Missouri Route 73

Missouri Route 73 is a short state highway in southwest Missouri. It runs from an intersection with U.S. Route 65 in the northern part of Buffalo in Dallas County to U.S. Route 54 near Macks Creek in Camden County. The route is two lanes for its entire length.[2]

Route 73
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length	20.034 mi[1] (32.242 km)
Existed	1926–present
Major junctions
South end	US 65 in Buffalo
North end	US 54 near Macks Creek
Highway system
Missouri State Highway System Interstate US State Supplemental ← Route 72 Route 74 →

Route description

Route 73 begins at U.S. Route 65 in the northern tip of the town of Buffalo in Dallas County. It runs east for a short time before turning to the northeast and intersecting Route DD. The highway heads farther northeast and meets Route 64 in Pumpkin Center. North of the Route 64 intersection, the highway runs through Tunas. In Tunas, Route 73 intersects Routes D and E. Farther northeast, the route meets Route PP before crossing into Camden County.[2]

In Camden County, Route 73 heads through the Branch Towersite and the town of Branch. It then ends at U.S. Route 54 southwest of Macks Creek.[2]

No portion of Route 73 is a part of the National Highway System,[3] a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility.[4]

History

Before the U.S. Highway system was established, Route 73 was part of Route 15.[5] In 1926, a significant part of Route 15 became U.S. Route 54, including the section that is today Route 73.[6] Sometime between 1932 and 1935, US 54 was realigned to the north (switching places with Route 64), rejoining its old alignment west of Macks Creek. The diagonal section cut off between Buffalo and Macks Creek became Route 73.[7]

Junction list

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Dallas	Buffalo	0.000	0.000	US 65	Southern terminus
		1.120	1.802	Route DD	Western terminus of Route DD
	​	6.167	9.925	Route 64 – Louisburg, Lebanon
	Tunas	13.859	22.304	Route D / Route E – Urbana, Lead Mine	Western terminus of Route E; Eastern terminus of Route D
	​	15.775	25.387	Route PP	Eastern terminus of Route PP
Camden	​	20.034	32.242	US 54 – Preston, Camdenton	Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

1. Missouri Department of Transportation (October 27, 2012). MoDOT HPMAPS (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
2. "Google Maps Overview of Route 73". Retrieved October 28, 2012.
3. "NHS Map of Missouri" (PDF). Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
4. "National Highway System". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
5. Map Showing State Roads and Route Numbers (Map). Missouri State Highway Commission. 1923. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
6. Map Showing State Roads and Route Numbers (Map). Missouri State Highway Commission. 1927. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
7. Weekly Detour Map (Map). Missouri State Highway Commission. 1935. Retrieved October 13, 2007.