U.S. Highway 49
It was at the junction of US 49 and U.S. Route 61 that blues singer Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the Devil. The highway is also the subject of songs by Big Joe Williams and Howlin' Wolf (Chester Arthur Burnett).
Route description
Mississippi
mi | km | |
---|---|---|
MS | 334 | 538 |
AR | 182 | 293 |
Total | 516 | 830 |
US 49 has historically been one of the most important highways in Mississippi. It was the state's first highway to see a significant rural segment four-laned. Today, it is the only four-laned route directly connecting Jackson, the state's capital and largest city, to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Some urban segments along this portion of the route maintain three or more traffic lanes in each direction. US 49 serves as a primary hurricane evacuation route for Gulf Coast residents.
US 49 begins near the Port of Gulfport, Mississippi at a junction with US 90. It provides a major connection between the port, casinos, beaches and downtown with I-10 (exits 34A-B), where it has its first major junction being a full service cloverleaf interchange on the city's north end. The crossing of these two roads is officially recognized by the state of Mississippi as the Castilgia Interchange. North of I-10, US 49 passes through suburban areas and enters De Soto National Forest. Various state highway interchanges and junctions are encountered before the route passes near Camp Shelby, then through an interchange with US 98 just south of Hattiesburg. At this point, travelers have an option of continuing on US 49 through Hattiesburg or using the I-59/US 98 bypass which reconnects with US 49 in the northern part of the city. Continuing on US 49 brings one to a cloverleaf interchange at US 11, one of very few in the South to lack merging lanes between loop ramps, thus altering the usual weaving patterns which plague many of these interchanges.
US 49 passes Hattiesburg's primary medical facility, Forrest General Hospital, and the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi before arriving at another, more standard cloverleaf interchange with I-59. Those who used the aforementioned bypass, wishing to reconnect with US 49 North to the state capital, must use exit 67B. It is also at I-59, where Mississippi Highway 42 (MS 42) runs with US 49 for a short distance as suburban development is soon encountered as the road returns to rural environs. Eventually, MS 42 departs from the four-laned highway and branches off to the west toward smaller towns, starting with Sumrall. Interchanges between Hattiesburg and Jackson provide access to various state highways, and one at Collins provides access to US 84.
At Jackson, US 49 upgrades to Interstate Highway standards before joining I-20 using a two-lane flyover. About a mile later, I-20/US 49 merges with I-55 at a stack interchange. I-20/I-55/US 49 crosses the Pearl River into Hinds County and bypasses Downtown Jackson, where I-55 departs to the south. US 49/I-20 continue west until US 49 ends its run with I-20 and joins I-220 before turning northwest to Yazoo City. A split in the highway, rare in the U.S. Highway System, begins here; both routes head into the Mississippi Delta, US 49W serving the towns of Belzoni and Indianola, where it junctions with US 82 and its four-lane segment ends, while two-laned US 49E serves Tchula before encountering US 82 at Greenwood. Both routes continue north from US 82 and are linked again at Tutwiler. Continuing northwest, the highway passes through an interchange with US 61 as it enters Clarksdale. It is at Clarksdale that US 49 encounters "The Crossroads", the legendary junction with State Street (an old alignment of US 61) where the great blues musician Robert Johnson is reputed to have sold his soul to the devil.
From Clarksdale, US 49 continues north and crosses the Mississippi River using the Helena Bridge where it enters Arkansas near the town of Helena.
In May 2005 portions of extant US 49E were renamed the "Emmett Till Memorial Highway".
The Mississippi section of US 49 and the routes of US 49E and US 49W are defined at Mississippi Code Annotated § 65-3-3.
Arkansas
US 49 enters Arkansas near Helena-West Helena in Phillips County. US 49 Business runs around the north part of the city, with the main route meeting AR 242 in the southern portion. US 49 continues west to Walnut Corner where the route meets AR 1 (and briefly AR 316). The US 49/AR 1 concurrency ends in Marvell and US 49 enters Monroe County.
