Special routes of U.S. Route 61

Several special routes of U.S. Route 61 exist in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Iowa.

U.S. Route 61
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided

Business routes

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Length	10.803 mi[1] (17.386 km)
Existed	1954–present

U.S. Highway 61 Business (US 61 Bus.) runs 10.80 miles (17.38 km) through Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana.[2] The route is entirely concurrent with US 190 Bus., forming a loop off of mainline US 61/US 190 (Airline Highway) through the downtown area. The business route was first put into effect in 1954 and assumed its current alignment in 1960.[3]

The entire highway is in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish.

mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.000– 0.201	0.000– 0.323	US 61 / US 190 west (Airline Highway) – New Orleans, Opelousas, Natchez US 190 east (Florida Boulevard) – Hammond US 190 Bus. begins	Interchange; southern terminus of US 61 Bus.; eastern terminus of US 190 Bus.; southern end of US 190 Bus. concurrency
4.192	6.746	LA 67 (North 22nd Street)
5.009– 5.090	8.061– 8.192	I-110 north – Metro Airport, Natchez I-110 south to I-10 east / I-12 – New Orleans, Hammond	Exit 1C on I-110; direct access limited to I-110 (north) to US 61 Bus. (south) and US 61 Bus. (both directions) to I-110 (south)
8.342	13.425	LA 3164 (Scenic Highway)	Northern terminus of LA 3164
10.756– 10.803	17.310– 17.386	US 61 north (Scenic Highway) – Scotlandville, St. Francisville US 61 south (Airline Highway) / US 190 – Opelousas, Natchez US 190 Bus. ends	Interchange; northern terminus of US 61 Bus.; western terminus of US 190 Bus.; northern end of US 190 Bus. concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

St. Francisville, Louisiana

U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location	St. Francisville, Louisiana
Length	1.729 mi[4] (2.783 km)
Existed	c. 1959–c. 2013

U.S. Highway 61 Business (US 61 Bus.) ran 10.73 miles (17.27 km) through St. Francisville, a town in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.[5] The route followed a portion of former US 61 that was bypassed by the current alignment around 1959. Like several other special routes in Louisiana, the designation was unofficial, not recognized by AASHTO or printed on the official state highway maps. It was signed along portions of LA 3057 (Commerce Street) and LA 10 (Jackson Road). Signage was removed around 2013 when new highway markers were installed following the widening of mainline US 61 to four lanes and a change in several highway designations in the area.[5]

The entire highway was in St. Francisville, West Feliciana Parish.

mi[4]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.000	0.000	US 61 – Baton Rouge, Natchez LA 3057 begins	Southern terminus of US 61 Bus. and LA 3057; southern end of LA 3057 concurrency
0.974	1.568	LA 10 west (Ferdinand Street)	Southern end of LA 10 concurrency
1.412	2.272	LA 3057 north (Commerce Street)	Northern end of LA 3057 concurrency
1.693– 1.729	2.725– 2.783	US 61 – Baton Rouge, Natchez LA 10 east – Jackson	Northern end of LA 10 concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Natchez, Mississippi

U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location	Natchez, Mississippi

US 61 BUS in Natchez, MS uses part of US 425/US 84, then turns onto Homochitto Street. US 61 BUS turns right onto South Martin Luther King Jr. Street. US 61 BUS then turns onto a pair of one way streets concurrent with US 84 BUS (East Franklin Street northbound; Saint Cathrine Street southbound); Mississippi Highway 555 continues northward. The routes then merge into a divided highway before meeting mainline US 61/US 84.

Vicksburg, Mississippi

U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location	Vicksburg, Mississippi

U.S. Highway 61 Business (US 61 Bus.) is a business route in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Bowling Green, Missouri

U.S. Route 61 Business
Location	Bowling Green, Missouri
Length	4.468 mi[6] (7.191 km)

New London, Missouri

U.S. Route 61 Business
Location	New London, Missouri
Length	1.914 mi[6] (3.080 km)

Palmyra, Missouri

U.S. Route 61 Business
Location	Palmyra, Missouri
Length	3.648 mi[6] (5.871 km)

La Grange, Missouri

U.S. Route 61 Business
Location	La Grange, Missouri
Length	4.725 mi[6] (7.604 km)

Canton, Missouri

U.S. Route 61 Business
Location	Canton, Missouri
Length	4.938 mi[6] (7.947 km)

Keokuk, Iowa

U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location	Keokuk, Iowa
Length	5.931 mi (9.545 km)

