Interstate 59

History

Southern Terminus

Northern Terminus

Routing

Interstate 59 follows U.S. 11 through the Deep South, following a diagonal trajectory from New Orleans northeasterly to Hattiesburg, Meridian, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Chattanooga. The freeway merges with Interstate 20 between Meridian and Birmingham, marking one of the longer duplexes in the Interstate System. U.S. 11 follows the entire length of Interstate 59 as well as Interstate 81; the only reason why these two highways do not carry the same number is the lengthy stretch of Interstate 75 that follows U.S. 11 between Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Although never actually making it into New Orleans, Interstate 59 provides an important evacuation and trucking route for the central Gulf Coast. The southern terminus is located at the same interchange as the eastern terminus of Interstate 12. This interchange is located where Interstate 10 curves from the New Orleans metropolitan area eastward to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. At one time, plans called for Interstate 59 to be routed south along Interstate 10 into New Orleans, but those plans changed with the decision to route Interstate 12 north of Lake Pontchartrain.

Heading north from Louisiana, Interstate 59 follows a forested route through Mississippi, offering a glimpse of the scenic beauty of the Deep South. Interstate 59 almost enters De Soto National Forest. Hattiesburg (home of the University of Southern Mississippi), Laurel, and Meridian are all important destinations in Mississippi.

Interstates 20 and 59 combine for the northeasterly journey to Birmingham. This combined route continues for 155 miles. Tuscaloosa, with the University of Alabama and the spur Interstate 359, is one significant destination along the way.

The section of Interstate 59 northeast of Birmingham straddles the southern reaches of the Appalachian Mountains, amid scenic settings. It serves Gadsden, home of another spur route, Interstate 759. Interstate 59 enters Georgia, but it ends at Interstate 24. Neither Interstate 24 nor Interstate 59 connect directly to any other Interstate in Georgia; one must enter Tennessee and Chattanooga to connect to Interstate 75.

Parallel/Historic U.S. Routes

Interstate 59 follows U.S. 11 for its entirety between Slidell and southwest of Chattanooga.

Highway Guides

• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Georgia

History

Interstate 59 in Mississippi opened initially from the Louisiana line toward Picayune and from Hattiesburg to Laurel in 1963. All of the route south of the merge with Interstate 20 was completed by 1969.¹