Upon entering Monroe County, US 49 turns north to begin a concurrency with AR 39. US 49 also crosses US 79 before meeting US 70 near Brinkley. The route crosses Interstate 40 north of Brinkley prior to entering Woodruff County. US 49 runs northeast through rural Woodruff County, not crossing of concurring with any important routes before crossing into Cross County.
The route meets US 64 in Fair Oaks and meets AR 42 in southern Hickory Ridge. It then enters Poinsett County, concurring with AR 214 from Fisher until Waldenburg. The route crosses AR 14 in Waldenburg.
US 49 runs along south Jonesboro, with US 49 Business formerly running into town. US 49 concurs with US 63 until again joining AR 1. The two routes angle north through downtown Jonesboro, crossing US 63 Business and passing by ASU Stadium before leaving town. US 49/AR 1 pass around Brookland, with US 49 Business serving the community.
Entering Greene County, US 49/AR 1 intersects US 412 and briefly meets AR 358 before entering Paragould. The routes cross US 412B near Kirk Field in Paragould, also meeting AR 135 north of town. US 49B also rejoins US 49/AR 1 north of Paragould.
Continuing northeast through rural Greene County, US 49/AR 1 meet AR 34 in Marmaduke and AR 90 in Rector. The route turns north to Piggott at Hargrave Corner, terminating at US 62/AR 139. The Arkansas portion of US 49 is mainly two-lane undivided.
History
One of the original US highways, US 49 was extended north from Clarksdale, Mississippi to US 70 in Brinkley, Arkansas via U.S. Route 61 and Highway 6 in 1963. US 49 was again extended north in 1978, replacing Highway 39 between Brinkley and Jonesboro. Highway 1 between Jonesboro and Piggott was redesignated as US 49 in 1979.
It is notable that for several years during the 1930s, a second split route existed on US 49 in South Mississippi, similar to but shorter than the split that still exists in the Delta region. Between Brooklyn and Hattiesburg, travelers had the option of a 24-mile-long (39 km) direct route via US 49W, or a somewhat shorter but broken route on US 49E, serving the Forrest County Agricultural High School and the small community of McLaurin, Mississippi.
Gallery
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US 49 in Fair Oaks, AR
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US 49 north of Brinkley, AR
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US 49 south of the US 70 junction in south Brinkley
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US 49 south of Highway 362 junction near Louisiana Purchase State Park
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US 49 and Highway 1 concur in Marvell, AR
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US 49 in Helena-West Helena, AR
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US 49 with U.S. Routes 61 and 278
Major intersections
State | County | Location | mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mississippi | Harrison | Gulfport | 0.00 | 0.00 | US 90 – Biloxi, Long Beach, Ship Island Ferry | Southern terminus | |
4.4– 4.9 | 7.1– 7.9 | I-10 – New Orleans, Biloxi, Mobile | Exits 34A-B on I-10 | ||||
9.4 | 15.1 | MS 53 north – Poplarville, Lyman Fish Hatchery | |||||
| 20.0– 20.6 | 32.2– 33.2 | MS 67 south – D'Iberville, Biloxi | Interchange | |||
Stone | Wiggins, Stone County | 32.9 | 52.9 | MS 149 north to MS 29 – Downtown Wiggins, South Wiggins, Flint Creek Water Park | |||
