Mississippi Highway 2

Route description

The three sections of MS 2 are located in Benton, Tippah, and Alcorn counties. No parts of MS 2 are in the National Highway System (NHS), a network of highways identified as being most important for the economy, mobility and defense of the nation. MS 2 is legally defined in Mississippi Code § 65-3-3.

Western segment

The segment is located over southern Benton County and western Tippah County. In 2012, Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) calculated as many as 2,400 vehicles traveling west of MS 15 and MS 368, and as few as 1,100 vehicles traveling west of the eastern boundary of the Holly Springs National Forest. The route starts at MS 5, inside the national forest. MS 2 travels eastward, leaving Hickory Flat on Bankhead Highway. Near 1 mile (1.6 km) later, MS 2 turns north, leaving Bankhead Highway. The road slowly climbs uphill, as it goes through the large forest. The two-lane road also intersects a few driveways to residences. Later, the road intersects Chili Creek Road, which leads deeper into the forest and back to MS 5. East of Flat Rock Road, MS 2 leaves the national forest boundary. The road also enters into Tippah County. The route continues the bend north and south, until it reaches CR 821, where it straightens out. MS 2 continues to travel east and enters the town of Blue Mountain. Near the eastern terminus, the road dips slightly to the south and becomes West Palmer Street. MS 2 ends at MS 15 and MS 368. The road continues east as MS 368.

Central segment

In 2012, MDOT calculated as many as 3,800 vehicles traveling north of Airport Road, and as few as 1,400 vehicles traveling from CR 253 to Union Church Road. The central segment starts at MS 4, just outside Ripley. The route travels northeast through large sections of forests, and intersects MS 773. MS 2 then dips slightly southward at CR 523 and soon crosses the Little Hatchie River. The road turns northeastward again at CR 540, passing by small hills and houses. MS 2 later travels along the Tippah–Alcorn County line briefly, before entering Alcorn County. The road then crosses over the Hatchie River east of CR 561. At Union Church Road, MS 2 turns northward for about one mi (1.6 km), before turning east again at CR 620. MS 2 soon enters the town of Kossuth as Main Street. It goes through the town, and begins traveling northeast at CR 510. The road goes in a straight line, going through farmland and small driveways. Southwest of Corinth, the route intersects CR 613, a short road to Roscoe Turner Airport. MS 2 crosses the Tuscumbia River and turns slightly eastward. The road enters the outskirts of Corinth, and ends at US 72.

Eastern segment

All of the section is located inside Alcorn County. In 2012, MDOT calculated as many as 5,900 vehicles traveling east of North Shiloh Road, and as few as 2,000 vehicles traveling south of the Mississippi–Tennessee state border. MS 2 starts at US 45 in northwestern Corinth, at a diamond interchange. The route begins traveling east, and soon intersects MS 145, US 45's old alignment. MS 2 continues through a mostly rural area, with a combination of farmland and forests. After intersecting North Shiloh Road, the road leaves Corinth and continues traveling east. About 0.5 miles (0.80 km) later, MS 2 turns north at the western terminus of MS 350. MS 2 ends at State Line Road on the state border. The road continues north as TN 22 into Tennessee.

History

MS 2 was designated around 1932, from US 45 in Corinth to the state line. The alignment was upgraded from a gravel road to a paved road during that time. A few years later, in 1955, a partially paved, new road was built from US 72 to MS 4. One year later, a road connecting from Hickory Flat to Blue Mountain was designated as part of MS 2. A majority of the road was paved in gravel. In 1958, the road from MS 4 and US 72 became part of MS 2. Only the section in Alcorn County was paved, the one in Tippah County was paved in gravel. The easternmost section of MS 2 was rerouted in 1964, with the western terminus moved to US 45. All of the route was paved in Benton County by 1965. In 1971, the westernmost section of MS 2 became fully paved. All sections of the route were paved by 1977. No significant changes have been made to the route since.