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Interstate 59
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I-59 highlighted in red
Route information
Length445.23 mi[1] (716.53 km)
Existed1960–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end I-10 / I-12 in Slidell, LA
Major intersections
North end I-24 near Wildwood, GA
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesLouisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia
Highway system

Interstate 59 (I-59) is an Interstate Highway located in the southeastern United States. It is a north–south route that spans 445.23 miles (716.53 km) from a junction with I-10 and I-12 at Slidell, Louisiana, to a junction with I-24 near Wildwood, Georgia.

The highway connects the metropolitan areas of New Orleans, Louisiana; Birmingham, Alabama; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, running closely parallel to the older U.S. Route 11 (US 11) corridor for the entire distance. Approximately one-third of the route, spanning 153 miles (246 km) from Meridian, Mississippi, to Birmingham, Alabama, overlaps that of the east–west I-20.

I-59 is a four-lane freeway along its entire route, other than a short stretch from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to the southern terminus of I-459 and in Birmingham, where it widens to six lanes or more. Aside from the metropolitan areas it passes through, the I-59 corridor is mainly rural in nature, especially in Georgia.

Route description

[edit]
Lengths
  mi[1] km
LA 11.48 18.48
MS 171.72 276.36
AL 241.36 388.43
GA 20.67 33.27
Total 445.23 716.53

Louisiana

[edit]
Main article: Interstate 59 in Louisiana

I-59 spans 11.48 miles (18.48 km) in Louisiana, the shortest distance in the four states through which it travels. The route begins at a partial cloverleaf interchange with I-10 (exit 267) and I-12 (exit 85) at the northeastern corner of Slidell, a city in St. Tammany Parish. From this interchange, connections are made to New Orleans and Hammond, as well as Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Heading north, I-59 has two exits serving the town of Pearl River, where it begins a concurrency with US 11. Immediately afterward, the highway crosses the West Pearl River and passes through an interchange with Old US 11, a portion of the pre-Interstate alignment serving the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area. I-59 then travels through the Honey Island Swamp for six miles (9.7 km) before crossing the main branch of the Pearl River into Mississippi.[2][3][4]

Mississippi

[edit]
Main article: Interstate 59 in Mississippi
See also: Interstate 20 in Mississippi
I-59 cosigned with I-20 in Mississippi; other cosigned routes are listed on the shields of the next sign

In Mississippi, I-59 continues to run parallel with US 11, traversing mainly rural areas but going through or bypassing the towns of Picayune, Poplarville, Hattiesburg, Moselle, Ellisville, Laurel, and Meridian.

For its length in Mississippi, I-59 either runs concurrently with, or runs close to, US 11. Between the towns of Pearl River and Picayune, US 11 travels concurrent with I-59. The highway also has concurrencies with US 98 in Hattiesburg; Mississippi Highway 42 (MS 42) just north of Hattiesburg; US 84 and MS 15 in Laurel; and US 80, US 11, and MS 19 in the Meridian area.[citation needed]

A notoriously sharp S-curve, at milepost 96 in Laurel, was the subject of a large reconstruction project that began in 2006. Those sharp curves were the legacy of an overpass over the Southern Railway on a town bypass with design dating from before the Interstate Highways, and they featured a 40-mile-per-hour (64 km/h) speed limit, one of the lowest anywhere on the Interstate Highway System. This work was completed in 2009.[5]

Just west of Meridian, I-20 joins I-59 and these two highways continue together for 153 miles (246 km), across the border with Alabama to and through Birmingham. The exit numbers are given as those of I-59.[citation needed]

At 4:00 pm on August 27, 2005, for the first time in its history, the southbound lanes of I-59 were temporarily redirected northward to accommodate evacuation for Hurricane Katrina. This was a previously agreed to joint plan by the states of Mississippi and Louisiana called contraflow lane reversal. The program began at the Louisiana–Mississippi state line and continued 21 miles (34 km) north to Poplarville.[citation needed]

Alabama

[edit]
Main article: Interstate 59 in Alabama
See also: Interstate 20 in Alabama
I-59/I-20 approaching I-65 in downtown Birmingham

I-59 and I-20 travel together for about 40 percent of their route through Alabama, passing northeast through Tuscaloosa before finally parting ways in eastern Birmingham.

In Birmingham, many wrecks and accidents occur near the crossover interchange of I-20/I-59 and I-65 (commonly called "Malfunction Junction"). On two occasions, 18-wheelers crashed and burned fiercely enough to melt the support beams of overpasses. Beginning in eastern Birmingham, I-59 continues on its own northeast, passing by Gadsden and Fort Payne in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains before entering Georgia.

I-59 from Gadsden at milemarker 182 to Stephen's Gap at milemarker 193 had degraded over the decades since it was opened into a rough concrete highway. Between 2010 and 2014, a construction project called "Project 59" took place between Gadsden and Fort Payne. This project consisted of reconstructing the Interstate Highway with unbonded concrete (without any space cracks) as well as modifications to the width and vertical clearance of the bridges and overpasses in the segment.