34.2– 34.6 | 55.0– 55.7 | MS 26 – Poplarville, Lucedale | Interchange | ||||
36.7 | 59.1 | MS 149 south to MS 29 – Downtown Wiggins, Flint Creek Water Park | |||||
Forrest | | 41.6 | 66.9 | MS 13 north – Lumberton | |||
| 54.6 | 87.9 | S Lake Drive – Paul B. Johnson State Park | Access road into park | |||
Hattiesburg | 62.3– 62.8 | 100.3– 101.1 | US 98 to I-59 – Columbia, Laurel, Lucedale, Mobile | Interchange | |||
65.1 | 104.8 | Edwards Street (MS 969 north) | |||||
67.5– 67.9 | 108.6– 109.3 | US 11 (Broadway Drive) – Purvis | Interchange | ||||
69.1 | 111.2 | MS 198 west (Hardy Street) to I-59 / US 98 – Columbia | |||||
70.7 | 113.8 | Old Highway 42 - Petal | Former MS 42 east | ||||
71.6– 72.0 | 115.2– 115.9 | I-59 / MS 42 east – New Orleans, Gulf Coast, Laurel, Airport | Southern end of MS 42 concurrency; exit 67 on I-59 | ||||
| 77.5 | 124.7 | MS 42 west – Sumrall, Prentiss | Northern end of MS 42 concurrency | |||
Covington | | 84.2 | 135.5 | MS 598 east – Sanford | |||
Seminary | 88.9 | 143.1 | MS 589 south – Sumrall | ||||
89.1 | 143.4 | MS 590 east – Seminary | |||||
Collins | 95.1– 95.5 | 153.0– 153.7 | MS 184 – Downtown Collins | Interchange | |||
96.4– 96.7 | 155.1– 155.6 | US 84 – Prentiss, Laurel | Interchange | ||||
| 104.2 | 167.7 | MS 149 north | ||||
Mount Olive | 104.7 | 168.5 | MS 35 – Bassfield, Columbia, Mount Olive, Mize | ||||
106.6 | 171.6 | MS 149 south – Mount Olive | |||||
Simpson | Magee | 113.4 | 182.5 | MS 149 north | |||
114.1 | 183.6 | MS 28 east – Mize, Laurel | Southern end of MS 28 concurrency | ||||
114.2 | 183.8 | MS 541 north – Downtown Magee | Southern end of MS 541 concurrency | ||||
114.6 | 184.4 | MS 28 west / MS 541 south – Georgetown, Hazlehurst | Northern end of MS 28/MS 541 concurrency | ||||
117.0 | 188.3 | MS 149 to MS 545 – Boswell Regional Center (Department of Mental Health) | Interchange | ||||
| 119.3 | 192.0 | MS 149 south – Sanatorium | ||||
Mendenhall | 123.8 | 199.2 | MS 149 north | ||||
124.1 | 199.7 | MS 540 | |||||
126.1– 126.4 | 202.9– 203.4 | MS 13 – Mendenhall, Prentiss, Puckett | Interchange | ||||
| 134.2 | 216.0 | MS 149 south | ||||
Rankin | Florence | 145.5 | 234.2 | MS 469 – Downtown Florence, Brandon | |||
Richland | 151.8 | 244.3 | Old Highway 49 | Proposed MS 149 north; northbound exit and southbound entrance | |||
152.6– 152.9 | 245.6– 246.1 | East Frontage Road | Interchange; northbound exit and entrance | ||||
West Frontage Road | Interchange; southbound exit and entrance | ||||||
Richland–Pearl line | 153.8 | 247.5 | 47 | I-20 east / I-55 north to US 80 – Meridian, Grenada, Flowood | Southern end of I-20/I-55 concurrency; exit 94 on I-55 | ||
Hinds | Jackson | 154.3 | 248.3 | 45B | US 51 north | Southbound exit is exit 45 | |
154.6 | 248.8 | 45A | Gallatin Street | Southbound exit is exit 45 | |||
155.3 | 249.9 | 44 | I-55 south to US 51 south – McComb, New Orleans | Northern end of I-55 concurrency | |||
155.6 | 250.4 | 43 | Terry Road / University Boulevard | Signed as exits 43A (south) and 43B (north) | |||
156.4 | 251.7 | 42 | Ellis Avenue | Signed as exits 42A (south) and 42B (north) | |||
159.7 | 257.0 | 41 | I-20 west – Vicksburg I-220 begins | Northern end of I-20 concurrency; southern terminus of I-220 | |||
160 | 260 | 1 | US 80 / MS 18 – Clinton, Pearl | Signed as exits 1A (east) and 1B (west) | |||
