Interstate 44 in Missouri

Interstate 44 (I-44) in the US state of Missouri runs northeast from the Oklahoma state line near Joplin to I-70 in Downtown St. Louis. It runs for about 293 miles (472 km) in the state, and is the longest Interstate Highway in the state.

Interstate 44 marker
Interstate 44
Map
I-44 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length293.183 mi[1] (471.832 km)
Existed1956–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-44 / Will Rogers Turnpike near Joplin
Major intersections
East end I-70 in St. Louis
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMissouri
CountiesNewton, Jasper, Lawrence, Greene, Webster, Laclede, Pulaski, Phelps, Crawford, Franklin, St. Louis, City of St. Louis
Highway system
Route 43 Route 45

Route description

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I-44 approached by US 71 (now part of I-49) just south of Joplin

I-44 enters Missouri in Newton County at the eastern terminus of the Will Rogers Turnpike, 200 yards (180 m) south of the Kansas state line. The first interchange in Missouri is the eastern terminus of both U.S. Route 166 (US 166) and US 400. This highway next goes through southern Joplin and then begins to run concurrently with I-49/US 71 at exit 11 just after entering Jasper County. The freeway turns to a more eastern heading (the old route of US 166), and then I-49/US 71 splits off to the north at exit 18.

I-44 next enters Lawrence County. Near Mount Vernon, the highway curves to the northeast. The section of highway to Halltown is a completely new highway, not supplanting any previous highways. At Halltown, the road curves back to due east, beginning to follow the general pathway of old US 66, which it does all the way to downtown St. Louis. I-44 then goes around the western and northern sides of Springfield, serving as the western terminus of the James River Freeway, as well as crossing both Route 13 and US 65. The Interstate Highway continues northeast, bypassing Lebanon.

In Pulaski County, I-44 enters the Mark Twain National Forest and then leaves it to provide access to Waynesville, St. Robert, and Fort Leonard Wood before reentering the national forest. The freeway leaves the forest in Phelps County west of Rolla. I-44 then goes through Rolla, where it meets US 63. It continues its northeastern course, passing near St. James, Cuba, Bourbon, Sullivan, and Saint Clair. At this point, it roughly parallels the Meramec River.

 
I-44 west in Springfield

I-44 next goes north of Pacific before moving into St. Louis County. I-44 then bisects Eureka before serving as the southern boundary of Route 66 State Park (the former site of Times Beach, known for its dioxin contamination and its eventual demolition and Superfund cleanup[citation needed]). I-44 then runs across unincorporated land before entering Fenton and meeting an interchange with I-270 in Sunset Hills. I-44 then goes through Crestwood, Kirkwood, Oakland, Webster Groves, and Shrewsbury before entering the city of St. Louis. I-44 runs on a due east course through St. Louis until it meets I-55 south of downtown. The two highways run concurrently for about two miles (3.2 km) until I-55 turns east at an interchange with I-64 to cross the Mississippi River on the Poplar Street Bridge. I-44 then continues north through Downtown St. Louis on the former route of I-70 to its junction with that highway at the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge; drivers wishing to access eastbound I-70 must cross the Poplar Street Bridge via I-55 and I-64.

History

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I-44 follows the general route of, and completely replaced, historic US 66 from Halltown (exit 58, the junction with a cutoff section of US 66 since renumbered as Route 96) to downtown St. Louis. From rural Joplin at exit 15 to Mount Vernon at exit 49, it largely follows a decommissioned section of US 166.

Originally, the eastern terminus of I-44 was at the I-55, I-64, I-70, and US 40 interchange by the Poplar Street Bridge. This was changed when the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge opened on February 9, 2014, rerouting I-70 over the river along a more northern alignment. I-44 now takes the old I-70 alignment through the below-grade section of roadway in St. Louis, extending the Interstate for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to its new eastern terminus at a directional interchange with I-70 near Cass Avenue;[2] the eastbound lanes of I-44 join the westbound lanes of I-70, and the westbound lanes of I-44 branch off the eastbound lanes of I-70.[2]

Future

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Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDot) has proposed to improve I-44 across Missouri such as an additional lane and some curve realignment. Study is known as Forward I-44.[3]

Exit list

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
NewtonJoplin0.0000.000 
 
 
 
