Existed: 1941 – present Counties: Lowndes Constructed 1941 | South end: SR 14 near Forreston Length 25.04 km | |
North end: US 45 / US 82 in Columbus County Lowndes County, Mississippi | ||
Mississippi Highway 69 (MS 69) is a highway in eastern Mississippi. The route starts at the Alabama state line, and travels northwestward to Columbus. MS 69 then goes through downtown Columbus, and ends at U.S. Route 45 (US 45) and US 82 in the west side of the town. Before the route was designated in 1941, it was a gravel road from Columbus to the state line. In 1993, US 82 was realigned, and MS 69 was extended through Columbus.
Contents
Map of MS-69, Columbus, MS, USA
Route description
MS 69 starts at the Alabama state line, where Alabama State Route 14 ends. The route turns northwest at Spurlock Road. It travels through the forest, intersecting Weaver Road and Halbert Road. MS 69 moves westward for a short period between Concord Road and East Minnie Vaughn Road. The road then curves slowly towards Columbus, as small streets begin to appear. At Pickensville Road, MS 69 travels north into Columbus, and intersects Fabritek Drive, the entrance to Columbus-Lowndes County Airport. At Yorkville Road, the road meets MS 795's eastern terminus. It soon crosses over the McCrary Vernon Creek and the Alabama Southern Railroad. At MS 182, MS 69 becomes concurrent with it and travels westward. The road soon crosses over Luxapalila Creek and enters downtown Columbus. MS 69 and MS 182 changes into a divided highway at Thirteenth Street. The street then intersects Fifth Street, which becomes US 45 past US 82. MS 182 continues westward on Island Road, while MS 69 travels northwestward. The route ends at US 45 and US 82 at a diamond interchange. The road continues to East Plymouth Road, where it ends.
In 2013, Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) calculated as many as 21,000 vehicles traveling west of the eastern end of the MS 182 concurrency, and as few as 2,000 vehicles traveling south of Halbert Road. It is not included as a part of the National Highway System (NHS). The route is legally defined in Mississippi Code § 65-3-3, and all of it is maintained by MDOT.
History
A gravel road from Columbus to Tuscaloosa has existed since 1928. In 1939, the road was temporarily removed from maps, and reappeared the next year. By 1941, the route was designated as MS 69, and the road became paved by 1953. In 1958, the northern terminus was rerouted out of downtown Columbus, to east of US 82 and MS 50's intersection. Around 1993, US 82 was realigned to the bypass around Columbus, and MS 69 was extended through Columbus to a diamond interchange in the western part of the town.
Major intersections
The entire route is in Lowndes County.