161.3 | 259.6 | 2 | Clinton Boulevard / Capitol Street | Signed as exits 2A (Capitol Street) and 2B (Clinton Blvd.) northbound | |||
162.7 | 261.8 | 3 | Industrial Drive | Diamond interchange | |||
164.7 | 265.1 | 5 | I-220 north / Medgar Evers Boulevard | Signed as exits 5A (Medgar Evers) and 5B (I-220); northern end of I-220 concurrency | |||
167.1– 167.3 | 268.9– 269.2 | Natchez Trace Parkway | Interchange | ||||
Madison | Flora | 179.0 | 288.1 | MS 22 – Edwards, Flora, Canton, Mississippi Petrified Forest National Natural Landmark | |||
Yazoo | Bentonia | 186.3 | 299.8 | MS 830 west – Bentonia | Eastern terminus of MS 830 | ||
187.0 | 300.9 | MS 433 – Satartia, Bentonia | |||||
187.7 | 302.1 | MS 830 east – Bentonia | Western terminus of MS 830 | ||||
| 200.7 | 323.0 | MS 16 east – Benton, Canton | Southern end of MS 16 concurrency | |||
Yazoo City | 201.0 | 323.5 | MS 16 west / MS 149 north – Downtown Yazoo City | Northern end of MS 16 concurrency | |||
204.2 | 328.6 | US 49E north (Jerry Clower Boulevard) / US 49W north (Haley Barbour Parkway) to MS 3 south – Greenwood, Indianola, Vicksburg | Interchange; US 49 north splits into US 49E and US 49W | ||||
See US 49E and US 49W | |||||||
Tallahatchie | Tutwiler | 0.0 | 0.0 | US 49W south (MS 3 south) / US 49E south – Indianola, Greenwood | Southern end of MS 3 concurrency; US 49 south splits into US 49E and US 49W | ||
0.4 | 0.64 | MS 3 north – Marks, Lambert | Northern end of MS 3 concurrency | ||||
0.6 | 0.97 | MS 726 west | |||||
Coahoma | Clarksdale | 12.5 | 20.1 | MS 322 east | Southern end of MS 322 concurrency | ||
13.0 | 20.9 | US 61 south / US 278 west / MS 322 west – Clarksdale, Cleveland, Greenville, Delta Blues Museum | Interchange; northern end of MS 322 concurrency; southern end of US 61/US 278 concurrency | ||||
116.3– 117.0 | 187.2– 188.3 | US 278 east / MS 6 – Clarksdale, Batesville | Northern end of US 278 concurrency | ||||
| 118.0 | 189.9 | MS 161 south – Lyon, North Clarksdale | ||||
| 27.3 | 43.9 | Friars Point-Highway 61 / Highway 61-Jonestown – Friars Point, Moon Lake | Proposed MS 316 | |||
| 31.8 | 51.2 | US 61 north / MS 315 south (Lula-Rich) / Great River Road – Tunica, Memphis, Sledge, Sardis | North end of US 61 overlap; south end of Great River Road overlap | |||
| 37.9 | 61.0 | MS 1 south – Friars Point, North Delta Museum | ||||
Mississippi River | 40.9 0.00 | 65.8 0.00 | Helena Bridge | ||||
Arkansas | Phillips | Helena-West Helena | 0.99 | 1.59 | US 49B north (Biscoe Drive) – Business District | ||
1.35 | 2.17 | AR 20 to AR 44 – Lakeview, Elaine, Harbor and Industrial Park | Former AR 49 | ||||
3.98 | 6.41 | AR 242 to AR 185 | |||||
6.28 | 10.11 | US 49B south (North Sebastian Street) – Business District | |||||
6.88 | 11.07 | AR 185 north – Municipal Airport | |||||
Walnut Corner | 12.48 | 20.08 | AR 1 north / AR 85 south – Barton, Lake View | ||||
Kindall | 15.45 | 24.86 | AR 316 north – Rondo | ||||
Poplar Grove | 17.58 | 28.29 | AR 316 south – Trenton | ||||
Marvell | 20.62 | 33.18 | AR 243 north | ||||
21.52 | 34.63 | AR 1 south – DeWitt | |||||
| 27.56 | 44.35 | AR 39 south – Postelle, Turner | ||||
| 29.67 | 47.75 | AR 86 west – Holly Grove | ||||
Monroe | | 33.56 | 54.01 | AR 362 east – Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park | |||
| 35.60 | 57.29 | AR 39 north – Blackton | ||||
| 36.70 | 59.06 | AR 366 | ||||