	Southern Terminus - Interstate 10-12 - Slidell, Louisiana Perspective from Interstate 59 south Having just split with U.S. 11 at Exit 3, Interstate 59 southbound presses towards the terminus with Interstate 10/12 at Exits 1A/B. This sign bridge reveals that the mainline of Interstate 59 converts into Interstate 10 westbound. Access to Interstate 10 eastbound to Bay Saint Louis also continues straight toward a cloverleaf at Exit 1B. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (08/20/01). Exit 1A to the westbound beginning of Interstate 12 departs the terminating Interstate 59 southbound. Ahead is the merge onto Interstate 10 west and cloverleaf ramp to Interstate 10 east. The first westbound exit of Interstate 12 is with U.S. 11. U.S. 11 also represents the first northbound exit of Interstate 59, as the federal highway merges onto Interstate 59 for a crossing over the Pearl River into Mississippi. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (08/20/01). The resigning project of Spring 2000 resulted in the removal of this overhead Exit 1B guide sign assembly. The replacement (Pictured above) is now attached to the overpass in the background. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (11/06/99). Perspective from Interstate 10 east Interstate 10 eastbound at Exit 266 for U.S. 190 and the city of Slidell. The next northward interchange is that of the joint termini of Interstate 12/59 at Exits 267A/B. Interstate 10 maintains six lanes through the city of Slidell (pop. 26595), reducing to four east of the Interstate 12/59 junction. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/28/02). A closer look at the Exit 266 sign bridge on Interstate 10 eastbound, taken shortly in the lifespan of the guide signs. U.S. 190 terminates itself just seven miles to the east at U.S. 90. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (05/27/00). After departing the Exit 266/U.S. 190 diamond interchange, Interstate 10 prepares to give way to Interstate 59 northbound as it returns to an easterly trajectory. The control city of Interstate 10 is listed as Bay Saint Louis, the first city of any consequence in the state of Mississippi. Interstate 10 eastbound also serves the greater Biloxi-Gulfport area, Pascagoula, and Mobile, Alabama, within the next 100 miles. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/28/02). This set of signs and sign bridge was replaced in Spring of 2000. They were situated 0.25 miles before the beginning of Interstate 59 northbound/Exit 267A. Traffic wishing to access Interstate 12 westbound stays on Interstate 59 northbound for 0.25 miles. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (07/93). The northbound lanes of Interstate 10 transition into the northbound beginning of Interstate 59 to the left. Interstate 10 adds a fourth lane to the right and reduces to two through lanes as it turns eastward toward the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area and NASA John C. Stennis Space Center. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/28/02). Exit 267B facilitates traffic to the westbound beginning of Interstate 12. The first interchange of Interstate 12 is with U.S. 11 in two miles (Exit 83). Interstate 59 meanwhile will not encounter another Interstate highway until it merges onto Interstate 20 in 160 miles near the city of Meridian, Mississippi. Photo taken by AARoads (06/01). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 east Interstate 110 53 miles at D'Iberville, MS Interstate 65 104 miles at Mobile, AL Interstate 110 162 miles at Pensacola, FL Perspective from Interstate 12 east The first of in a series of Exits 85A/B/C guide signs on Interstate 12. This 1.25 mile signage is posted at the U.S. 11 underpass of Interstate 12 at the Exit 83 interchange for Slidell. Speed limits of Interstate 12 are posted at 70 MPH from Exit 10 eastward to the terminus. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). Now within one mile of the eastern terminus of Interstate 12 and southern terminus of Interstate 59. All current Interstate 12 related signage was installed during the Spring 2000 replacement project. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). The first off-ramp of the final interchange of Interstate 12 is for Interstate 10 westbound to the city of New Orleans. This guide sign is the first such panel for Exit 85A, as the ramp departs in 0.50 miles. The overpass in the background is that of Louisiana 1091. Louisiana 1090 and 1091 parallel the Interstate 10/59 north-south alignment through Slidell between U.S. 11 and 190. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). Entering the Exit 85 interchange on Interstate 12 eastbound. Exit 1A departs for Interstate 10 west (south) back to Slidell and New Orleans. This north-south alignment of Interstate 10 was once touted as Interstate 59 in planning maps. Photo taken by Andy Field (10/04/01). The preceding set of guide signs on Interstate 12 eastbound at Exit 1A/Interstate 10 west. Interstate 10 actually enters the expansive city limits of New Orleans in just 11 miles. The municipal boundary extends outward to the Orleans/Saint Tammany Parish Line over Lake Pontchartrain. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (11/06/99). A third perspective of Exit 1A of Interstate 12 eastbound. Interstate 10 sees three Slidell area exits before crossing the seven mile Lake Pontchartrain Bridge. The final mainline exit of Interstate 12 meanwhile, serves the northbound beginning of Interstate 59/Exit 1B. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). Interstate 59 northbound begins from Interstate 12 eastbound at the Exit 1B cloverleaf ramp. The Interstate also sees a Slidell area exit, three miles to the north. Interstate 59 otherwise travels 11.48 miles to the Mississippi State line near Nicholson before reaching Hattiesburg in 73 miles. Photo taken by Andy Field (10/04/01). Interstate 12 draws to a close at the merge onto Interstate 10 eastbound. There are no more Louisiana interchanges in this direction, as Interstate 10 crosses the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area into the Magnolia State in seven miles. Photo taken by Andy Field (10/04/01). Perspective from Interstate 10 west First guide sign for Exits 267A/B on Interstate 10 westbound. This sign has been in place since at least 1993, and has outlasted all others in a 1999/2000 resigning project. The sign is posted just before Interstate 10 passes the Louisiana State Welcome Center at the West Pearl River crossing. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (03/20/02). The one mile guide sign for Exits 267A/B to Interstate 12/59 on Interstate 10 westbound. In the background is a frontage road that is accessibly from the nearby Louisiana 1090. The state highway ends at the first interchange of Interstate 59 (Exit 1) to the north. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (07/93). A left-hand lane of Interstate 10 opens to allow for two lanes to New Orleans and the westbound mainline. Traffic to the right defaults onto Interstate 12 westbound in one half mile. Exit 267A departs shortly after the split of Interstate 10 from 12 for Interstate 59 north. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (08/02/02). Interstate 12 branches from Interstate 10 west. Both highways serve the immediate Slidell area with interchanges. Otherwise Interstate 12 reaches Hammond in 45 miles and Interstate 10 enters the heart of New Orleans in 38 miles. Exit 267A, the northbound ramp for Interstate 59, departs in 0.25 miles. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (03/20/02). A resigning project of this interchange resulted in new guide signage for all perspectives during the Spring of 2000. The product of this project saw the replacing of the original sign bridges and preceding faded reflective signage. This photograph shows the sign bridge at the Interstate 10/12 split. Note also that the Exit 267A/B gore sign was removed without a replacement. Photo taken by Adam Froehlig (03/99). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 west Interstate 510 21 miles at east New Orleans, LA Interstate 610 29 miles at New Orleans, LA Interstate 910/ Interstate 49 future 34 miles at downtown New Orleans, LA Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 12 west Interstate 55 47 miles at Hammond, LA Interstate 10 85 miles at Baton Rouge, LA -- -- Northern Terminus - Interstate 24 - Wildwood, Georgia Perspective from Interstate 59 north This northbound mileage sign is posted just after Interstate 59 enters the state of Georgia. Interstate 59 is 19.94 miles in length within the Peach State as it parallels U.S. 11 by the towns of Rising Fawn, Trenton, and New England. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (02/01/03). Interstate 24 Junction sign, 1.25 miles south of the northern terminus. Interstate 24 dips into the Peach State for 4.12 miles, just long enough to intercept Interstate 59. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (02/01/03). Within the final mile of Interstate 59 is this Interstate 24/Exit 4 sign bridge. Georgia switched to mileage based exit numbering in 1999/2000. Yet somehow this signage escaped an update as it maintained the sequential based format. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (02/01/03). A sign replacement project underway during 2003 removes the Exit 4 sequential exit number. Unfortunately now there is no exit number, though it should display Exits 19A/B. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (07/14/03). The split of Interstate 59 into the respective directions of Interstate 24. Chattanooga is ten miles to the east at this point. The Tennessee capital city is 135 miles to the northwest. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (02/01/03). Both of the original sign bridge assemblies Pictured above are replaced with these new fixtures as of Summer 2003. The new guide signs again omit an exit number. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (07/14/03). Perspective from Interstate 24 west Interstate 24 retains its Tennessee exit numbering scheme while within the state of Georgia. Therefore instead of Exit 2, the northern terminus of Interstate 59 is numbered Exit 167. The 2003 guide sign is a button copy relic, and is the only sign to escape sign replacement as of August 24, 2003 ... but this sign was gone by 2005. Photos taken by Alex Nitzman (06/18/05) and Chris Patriarca (07/14/03). A diagrammatical sign is located 0.75 mile prior to the split of Interstate 59 south and Interstate 24 west. This sign was placed in June 2003. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (06/18/05). Interstate 24 westbound widens to three lanes in anticipation of the southbound departure of Interstate 59. The freeway carries the control city of Birmingham from its inception at Interstate 75 in Chattanooga due to this connection. Photos taken by Chris Patriarca (02/01/03) and Alex Nitzman (06/18/05). Interstate 24 and Interstate 59 split. Interstate 24 turns northwest to reenter the Volunteer State in two miles. Interstate 59 travels southwest to Trenton and Rising Fawn before crossing the Alabama state line. The scenic freeway reaches Alabama's largest city in 127 miles. The final sign bridge is also new, and features highly reflective signs. One signing oddity to note. These newer reflective signs often omit the dot of the letter I. This was a common sight in Atlanta for the control city of Birmingham between 1999-2000. Crews have gone back and amended those errors, but now will have to dot the I in the control cities of Birmingham and Nashville here (this was not done as of June 2005). Photos taken by Chris Patriarca (02/01/03 and 07/14/03). Perspective from Interstate 24 east Near the Georgia/Tennessee state line is the two mile guide sign for Interstate 59 south/Exit 167. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (02/01/03). A pair of button copy signs directed traffic to the respective directions of Interstate 24 east and Interstate 59 south. The time zone boundary between Central and Eastern occurs just north of this interchange. It follows the Alabama/Georgia line northward, than bypasses Chattanooga along the Marion/Hamilton County line. This line used to be further east, allowing for both Atlanta and Chattanooga to be situated within the Eastern Time Zone. See the next photograph for the sign replacement. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (02/01/03). The button copy signs Pictured above are no longer in place. Instead a new overhead sign bridge directs motorists toward Interstate 59 southbound. Roadway construction sees the expansion of eastbound to three lanes, with an exit-only lane for Exit 167. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (07/14/03). A second set of overheads orientates motorists through the Interstate 59 northern terminus interchange. This particular assembly is also new as of Summer 2003. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (07/14/03). Interstate 24 curves back to the northeast and returns to Tennessee in two miles. Exit 167 to Interstate 59 southbound departs to the right. Interstate 59 is a lonely stretch between the metro Birmingham area and Interstate 24 as it traverses the lower piedmont of the Appalachian Mountains. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (07/14/03). The new sign bridge Pictured in the above photobox replaces the sign bridge featured here. Note in contrast to the next photograph, that Interstate 59 originally was allocated two lanes instead of one. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (02/01/03). Original button copy sign bridge at the Interstate 24 eastbound split with Interstate 59 south. Note that the Tennessee milepost based Exit 167 number was in use from the beginning of Interstate 24's completion through north Georgia. Photo taken by Michael Summa (1984).

Page Updated December 8, 2006.