Georgia

[edit]
Main article: Interstate 59 in Georgia

I-59 has a short trek through Georgia, with only three exits before ending at I-24 several miles west of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Wildwood, Georgia. The entire route of I-59 in Georgia is named Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. I-59's southbound location is marked Birmingham instead of Gadsden in Georgia. Gadsden is the next city that I-59 southbound is traveling to right before the route reaches Birmingham. For services, I-59 has no direct access to the Georgia Welcome Center, instead I-59's Georgia Welcome Center is located in Trenton. Drivers must take I-59 Trenton exit 11 to get access to the Georgia Welcome Center. Within Georgia, it carries unsigned designated as State Route 406 (SR 406) for internal Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) purposes.[6]

History

[edit]

Interstate 59 was first designated in 1960. Within Louisiana, Interstate 59 was first constructed across the Pearl River as the replacement route for US 11 at St. Rose starting in 1958. The stretch southward into Slidell along with I-10 south to the Twin Bridges opened in 1965-66. Interstate 59 in Mississippi opened initially from the Louisiana state line toward Picayune and from Hattiesburg to Laurel in 1963. All of the route south of the overlap with I-20 was completed by 1969.[7] The stretch of I-59/I-20 running through downtown Birmingham was completed in 1973. This stretch was reconstructed starting in January 2019 and ending in early-2020.[8]

Future

[edit]

I-59 will be widened on the north side of Birmingham, Alabama between I-459 (exit 137) and Chalkville Mountain Road (exit 141) as announced by Governor Kay Ivey on August 31, 2023. The project is expected to cost $80 million.[9]

Junction list

[edit]
Louisiana
I-10 / I-12 in Slidell
US 11 in Pearl River. The highways travel concurrently to Nicholson, Mississippi.
Mississippi
US 98 in Hattiesburg. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
US 11 in Hattiesburg
US 49 in Hattiesburg
US 11 three times in Laurel
US 84 in Laurel. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
I-20 / US 80 in Meridian. I-20/I-59 travels concurrently to Birmingham, Alabama. I-59/US 80 travels concurrently through Meridian.
US 11 in Meridian. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
US 45 in Meridian
US 11 / US 80 near Kewanee
Alabama
Future I-85 near Cuba
US 11 / US 43 in Knoxville
I-359 / SR 69 in Tuscaloosa
US 82 in Tuscaloosa
US 11 twice in Tuscaloosa
US 11 near Tuscaloosa. The highways travel concurrently to Bessemer.
I-459 near Bessemer
US 78 in Birmingham
I-65 in Birmingham
US 31 / US 280 in Birmingham
US 11 in Birmingham
I-459 in Trussville
US 231 in Ashville
I-759 in Gadsden
US 278 / US 431 in Attalla
US 11 in Fort Payne
Georgia
I-24 near Wildwood

Auxiliary routes

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Interstate 59

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Interstate 59 (I-59) is a north–south Interstate Highway in the southeastern United States that spans approximately 445 miles (716 km) from a junction with Interstate 10 and Interstate 12 west of Slidell, Louisiana, to a junction with Interstate 24 near Wildwood, Georgia.[1] The route travels through four states—Louisiana (12 miles), Mississippi (172 miles), Alabama (241 miles), and Georgia (about 20 miles)—largely paralleling U.S. Route 11 and serving as a key transportation corridor for freight and passenger traffic between the Gulf Coast and the Appalachian Mountains.[2][3][4][5] In Louisiana, I-59 begins near the suburbs of New Orleans and quickly crosses into Mississippi after a short 12-mile segment primarily in urban St. Tammany Parish.[2] Through Mississippi, the highway covers 172 miles, passing through Hattiesburg and Laurel before reaching Meridian, where it joins Interstate 20 for a concurrent route into Alabama.[3] In Alabama, I-59 extends 241 miles, overlapping with I-20 for 153 miles through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham—the state's largest city—before splitting northeast toward Gadsden and the Georgia state line.[4] The brief 20-mile segment in Georgia lies entirely within Dade County, connecting to Chattanooga, Tennessee, via I-24 and facilitating regional access to the Lookout Mountain area.[5] Designated as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, I-59 was planned to link industrial centers in the Deep South, with construction beginning in the 1960s and major segments completed by the 1980s.[6] The highway supports significant annual vehicle miles of travel, with higher volumes in urban areas like Birmingham. It features four lanes throughout most of its length, with some six-lane sections in denser regions, and includes important interchanges with I-10, I-20, and I-65.