| 38.67 | 62.23 | US 79 – Clarendon, Marianna, Stuttgart, Holly Grove | ||||
| 41.30 | 66.47 | AR 39S east – Monroe | ||||
| 43.55 | 70.09 | AR 39 south / AR 241 north – Rich | ||||
| 50.67 | 81.55 | AR 238S west | ||||
Brinkley | 51.80 | 83.36 | US 70 west – DeValls Bluff | South end of US 70 overlap | |||
52.55 | 84.57 | AR 238 east (West Sycamore Street) | |||||
53.39 | 85.92 | US 70 east (West Cypress Street) | Northern end of US 70 concurrency | ||||
54.97 | 88.47 | I-40 / US 63 south – Little Rock, Memphis | Southern end of US 63 concurrency; exit 216 on I-40 | ||||
56.13 | 90.33 | AR 17 north – Cotton Plant | |||||
Woodruff | | 62.47 | 100.54 | AR 38 west – Cotton Plant | |||
Hunter | 66.28 | 106.67 | AR 306 east to AR 78 | ||||
| 71.61 | 115.25 | AR 269 north to AR 145 | ||||
Penrose | 76.23 | 122.68 | AR 284 east to AR 193 | ||||
Cross | Fair Oaks | 80.26 | 129.17 | US 64 west – Bald Knob | Southern end of US 64 concurrency | ||
80.28 | 129.20 | US 64 east – Wynne | Northern end of US 64 concurrency | ||||
Tilton | 84.88 | 136.60 | AR 364 east – Vanndale | ||||
Hickory Ridge | 90.44 | 145.55 | AR 42 to AR 37 – Cherry Valley | ||||
Poinsett | Fisher | 96.67 | 155.58 | AR 214 east – White Hall | |||
Waldenburg | 102.74 | 165.34 | AR 14 – Newport, Harrisburg | ||||
| 104.9 | 168.8 | AR 956-1 – Lake Hogue Public Fishing | ||||
| 109.34 | 175.97 | AR 214 west – Grubbs | ||||
Poinsett–Craighead county line | | 113.42 | 182.53 | AR 158 | |||
Craighead | Jonesboro | 120.50 | 193.93 | AR 226 west / US 78 west to US 67 | Southern end of US 78/AR 226 concurrency | ||
122.4 | 197.0 | AR 226 east (Woodsprings Road) | Northern end of AR 226 concurrency | ||||
125.53 | 202.02 | 45 | I-555 north / US 63 north / AR 18 west (Southwest Drive) – Walnut Ridge, Hoxie | Northern end of US 63 concurrency; southern end of I-555 concurrency | |||
43.4 | 69.8 | 44 | AR 1B (Harrisburg Road) | ||||
128.40 | 206.64 | 42 | I-555 south / AR 1 south (Stadium Boulevard) / US 78 east / Caraway Road – Memphis, Harrisburg, Blytheville | Northern end of I-555/US 78 concurrency; southern end of AR 1 concurrency | |||
129.53 | 208.46 | AR 18 (East Highland Drive) | |||||
131.74 | 212.01 | AR 91 north (East Johnson Avenue) to AR 141 – Jonesboro Business District | Southern terminus of AR 91 | ||||
132.31 | 212.93 | AR 351 north (Old Greensboro Road) | Southern end of AR 351 concurrency | ||||
132.75 | 213.64 | AR 351 – Airport | Northern end of AR 351 concurrency | ||||
| 136.7 | 220.0 | US 49B north – Brookland Business District | ||||
| 140.60 | 226.27 | US 49B south – Brookland Business District | ||||
Greene | Paragould | 144.65 | 232.79 | AR 69 north | |||
146.85 | 236.33 | US 412 | |||||
147.34 | 237.12 | AR 358 east | |||||
147.87 | 237.97 | AR 358 west | |||||
149.71 | 240.93 | US 412B / US 49B north – Walnut Ridge, Cardwell MO, Paragould Business District, Airport | |||||
149.97 | 241.35 | US 49Y to US 412B west – Walnut Ridge | |||||
151.13 | 243.22 | AR 135 – Corning, Business District | |||||
151.88 | 244.43 | US 49B south | |||||
Marmaduke | 161.44 | 259.81 | AR 34 – Business District | ||||
Clay | Rector | 168.86 | 271.75 | AR 90 west – Rector Business District | Southern end of AR 90 concurrency | ||
169.37 | 272.57 | AR 119 south | |||||
Hargrave Corner | 172.33 | 277.34 | AR 90 east – Kennett, MO | Northern end of AR 90 concurrency | |||