U.S. Route 61 Business (US 61 Business) begins west of Keokuk at the eastern intersection of US 136 and US 61 just north of their crossing into Iowa from Missouri over the Des Moines River. As it travels into Keokuk, it follows US 136 and the two routes run parallel to the Mississippi River just to the south. At the southern end of downtown Keokuk, US 136 turns to the southeast to travel across the Keokuk–Hamilton Bridge to Illinois. This intersection is also the southern end of US 218. US 61 Business turns north to follow US 218 out of the city. The two routes meet up with US 61 on the northwestern end of town and the business route ends.[7] The entire route is in Keokuk, Lee County.

mi[8]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.000	0.000	US 136 west / US 61 – Fort Madison	Southern end of US 136 overlap
2.451	3.945	US 136 east / US 218 begins (Main Street)	Northern end of US 136 overlap; southern end of US 218 overlap
5.931	9.545	US 61 north / US 218 north – Fort Madison	Northern end of US 218 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Fort Madison, Iowa

U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location	Fort Madison, Iowa
Length	9.075 mi[8] (14.605 km)
Existed	2012–present

U.S. Route 61 Business was created through Fort Madison, Iowa, along the former routing of US 61. The main route was rerouted around town along a new four-lane bypass in 2012. It begins at the interchange with Iowa Highway 2 (Iowa 2) west of Fort Madison. The two routes run east together into town. Iowa 2 splits away to cross the river near downtown and the route turns north and heads out of town. It ends at another interchange with US 61 northeast of town. From 2011 to 2013, the portion of highway north of Iowa 2 was known officially as Iowa 961, but it was not signed as such.

The entire route is in Lee County.

Location	mi[8]	km	Destinations	Notes
Jefferson Township	0.000	0.000	US 61 – Keokuk, Burlington
Fort Madison	3.906	6.286	18th Street	Formerly Iowa 103
	4.199	6.758	15th Street	Formerly Iowa 88
	5.462	8.790	To IL 9 / IL 96	Former end of Iowa 2
Washington Township	9.075	14.605	US 61 – Burlington, Keokuk
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Muscatine, Iowa

U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location	Muscatine, Iowa
Length	5.407 mi (8.702 km)
Existed	1984–present

U.S. Highway 61 Business was created in 1984 after U.S. Highway 61 (US 61) was rerouted around Muscatine on a new four-lane bypass. It begins on the southern edge of Muscatine at the intersection of US 61 and Iowa Highway 92 (Iowa 92). US 61 Business heads north through Muscatine's industrial area and into the downtown riverfront. It is joined by Iowa 38 and Iowa 92 at an intersection near the foot of the Norbert F. Beckey Bridge. The intersection marks the southern end of Iowa 38 while Iowa 92 crosses the bridge into Illinois. A few blocks later, the three routes are joined by Iowa 22. All four routes continue north for a mile before meeting US 61.

The entire route is in Muscatine, Muscatine County.

mi[9]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.000	0.000	US 61 / Iowa 92 / Great River Road south – Wapello, Columbus Junction
3.209	5.164	Cedar Street	Former western Iowa 22 junction
3.781	6.085	Iowa 38 begins / Iowa 92 east	Southern end of Iowa 38 and Iowa 92 overlaps
4.498	7.239	Iowa 22 east / Great River Road north (Washington Street)	Northern end of Great River Road overlap; southern end of Iowa 22 overlap
5.407	8.702	US 61 / Iowa 22 west / Iowa 92 west – Blue Grass, Wapello Iowa 38 north – Wilton	Northern end of Iowa 22 and Iowa 92 overlaps
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Davenport, Iowa

U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location	Davenport, Iowa
Length	10.924 mi (17.580 km)
Existed	2010–present

U.S. Route 61 Business was created in 2010 when U.S. Route 61 was rerouted around Davenport on I-280 and I-80. The route begins on the southwestern end of town at the interchange with I-280. From there, it heads towards the Mississippi River along River Drive. For six blocks, US 61 Bus. is overlapped by US 67, which joins from the south at the Centennial Bridge and parts to the north when US 61 Bus. turns off. For the most of the remaining trip through Davenport, the route runs along two one-way streets: Brady Street (northbound) and Harrison Street (southbound). Near 5th Street in downtown Davenport, the Iowa Interstate Railroad crosses over Brady and Harrison streets. The vertical clearance of both bridges is only 11 feet 8 inches (3.56 m), which causes many trucks that attempt to pass beneath the bridge to hit or become stuck. This bridge was a major factor in US 61's realignment. Just south of Kimberly Road, which carries US 6, the southbound lanes of US 61 Bus. turn onto Harrison Street from Welcome Way. North of 53rd Street, the two directions rejoin as one road. The route ends at the I-80 interchange on the northern side of town.[10] The entire route is inventoried as Iowa Highway 461, but it not signed as such.[11]