Route description

Louisiana

Interstate 59 in Louisiana spans 11.43 miles (18.39 km) through St. Tammany Parish in the southeastern part of the state, serving primarily as a connector between the New Orleans metropolitan area and Mississippi.[7] The route originates at a three-level stack interchange with Interstate 10 and Interstate 12 on the eastern edge of Slidell, facilitating efficient travel from New Orleans (via I-10 westbound) and the Northshore suburbs (via I-12 westbound).[8] From this junction, I-59 heads due north, initially traversing urban and suburban zones of Slidell before entering more rural, forested terrain characteristic of the Honey Island Swamp region.[7] As it progresses northward, the highway provides key access points for local traffic, including an interchange with U.S. Highway 11 (Exit 3) in Slidell, which offers an alternative parallel route toward the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and beyond.[9] Further along, near Pearl River, I-59 intersects Louisiana Highway 41 (Exit 6), serving the small community and providing connections to local roads in the parish. The route remains four lanes throughout, with a median barrier, and passes through predominantly wooded areas with minimal development, emphasizing its role in regional freight and commuter movement rather than local service.[10] The northern terminus in Louisiana occurs at the Mississippi state line just after crossing the Pearl River, where milepost 11 marks the boundary near the unincorporated community of Nicholson; the highway continues seamlessly into Mississippi without interruption.[7] This segment of I-59, completed in the mid-1960s, supports daily traffic volumes exceeding 30,000 vehicles, underscoring its importance for evacuations and commerce in the Gulf Coast corridor.[11]

Mississippi

Interstate 59 enters Mississippi from Louisiana in Pearl River County, crossing the state line approximately 2 miles north of the Pearl River community. The freeway immediately serves Picayune with Exit 1 for US 11 and MS 607, followed by Exit 4 for MS 43 south toward Kiln and Exit 6 for MS 43 north into northern Picayune. Northbound, a weigh station and rest area are located near mile marker 3 in Picayune. The route then proceeds northeast through rural, forested terrain in Pearl River and Hancock counties, passing Exit 10 for Carriere, Exit 15 for McNeill, Exit 19 for Millard, Exit 27 for Poplarville, and Exit 29 for MS 26 toward Wiggins. Further north, Exit 41 provides access to MS 13 in Lumberton.[12][1] Continuing into Lamar and Forrest counties, Interstate 59 approaches Hattiesburg, a major regional hub and home to the University of Southern Mississippi. Key interchanges include Exit 51 for MS 589 in Purvis, a parking area south of the city, and Exit 59 for US 98, which parallels the freeway to the west. Within Hattiesburg, the route features Exit 60 for US 11 south, Exits 65A and 65B for Hardy Street and US 98 west toward Columbia, Exits 67A and 67B for US 49 south to Gulfport and north to Jackson, Exit 69 for MS 42 east (Evelyn Gandy Parkway) to Petal, Exit 73 for Monroe Road, Exit 76 for the Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport and Moselle, and Exit 80 for Moselle. The freeway bypasses the city to the east, traversing piney woods and occasional wetlands typical of the Pine Belt region.[12][1] North of Hattiesburg, Interstate 59 enters Jones County and reaches Laurel, an industrial center known for its lumber history. Interchanges include Exit 85 for MS 590 in Ellisville, Exit 88 for MS 29 and MS 588, Exit 90 for US 11 south (Ellisville Boulevard), Exit 93 for US 11, Exits 95A and 95C for 16th Avenue south and Beacon Street, Exits 96A and 96B for 4th Avenue (Masonite Road) and MS 15 south (Cook Avenue), Exit 97 for US 84 east toward Waynesboro and Chantilly Street, Exit 99 for US 11, and Exit 104 for Sandersville. A notable feature near Laurel is a modernized S-curve, reconstructed as a 1,980-foot elevated viaduct completed in September 2009 to improve safety and alignment. The route then passes a parking area north of the city.[12][1] In the final segment through Jasper, Clarke, and Lauderdale counties, Interstate 59 heads northeast toward Meridian, crossing rolling hill country and crossing streams like Hognose Creek. Exits include 113 for MS 528 toward Heidelberg and Bay Springs, 118 for JC Road 35 in Vossburg, 126 for MS 18 in Pachuta, 134 for MS 513 south of Enterprise, 137 for northern Enterprise, 142 for Savoy, and 150 for MS 19 north to Philadelphia. Entering Meridian, the freeway tightens with urban interchanges: Exit 151 for Valley Road and 49th Avenue, Exit 152 for 22nd Avenue, Exit 153 for 22nd Avenue, Exits 154A and 154B for MS 19 south (with south frontage road) and MS 39 north with US 11 north and US 80 east to DeKalb, Exit 156 for Jimmie Rodgers Parkway, and Exits 157A and 157B for US 45. Additional exits are 160 for Russell, 165 for Will Garrett Road, and 169 for US 80 and US 11 in Kewanee and Toomsuba, followed by a weigh station. At the northern terminus in Mississippi, near mile marker 171.72, Interstate 59 meets Interstate 20 west of Meridian and begins a 153-mile concurrency northeast into Alabama, while the standalone I-59 mileage ends at the state line northeast of the city. The entire Mississippi segment spans 171.72 miles through predominantly rural and forested landscapes, serving as a vital link for freight and tourism in southeastern Mississippi.[12][1]