Piggott | 182.33 | 293.43 | US 62 / AR 1 north | Northern terminus; northern end of AR 1 concurrency | |||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
|
U.S. Route 49E
Location | Yazoo City-Tutwiler |
---|---|
Length | 85.862 mi (138.181 km) |
U.S. Route 49E (US 49E) is an 85.86-mile-long (138.18 km) U.S. Highway in the Delta region of Mississippi. It travels through Yazoo, Holmes, Leflore, and Tallahatchie counties.
U.S. Route 49W
Location | Yazoo City-Tutwiler |
---|---|
Length | 81.894 mi (131.796 km) |
U.S. Route 49W (US 49W) is an 81.89-mile-long (131.79 km) U.S. Highway in the Delta Region of Mississippi, passing through Yazoo, Humphreys, Sunflower, and Tallahatchie counties.
See also
Related Routes
Special routes
- U.S. Route 49 Business in Brookland, Arkansas
- U.S. Route 49 Business in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas
- U.S. Route 49 Business in Jonesboro, Arkansas (decommissioned)
- U.S. Route 49 Business in Paragould, Arkansas
- U.S. Route 49E Business in Greenwood, Mississippi (decommissioned)
- U.S. Route 49 Business in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (decommissioned)
References
- ^ "U.S. Route Number Database" (Dec 2009 ed.). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original on June 30, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Highway Map 1960" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Official Highway Map of Mississippi" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 23, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Official Mississippi Hurricane Evacuation Map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 15, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "2013 Mississippi Code :: Title 65 - HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES AND FERRIES :: Chapter 3 - STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM :: SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS OF PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND BRIDGES :: § 65-3-71.17 - "Castiglia Interchange" designated". Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "At the crossroads as Robert Johnson centennial nears". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 3, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Emmett Till Museum". Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. March 20, 1963. pp. 903–904. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Minutes of the Meeting" (PDF). Arkansas State Highway Commission. April 26, 1978. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Official Mississippi Highway Map of 1936" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ Planning and Research Division (2010). "Arkansas Road Log Database". Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (ZIP) on June 23, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department; U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (2015). General Highway Map - Greene County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). [1:62500]. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 22, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Mississippi Public Roads - Selected Statistics - Extent, Travel, and Designation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
External links
Browse numbered routes | ||||
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← AR 48 | AR | → AR 50 | ||
← MS 48 | MS | → MS 50 |