This low bridge was one of reasons US 61 relocated onto the interstates around Davenport

The entire route is in Davenport, Scott County.

mi[8]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.000	0.000	I-280 / US 61 to I-80
1.641	2.641	Iowa 22 west / Great River Road south – Buffalo	Southern end of Great River Road overlap
5.435	8.747	US 67 south (Centennial Bridge)	Southern end of US 67 overlap
5.611	9.030	US 67 north / Great River Road north (River Drive)	Northern end of US 67 and Great River Road overlap
8.412	13.538	US 6 (Kimberly Road)
10.924	17.580	I-80 / US 61
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Maquoketa, Iowa

U.S. Highway 61 Business
Location	Maquoketa, Iowa
Length	2.55 mi (4.10 km)
Existed	1998–present

The business route through Maquoketa follows Main Street through the downtown business district, and Iowa Highway 64 along Platt Street. The route is unsigned, aside from a few circle "City Route 61" signs along Main Street.

Although not designated until 1998, Main Street had essentially served as a "Business 61" since at least the mid-1970s, when U.S. 61 was moved to a two-lane bypass around the south and west parts of the city. The bypass was widened to four-lane freeway in the summer of 1996, as part of a massive four-lane project of U.S. 61 between Dubuque and De Witt.

The entire route is in Maquoketa, Jackson County.

mi[12]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.00	0.00	US 61 – Dubuque, Davenport
1.66	2.67	Iowa 64 east – Preston	Southern end of Iowa 64 overlap
2.55	4.10	US 61 / Iowa 64 west – Dubuque, Anamosa, Davenport	Northern end of Iowa 64 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Bypass route

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

U.S. Highway 61 Bypass
Location	Baton Rouge
Length	6.7 mi[13] (10.8 km)
Existed	c. 1941–c. 1963

U.S. Highway 61 Bypass (US 61 Byp.) ran 6.7 miles (10.8 km) through Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana.[13] It followed the Airline Highway, a four-lane bypass of the downtown area constructed in 1941. The designation remained in effect until about 1963, when its route was assumed by mainline US 61.[3][14]

The entire highway was in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish.

mi[13]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.0	0.0	US 61 south (Airline Highway) – New Orleans US 190 east / US 61 Bus. north / US 190 Bus. west (Florida Boulevard) – Baton Rouge, Hammond US 190 Byp. begins	Traffic circle; southern terminus of US 61 Byp.; eastern terminus of US 190 Byp.; southern end of US 190 Byp. concurrency
2.0	3.2	LA 37 (Greenwell Springs Road) – Greenwell Springs
5.4	8.7	LA 67 (Plank Road) – Clinton
6.7	10.8	US 61 north / US 61 Bus. south / US 190 Bus. east (Scenic Highway) – Baton Rouge, Natchez US 190 west (Airline Highway) – Opelousas US 190 Byp. ends	Interchange; northern terminus of US 61 Byp.; western terminus of US 190 Byp.; northern end of US 190 Byp. concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Spur route

New Madrid, Missouri

U.S. Route 61 Spur
Location	New Madrid, Missouri
Length	0.495 mi[6] (0.797 km)

References

1. "La DOTD GIS Data". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
2. Google (September 22, 2017). "Overview Map of US 61 Business (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
3. Louisiana Department of Highways (December 1960). Louisiana (Map). Scale not given. Baton Rouge: Louisiana Department of Highways.
4. "La DOTD GIS Data". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
5. Google (August 16, 2017). "Overview Map of Former US 61 Business (St. Francisville, Louisiana)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
6. Missouri Department of Transportation (December 15, 2020). MoDOT HPMAPS (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
7. Google (February 22, 2020). "US 61 Business at Keokuk" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
8. 2016 Volume of Traffic on the Primary Road System of Iowa (PDF) (Report). Iowa Department of Transportation. January 1, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
9. 2013 Volume of Traffic on the Primary Road System of Iowa (PDF) (Report). Iowa Department of Transportation. January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
10. Google. "Overview Map of US 61 Business (Davenport, Iowa)" (Map). Google Maps. Google.
11. Highway and Street Map of Davenport, Iowa (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. March 22, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
12. Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (April 19, 1998). "Report of the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering to the Standing Committee on Highways" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
13. Louisiana Department of Highways, Traffic and Planning Section (1952). East Baton Rouge Parish (Map) (January 1, 1958 ed.). Scale not given. Baton Rouge: Louisiana Department of Highways.
14. Louisiana Department of Highways (June 1, 1963). Louisiana (Map). Scale not given. Baton Rouge: Louisiana Department of Highways.