Alabama

Interstate 59 enters Alabama from Mississippi in Sumter County near the town of Cuba, traveling northeast concurrently with Interstate 20 through western Alabama. This overlap begins at the state line and continues for approximately 153 miles, passing through rural areas of Sumter, Greene, and Hale counties before reaching Tuscaloosa County. In Tuscaloosa, I-59 provides access to the University of Alabama via an interchange with the short Interstate 359 spur, which heads northwest into the city center. The highway remains four lanes wide in this predominantly rural and forested section, paralleling U.S. Route 11 and serving as a key corridor for freight and commuter traffic between Mississippi and central Alabama.[1] As I-59 approaches Jefferson County, it enters more urbanized terrain, transitioning through the western suburbs of Birmingham, including Bessemer and Hueytown. Here, the route expands to six lanes to accommodate higher traffic volumes and interchanges with Interstate 459, a beltway that provides an eastern bypass around Birmingham. The concurrency with I-20 ends in Irondale, where I-59 splits northeast from I-20 near Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. Continuing into Birmingham proper, I-59 meets Interstate 65 at the notorious "Malfunction Junction," a complex interchange rebuilt from 2018 to 2020 to improve flow for over 200,000 daily vehicles. This urban segment features elevated viaducts and bridges, including a major reconstruction completed in 2020 that elevated the highway over local streets to reduce congestion and enhance safety.[1] Northeast of Birmingham, I-59 proceeds through St. Clair and Etowah counties, traversing rolling hills and entering the southern reaches of the Appalachian Mountains. It passes through communities like Trussville, Springville, and Steele before reaching Gadsden, where it intersects Interstate 759, a short route connecting to the city's downtown and industrial areas. Beyond Gadsden, the highway continues north through Cherokee County, serving Fort Payne and scenic mountainous terrain with curves and grades that challenge drivers. I-59 spans a total of 241 miles in Alabama, generally four to six lanes wide, before crossing into Georgia near Hammondville in DeKalb County. Throughout its path, it facilitates economic links between industrial hubs like Birmingham and Gadsden while providing access to recreational areas in the Lookout Mountain region.[1][13]

Georgia

Interstate 59 enters Georgia from Alabama in Dade County near Sulphur Springs, beginning its 20.98-mile north-northeasterly course through the northwestern corner of the state. The highway traverses rural, hilly terrain in the Appalachian foothills, providing a direct link between Birmingham, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, while serving sparse communities amid scenic valleys and ridges. Throughout its length in Georgia, I-59 is designated as State Route 406 and named the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.[14][15] Shortly after crossing the state line at milepost 241, the route encounters its southernmost interchange at Exit 4 with Puddin Ridge Road (mile 4.2), offering access to the community of Rising Fawn and nearby services including fuel stations and a Pilot Travel Center. Continuing northward, I-59 passes through forested areas before reaching Exit 11 with Georgia State Route 136 (Back Keku Road) near mile 11, in the small city of Trenton, the primary population center along the corridor. This exit connects to local amenities, including the Alliance for Dade Regional Welcome Center, which provides tourist information for Dade County visitors.[16][17][18] Further north, the highway features Exit 17 with Slygo Road near mile 17, serving the rural area around New England and providing access to camping facilities such as the Lookout Mountain/Chattanooga West KOA. The route then ascends slightly through Slygo Valley before terminating at a three-wye directional interchange with Interstate 24 near Wildwood (I-59 mile 19.6; I-24 Exit 167), approximately 10 miles southwest of downtown Chattanooga. This junction facilitates travel northwest to Nashville via I-24 west or east into Tennessee toward I-75 and Chattanooga proper.[16][1]

History

Planning and designation

The planning for Interstate 59 emerged as part of the broader development of the Interstate Highway System following the [Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956](/page/Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956), which authorized a 41,000-mile network of controlled-access highways to enhance national defense, commerce, and mobility. States submitted route proposals to the Bureau of Public Roads (now part of the Federal Highway Administration), prioritizing connections between major urban centers and economic hubs in the Southeast. For I-59, the proposed alignment followed much of the existing U.S. Route 11 corridor, linking the Gulf Coast near New Orleans, Louisiana, northward through Mississippi and Alabama to the Appalachian region near Chattanooga, Tennessee, to facilitate freight movement and evacuation routes. This north-south route was selected to fill a gap in the initial system outline, providing vital connectivity for the region's growing industrial and agricultural economies.[19] Designation of the route number occurred during the initial numbering phase coordinated by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO, predecessor to AASHTO). In September 1957, AASHO's Route Numbering Subcommittee and Executive Committee approved the numbering plan, assigning odd numbers to north-south routes like I-59, positioned as the fifth such route from the eastern seaboard to reflect its position in the national grid. The full route spanned approximately 445 miles across four states, with federal approval for construction segments granted progressively starting in 1958 after state highway departments finalized alignments. In Louisiana, planning emphasized bridging the Pearl River as a direct upgrade to the narrow US 11, while in Mississippi and Alabama, proposals integrated the route with emerging east-west Interstates like I-20 to create a cohesive network.[20][21] The designation process also involved coordination with local authorities to minimize disruptions in urban areas such as Birmingham, Alabama, and Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where early studies assessed impacts on existing communities and railroads. By 1960, detailed engineering plans were underway, supported by 90% federal funding under the 1956 act, marking I-59's official integration into the system ahead of major construction in the early 1960s. This planning ensured compliance with uniform design standards, including full control of access and minimum widths, to achieve the system's goal of high-speed, safe travel.[19]

