US Highway 61

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US Highway 61 road sign

map
Map of US Highway 61
Basic data
Overall length:  1400 mi / 2553 km
Opening:  1926
States: Louisiana
Mississippi
Tennessee
Arkansas
Missouri
Iowa
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Starting point:  New Orleans
End point:  Wyoming , Minnesota
Important cities:  New Orleans
Vicksburg
Memphis
St. Louis
Davenport
La Crosse
Saint Paul

The US Highway 61 (also US Route 61 , US 61 for short ) is a United States Highway , which leads with a length of 2553 km (1400 miles) from New Orleans to Wyoming , Minnesota . The highway essentially follows the course of the Mississippi and forms a large part of the Great River Road .

Since 2004, the highway has joined Interstate 35 near Wyoming in the state of Minnesota at its northern end point . In the past it continued north through the city of Duluth to the Canadian border at Grand Portage . Today Minnesota State Route 61 runs along there.

The southern end forms the confluence with US Highway 90 in the middle of New Orleans . Highway 61 is often referred to as The Blues Highway as it runs north through the Mississippi Delta to New Orleans, the regions where blues and jazz originated.

In the period before the interstate highways were built , Highway 61 was an important north-south connection. Many southerners took this road to St. Louis , Missouri or further north to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. The highway was also sung about by the Duluth native Bob Dylan in his song Highway 61 Revisited .

course

Louisiana

From the beginning in New Orleans to the north of Baton Rouge , the line has been expanded to four lanes. Further north, on the Mississippi border, the road is again four lanes.

The section from New Orleans to Baton Rouge is also called the Airline Highway . Although the highway passes Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport , the name is actually based on the straight line of the road. In contrast, the former Jefferson Highway ran mostly next to the Mississippi and was characterized by a winding course.

Mississippi

"Crossroads" in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

In the state of Mississippi, US 61 is largely four-lane and has separate lanes.

Highway 61 leads on this section from Louisiana via the cities of Natchez , Vicksburg , Leland and Clarksdale to Tennessee and is also known here as the Blues Highway . It runs through the delta region where the roots of blues music lie. Highway 61 appears in many songs by musicians from the region.

The intersection with US Highway 49 in Clarksdale is the place where, according to a legend, the musician Robert Johnson dedicated his soul to the devil in return for becoming an excellent blues musician.

The 50 km long section between Clarksdale and Tunica runs without vertical or horizontal curvature.

Like Route 66 in the western United States, Highway 61 has become a legend and symbol of the Clarksdale region.

Tennessee

Coming from Mississippi, Highway 61 reaches the state of Tennessee with the suburbs of the city of Memphis . With the crossing of the Mississippi after 15 miles from Memphis to West Memphis , Arkansas, the highway leaves the state of Tennessee again.

Arkansas

From West Memphis the highway runs near the Mississippi to 122 km through the state of Arkansas. US Highway 61 crosses the city of Osceola and leaves the state behind Blytheville in the direction of Missouri.

Missouri

The Bequette-Ribault-Haus in Ste. Geneviève

South of the city of Steele , Highway 61 passes a concrete archway built in 1924 and reaches the state of Missouri. It then runs parallel to Interstate 55 to St. Louis . Occasionally the routes of US Highway 61 overlap with other roads. Highways 61 and 62 run on the same route between Howardville and Sikeston . There is an intersection with US Highway 60 in Sikeston . In the further course the city of Cape Girardeau is passed. To the north, at the junction with Missouri State Route 32 with Ste. Genevieve one of the oldest French settlements west of the Mississippi.

From Festus , Highways 61 and 67 run over the intersection with US Highway 50 to Ladue , a suburb of St. Louis, on the same route. There intersects Interstate 64 , which at this point is congruent with US Highway 40 . A little south of it, in the village of Kirkwood , the former Route 66 (now Missouri State Route 100 ) crosses . This intersection is also known as the rock 'n roll crossroads of America . Highway 61 runs through the St. Louis area in part on Lindbergh Boulevard leading to St. Louis Airport .

After reaching Interstate 64 and US Highway 40, Highway 61 runs to Wentzville on the same route. From Wentzville, Highway 61 runs on its own route to the northwest when you reach Interstate 70 . US Highway 54 crosses at Bowling Green . To the north of it, Interstate 72 and US Highway 36 are reached in the city of Hannibal .

Northwest of Hannibal, Highway 61 meets US Highway 24 and runs with it to Taylor . There he heads north to near Wayland to turn east at the junction with Missouri State Route 27 . Shortly before leaving Missouri, Highway 61 meets US Highway 136 and leads to Iowa.

Iowa

The US Highways 61 and 136 together reach the state of Iowa south of the city of Keokuk . From Keokuk the Highway 61 runs alone again and meets the US Highway 218 northwest of the city , to run together with this for a length of 10 km in a northwest direction. The rest of the way leads north and turns with the Iowa Highway 2 to Fort Madison . Further north, the city of Burlington is reached, where US Highway 34 intersects. In Grandview which is Iowa Highway 92 reaches and together with this the Highway 61 extends to Muscatine . There the highway turns east to the Quad Cities . In Davenport , Highway 61 turns north at the intersection with US Highway 67 .

On the northern edge of Davenport, US Highway 6 and Interstate 80 cross . This is followed by a section developed as a freeway to DeWitt , where US Highway 30 crosses. Via Maquoketa , the highway leads, partly expanded to four lanes, to Dubuque , which is reached together with the US Highways 52 and 151 . In Dubuque, US Highway 20 is crossed together. With the crossing of the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge , the state of Iowa will be left.

Wisconsin

On the other side of the Mississippi, along with Highway 151, Grant County is reached, where Highway 61 again runs alone from Dickeyville . The route to Readstown goes via Fennimore , Lancaster and Boscobel . There, Highway 61 joins US Highway 14 and together reaches La Crosse .

In 2004 a new bridge was inaugurated in La Crosse, which leads to the opposite bank of the Mississippi in the state of Minnesota.

Minnesota

To La Crescent the Highway 61 four lanes. In the further course, the route is based on the Mississippi and connects the cities of Winona , Lake City and Red Wing on its west bank . In Hastings the Mississippi is crossed again and together the highways 10 and 61 reach the city of St. Paul . There the rest of the route coincides with Interstate 94 for a short distance . Highway 61 ends near Wyoming, 29 miles north of St. Paul.

The 190 km section between La Crescent and Cottage Grove has been given the official name Disabled American Veterans Highway .

The route to Duluth is now part of the Minnesota State Route System .

See also

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ This does not mean the mouth region of the Mississippi south of Baton Rouge , Louisiana , but a region on the Mississippi in the state of the same name, see →  Lower Mississippi Delta Region