-49/US 71 in Fidelity and heads south. There is an interchange with the northern junction with U.S. Route 60 northeast of Neosho. The road remains two-lane (US 60 is also two-lane here) for the interchange, which was built due to numerous accidents at the former intersection. The two highways then run concurrent to the south side of Neosho. About three miles (5 km) south of the 59/60 interchange is the northern junction of Route 86, which continues west about one half mile later. Route 59 then curves west where it splits off from US 60 at Business I-49. Route 59 then unites with southbound Business I-49 for about two miles (3 km) until Business I-49 turns off west. Route 59 begins to turn into a windy road as it heads into McDonald County. South of Goodman is a partial interchange with I-49/US 71.
At Anderson is a short concurrency with Route 76, and the road runs next to the Kansas City Southern Railway for several miles. As Route 59 approaches Noel, it runs into a very scenic area, squeezed between steep bluffs and the railroad. After entering Noel, it form a short concurrency with Route 90 and runs under some of the bluffs along the Elk River (with signs warning of low clearance for trucks). Route 59 then heads south again where it crosses the Arkansas state line after about 4 miles (6.4 km) and continues as Arkansas Highway 59.