Construction phases

The construction of Interstate 59 proceeded in multiple phases from the late 1950s through the early 1970s, aligning with the broader rollout of the Interstate Highway System under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. The route's development focused on paralleling U.S. Route 11, replacing older alignments with controlled-access freeway segments to improve regional connectivity from the Gulf Coast to the Appalachian foothills. Funding came primarily from federal appropriations, with state departments of transportation overseeing bidding, right-of-way acquisition, and engineering. Phases varied by state due to local terrain, urban demands, and funding availability, resulting in staggered openings that prioritized high-traffic corridors first. In Louisiana, the 12-mile segment from its southern terminus at the I-10/I-12 interchange in Slidell northward across the Pearl River to the Mississippi state line was the first portion built. Construction integrated with the parallel I-10 project through St. Tammany Parish, involving bridge replacements over the Pearl River and West Pearl River to address hurricane evacuation needs. The freeway opened to traffic in December 1965, marking the state's full completion of I-59.[2] Mississippi's 172-mile stretch, the longest along the route, saw early work on urban bypasses before rural extensions. The 7.6-mile Laurel bypass, paralleling U.S. 11, began construction in 1955 as an initial Interstate-designated segment and opened in 1961, easing congestion in Jones County. Subsequent phases extended southward to the Louisiana line near Picayune and northward to the Alabama line near Meridian, incorporating bridges over the Leaf River and Bouie River. Incremental bids filled gaps, with the final segment from Hattiesburg to the Louisiana border completing in 1969, achieving full state traversal.[3][22] In Alabama, the 241-mile portion emphasized integration with I-20 in the central region while navigating the Appalachian terrain in the northeast. Early openings included a 10-mile segment north of Fort Payne in DeKalb County by 1962, utilizing cut-and-fill methods through Lookout Mountain. The Birmingham area saw delayed progress due to urban complexity; the I-20/I-59 downtown viaduct and central business district interchanges, featuring multi-level elevated structures, began major work in the late 1960s and opened in 1973 after addressing right-of-way disputes and seismic considerations. The route reached full continuity from the Mississippi line near Cuba to the Georgia line near Hammondville by 1974, with the final rural links in Etowah and Cherokee counties.[23][24] Georgia's brief 20-mile northern terminus from the Alabama line near Rising Fawn to I-75 near Ringgold in Catoosa and Dade counties was among the last phases, reflecting the state's focus on Appalachian connectors. Proposed in 1960, construction advanced slowly due to mountainous grading and environmental reviews, with the segment south of Trenton actively built in 1970. The full length opened in late 1971, completing the end-to-end I-59 corridor and facilitating cross-border traffic to Chattanooga, Tennessee.[5]

Future developments

Ongoing projects

As of late 2025, multiple construction projects are underway along Interstate 59 to address pavement conditions, safety, and traffic flow in Mississippi and Alabama, with minor maintenance in Louisiana.[25][26][27] In Mississippi, a $66.7 million safety improvement initiative is progressing in Forrest and Jones counties, spanning from the Lamar County line to just south of Moselle; this project includes barrier upgrades, signage enhancements, and pavement resurfacing to reduce crash risks.[26] Completion is anticipated in phases through 2027.[28] Additionally, pavement restoration efforts on segments of I-59 in the southeastern region began in early 2025 and are scheduled to extend into late 2026, focusing on milling and overlay to extend service life.[29] Installation of Intelligent Transportation Systems along I-59 and concurrent I-20 corridors south of Meridian is also advancing, incorporating dynamic message signs and detection equipment for better incident management.[30] In Alabama, reconstruction of approximately 11 miles of I-59 southbound between Collinsville in DeKalb County and Reece City in Etowah County, let to contract in late 2024, commenced in spring 2025, involving full-depth pavement replacement and shoulder widening; an initial five-mile phase has the southbound lanes closed with traffic detoured to the northbound side until spring 2027.[25] A $22 million diverging diamond interchange at Exit 104 (McAshan Drive) on I-59/I-20 in McCalla, Jefferson County, broke ground in September 2025 to improve access to the Rock Mountain Lakes community and reduce congestion; the design eliminates left-turn conflicts and is expected to open in 2027.[31][32] Further north, the $70 million I-59 widening project in Trussville from the I-459 interchange to Chalkville Mountain Road (Exit 141) continues, with southbound reconstruction phases completed ahead of schedule in August 2025 and northbound lane additions set to begin in early 2026; the full project, adding capacity to handle peak-hour volumes, targets completion by late 2026.[33][34] Emergency slab repairs on I-59 in Jefferson County also started in July 2025 to address structural deterioration.[35] In Louisiana, routine maintenance on the short I-59 segment in St. Tammany Parish includes bridge rail repairs near the Mississippi state line, which involved daily left-lane closures from April through July 2025.[36] Signing and pavement marking upgrades along the I-10/I-12/I-59 concurrence are ongoing into summer 2025 to enhance visibility and guidance.[27] No major capacity or reconstruction projects were reported on I-59 in Louisiana during this period.[37] No significant ongoing construction was identified on the northern terminus of I-59 in Georgia as of November 2025, though related improvements to the connecting I-24 toward Tennessee are in planning stages.[38]

Proposed improvements

In Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is proposing operational improvements to the interchange of Interstate 59 and U.S. Route 11 in Forrest County near Hattiesburg. These enhancements aim to improve traffic flow and safety at the existing diamond interchange, potentially including ramp modifications, signalization upgrades, and auxiliary lane additions. A public hearing to discuss the proposals was scheduled for November 20, 2025, at the Okahola Community Center in Purvis, allowing input from local residents and stakeholders.[39] In Alabama, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has outlined several future widening and reconstruction segments for I-59 as part of its long-term infrastructure strategy, with additional projects planned beyond current ongoing work. ALDOT has indicated intentions to address remaining deteriorated sections of I-59 in northeast Alabama as funding becomes available, prioritizing safety and capacity enhancements along the corridor toward the Georgia state line. In the Birmingham area, the 2040 Statewide Transportation Plan identifies potential widening from 18th/19th Street (Exit 112) to Valley Road (Exit 118) from four to six lanes, targeted for implementation in the mid-2020s to alleviate congestion.[40][41] In Georgia, Dade County has initiated Phase 1 engineering studies for a new I-59 exit north of Trenton and a related connector highway, funded through the 2018 Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST). These proposals seek to divert heavy truck traffic from Trenton's downtown area, improving local safety and access while supporting economic development near the Alabama state line.[42] No major proposed improvements specific to I-59 have been announced in Louisiana as of late 2025, where the route spans only about 12 miles (19 km) entirely within St. Tammany Parish before entering Mississippi.[43]

Route data

Junction list

The junction list for Interstate 59 is presented below in a table format, organized by state from south to north. Exit numbers are mileage-based and continuous across state lines. Mileposts (mi) are approximate and increase northward from the southern terminus in Louisiana. The table includes major interchanges, with destinations serving nearby cities or facilities where applicable. Data is derived from state transportation department records and highway guides.[44][12][45][17][46][47]
miExitDestinationsNotes
Louisiana
0.00–I-10 / I-12 – Slidell, New OrleansSouthern terminus
33US 11 / LA 1090 – Pearl River
55LA 3081 – Honey Island Swamp
66US 190 – Lacombe, Slidell
1111– Pearl RiverLocal access, turnaround
12.00–Mississippi state lineContinuation into Mississippi
Mississippi
12.00–Louisiana state lineContinuation from Louisiana
131US 11 / MS 607 – Picayune
164MS 43 south – Picayune, Kiln
186MS 43 north – Picayune
2210– CarriereLocal access
2715– McNeill, Carriere
3119– Millard, Carriere
3927– Poplarville
4129MS 26 – Poplarville, Wiggins
4735Hillsdale Road – Poplarville
5341MS 13 – Lumberton
6351MS 589 – Purvis
7159US 98 – Hattiesburg
7260US 11 – Hattiesburg
77A65AHardy Street – HattiesburgSigned as exit 65 southbound
77B65BUS 98 west / Hardy Street – Columbia
79A67AUS 49 south – Hattiesburg, Gulfport
79B67BUS 49 north – Jackson
8169MS 42 east / Evelyn Gandy Parkway – Petal
8573Monroe Road – Hattiesburg
8876Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport, MoselleAirport access
9078Sanford Road – Moselle
9280– Moselle
9785MS 590 – Ellisville
10088MS 29 / MS 588 – Ellisville
10290US 11 south / Ellisville Boulevard – Ellisville
10593US 11 – Laurel
107A95A16th Avenue south – Laurel
107C95CBeacon Street – Laurel
108A96A4th Avenue / Masonite Road – Laurel
108B96BMS 15 south / Cook Avenue – Laurel
10997US 84 east / Chantilly Street – Waynesboro
11199US 11 – Laurel
116104– Sandersville
125113MS 528 – Heidelberg, Bay Springs
130118JC Road 35 – Vossburg
138126MS 18 – Pachuta, Rose Hill
146134MS 513 south – Enterprise
149137– Enterprise north
154142– Savoy
162150MS 19 north – Philadelphia
163151Valley Road / 49th Avenue – Meridian
16415229th Avenue – Meridian
16515322nd Avenue – Meridian
166A154AMS 19 south / South Frontage Road / Butler Road – Meridian
166B154BMS 39 north / US 11 north / US 80 east – DeKalb
168156Jimmie Rodgers Parkway – Meridian
169A157AUS 45 – MeridianSouthbound exit only
169B157BUS 45 – MeridianNorthbound exit only
172160– Russell
177165Will Garrett Road – Toomsuba
181169US 80 / US 11 – Kewanee
183.72–Alabama state lineContinuation into Alabama
Alabama
183.72–Mississippi state line
1851To US 80 east – Cuba, Demopolis
1928AL 17 north – York
20117AL 28 – Livingston, Boyd
20723– Gainesville, Epes
21632– Boligee
22440AL 14 – Eutaw, Aliceville
22945– Union
23652US 11 / US 43 – Knoxville
24662– Fosters
25268– Northport, Tuscaloosa, Western Bypass
255A71AUS 11 / SR 69 – Tuscaloosa
255B71BI-359 / US 11 / SR 69 – Tuscaloosa
25773US 82 / McFarland Boulevard – Tuscaloosa
26076US 11 north – Cottondale
26177– Cottondale
26379US 11 – Cottondale
27086– Brookwood, Vance
27389Mercedes Drive – VanceMercedes-Benz plant access
28197US 11 south / AL 5 – West Blocton, Centreville, McCalla
284100– Bucksville, Abernant
288104Rock Mountain Lakes – McCalla
292108US 11 / AL 5 north / Academy Drive – Bessemer
294110Alabama Adventure Parkway – BessemerAmusement park access
29611219th Street / 18th Street – Bessemer
29711318th Avenue – Bessemer
299115Jaybird Road – Birmingham
302118Valley Road – Fairfield
303A119ALloyd Noland Parkway – Birmingham
304120Ensley Avenue / AL 269 / 20th Street – Birmingham
307123US 78 west – Birmingham
309A125A17th Street – Downtown Birmingham
309B125B22nd Street – Birmingham
310A126AUS 31 / US 280 / Carraway Boulevard – Birmingham
310B126B31st Street – Birmingham
312128Tallapoosa Street / AL 79 – Birmingham
313129Airport Boulevard – BirminghamBirmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
315131Oporto-Madrid Boulevard – Birmingham
316132US 11 north / 1st Avenue – Birmingham
3171334th Avenue South – Birmingham
318134AL 75 / Roebuck Parkway – Birmingham
325141– Trussville, Pinson
327143Deerfoot Parkway / Mt. Olive Church Road – Trussville
338154AL 174 – Springville, Odenville
340156AL 23 – St. Clair Springs
350166US 231 – Ashville, Oneonta
358174– Steele
365181AL 77 – Attalla, Rainbow City
367183US 278 / US 431 – Attalla, Gadsden
372188– Noccalula FallsPark access
389205AL 68 – Collinsville, Crossville
402218AL 35 – Fort Payne, Rainsville
406222US 11 – Fort Payne
40822449th Street – Fort Payne
415231AL 40 / AL 117 – Hammondville, Valley Head
423239US 11 / Sulphur Springs Road – Valley Head
423.00–Georgia state lineContinuation into Georgia
Georgia
423.00–Alabama state line (Dade County)
4274Puddin Ridge Road – Rising FawnLocal access
43411– Trenton, Cloudland Canyon State ParkState park access
44017Slygo Road – New EnglandLocal access
44219I-24 – Chattanooga (east), Nashville (west)Directional interchange
442.00–End of I-59Northern terminus at I-24
This junction list reflects the primary interchanges as of November 2025, excluding minor service roads or temporary closures. For the most current details, consult state department of transportation resources.[44][12][45][17][46][47]

Auxiliary routes

Interstate 59 has three auxiliary routes, all located in Alabama: Interstate 359, a short spur serving Tuscaloosa; Interstate 459, a beltway encircling the southern and eastern sides of Birmingham; and Interstate 759, a spur connecting to Gadsden. These routes provide urban access, bypass congested areas, and support regional traffic flow along the parent highway's corridor. Interstate 359 is a 2.30-mile (3.70 km) spur route that branches northward from the I-20/I-59 concurrency in western Tuscaloosa, providing direct freeway access to downtown Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama campus. It follows a four-lane alignment concurrent with U.S. Route 11 and Alabama State Route 69, terminating at U.S. Route 43 (Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard) near the Black Warrior River. Designated in the 1970s and opened between 1976 and 1981, I-359 alleviates local congestion by linking the interstate to key commercial and educational districts in the city.[48][49] Interstate 459 functions as a 32.80-mile (52.79 km) partial beltway around the southern perimeter of the Birmingham metropolitan area, connecting I-20/I-59 near Bessemer to I-59 northeast of Irondale and also intersecting I-20 near Leeds and I-65 in Hoover. This six-lane freeway serves as a bypass for through traffic avoiding downtown Birmingham's urban core, facilitating commuter routes to suburbs such as Bessemer, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, and Trussville. Constructed in phases during the 1970s and 1980s, it enhances regional connectivity by integrating with major radials like U.S. Route 31 and Alabama State Route 149.[50][51] Interstate 759 is a 4.54-mile (7.31 km) spur extending eastward from I-59 in Attalla to central Gadsden, crossing the Coosa River via a causeway and linking to U.S. Route 411 and Alabama State Route 53 in southern Gadsden. Known as the Joe Ford Freeway, this four-lane route supports industrial and commercial access in the Etowah County area, opened in October 1986 to improve connectivity between I-59 and the city's core. It terminates at the intersection with Gilliland Street, with proposals for eastward extensions to U.S. Highways 278 and 431 under consideration as part of ongoing regional improvements.[52][53]

References

  1. [PDF] Summary of the Interstate System by State and Route Number
  2. [PDF] Intersecting Road Names on GA Interstates, Freeways, & Expressways
  3. The Evolution of Mississippi Highways - Back in Time
  4. FHWA Route Log and Finder List - Interstate Highway System - National Highway System - Planning - FHWA
  5. [PDF] INTERSTATE 59 LANE REVERSAL HURRICANE EVACUATION ...
  6. I-59 (I-12 – Mississippi State Line), St - La DOTD
  7. [PDF] LEGEND OFFICIAL HIGHWAY MAP OF LOUISIANA
  8. I-59 and I-10 may close in South Louisiana/ Mississippi today
  9. All Exits along I-59 in Mississippi - Northbound
  10. Interstate 59
  11. Interstate 59 - Highways - Larry's Phat Page
  12. [PDF] acts and resolutions of the general assembly of the state ... - myDOCS
  13. [PDF] GEORGIA INTERSTATES AND STATE ROUTES CONVERSION
  14. [PDF] To Chattanooga, TN
  15. I-59 Exit List: AL/GA line to I-24
  16. Alliance for Dade Regional Welcome Center - Explore Georgia
  17. Part I - History | FHWA - Department of Transportation
  18. Interstate Frequently Asked Questions | FHWA
  19. Interstate System - Design - Federal Highway Administration
  20. Interstate 59 Louisiana - AARoads
  21. Interstate 59 Mississippi - AARoads
  22. Reconstruction of dangerous I-59 'S curve' begins in Laurel
  23. History of I-59/20 Bridge - CBS 42
  24. [PDF] Interstate-59 Mainline Construction Dekalb County, AL
  25. Interstate 59 Georgia - AARoads
  26. Part of I-59S closes for reconstruction in DeKalb, Etowah counties
  27. https://mdot.ms.gov/portal/news_release_view/2521
  28. Projects Under Construction - La DOTD
  29. MDOT projects make headway in southeast Mississippi
  30. Pavement restoration project underway on I-59 - WDAM
  31. Major infrastructure improvement projects progress across East ...
  32. Multiple Road Projects Continue Moving Forward in Southern ...
  33. Diverging Diamond Interchange work underway in McCalla
  34. Construction begins on $22 million road project near Birmingham
  35. I-59 Trussville
  36. I-59 exit ramps at Chalkville Mountain Road to reopen ahead of ...
  37. I-59 emergency slab repair to begin July 14 - ALDOT News Hub
  38. Roadwork (Bridge Rail Repairs) SPN 4000300894-R2 - La DOTD
  39. https://www.dotd.la.gov/Pages/Projects.aspx
  40. Interstate 24 Moccasin Bend Widening - TN.gov
  41. MDOT to hold public hearing in Lamar County
  42. [PDF] ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - ALDOT
  43. [PDF] Alabama 2040 Statewide Transportation Plan - ALDOT
  44. Dade Projects
  45. I-12: LA 21 - LA 59 (H.011137 & H.011152) - La DOTD - Projects
  46. Exits along I-59 in Alabama - Northbound | iExit Interstate Exit Guide
  47. Maps - Mississippi Department of Transportation
  48. ALDOT Home
  49. Interstate 359 Alabama
  50. Interstate 359 Alabama - AARoads
  51. Interstate 459 Alabama
  52. Interstate 459 Alabama - AARoads
  53. Interstate 759 Alabama
  54. Interstate 759 - Gadsden Spur Alabama - AARoads
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