I-44 west / Will Rogers Turnpike west – Tulsa
Continuation into Oklahoma
0.3480.5601 
 
 
 
US 166 west / US 400 west (Downstream Boulevard) – Baxter Springs
Eastern terminus of US 166/US 400
3.9876.4164 
 
Route 43 south – Seneca
Western terminus of Route 43 concurrency
6.61810.6516 
 
 
 
 
 
  I-44 BL east / Route 43 north / Route 86 east – Racine, Joplin
Eastern terminus of Route 43 concurrency; access to Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center, Freeman Hospital, and Mercy Hospital
8.81714.1908  I-49 BL (Range Line Road)Diverging diamond interchange;[4] access to Missouri Southern State University
Jasper11.677–
11.880
18.792–
19.119
11 
 
 
 
 
 
I-49 south / US 71 south / Route 249 north – Neosho, Fort Smith, Joplin
Signed as exits 11A (south) and 11B (north) eastbound; western terminus of I-49/US 71 concurrency
13.19021.22713Prigmor Road (CR 190) – JoplinOpened November 2015
15.48324.91715 
 
 
 
I-44 BL west / Route 66 west – Duenweg
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Fidelity18.48129.74218 
 
 
 
 
 
I-49 north / US 71 north / Route 59 south – Carthage, Kansas City, Diamond
Signed as exits 18A (south) and 18B (north); eastern terminus of I-49/US 71 concurrency; access to George Washington Carver National Monument and Neosho National Fish Hatchery
22.49736.20522CR 100
26.50742.65926 
 
  I-44 BL east / Route 37 – Sarcoxie, Reeds
29.92948.16629 
 
  I-44 BL west / Route U – Sarcoxie, La Russell
Lawrence33.51753.94033 
 
 
To Route 97 south (CR 1010)
38.49861.95738  Route 97 – Pierce City, Stotts City
44.29871.29144 
 
  I-44 BL east / Route H – Mount Vernon, Monett
Access to the Missouri Veterans Home
Mount Vernon46.93075.52746 
 
   I-44 BL west / Route 39 / Route 265 – Mount Vernon, Aurora
Access to Table Rock Lake
49.72580.02549  Route 174 – Chesapeake, Mount Vernon
58.13393.55657 
 
Route 96 west – Avilla
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; former US 66 west
58.79694.62358   Route O / Route Z – Halltown
61.96499.72161   Route K / Route PP
Greene67.011107.84467   Route N / Route T – Republic, Bois D'Arc
68.958110.97769 
 
Route 360 east (James River Freeway) to US 60
70.166112.92170   Route B / Route MM
72.472116.63272    I-44 BL / Route 266 (Chestnut Expressway)Former US 66; access to Missouri State University, Drury University, Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield-Branson National Airport, Downtown Springfield, Battlefield Mall, and Bass Pro Shops
Springfield75.480121.47375  US 160 (West Bypass) – WillardAccess to Bois D'Arc Conservation Area and Andy Dalton Shooting Range
77.713125.06777  Route 13 (Kansas Expressway) – BolivarFirst diverging diamond interchange in North America, existing interchange converted in 2009;[5] access to Fantastic Caverns, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, and Dickerson Park Zoo
80.372129.34680   I-44 BL / Route H (Glenstone Avenue) – Pleasant HopeAccess to Evangel University
82.465132.71582  US 65 – Branson, SedaliaSigned as exits 82A (south) and 82B (north); access to Table Rock Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Missouri State University, Drury University, and Ozarks Technical Community College
84.734136.36684  Route 744 (Mulroy Road / Beaver Road)
Strafford88.917143.09888  Route 125 – Strafford, Fair GroveFuture dogbone interchange[6]
Webster96.021154.53196  Route B – Northview
Marshfield100.938162.444100   Route W / Route 38 – Marshfield
103.000165.762103  Route CCdumbbell interchange
107.553173.090107Sampson Road / Sparkle Brook Road
LacledeConway113.230182.226113   Route J / Route Y – Conway
Phillipsburg118.027189.946118   Route A / Route C – PhillipsburgFormer US 66
123.011197.967123County Road
Lebanon127.207204.720127   I-44 BL (Elm Street) / Route W / Evergreen PkwyFormer US 66
129.057207.697129    Route 5 / Route 32 / Route 64 (Jefferson Avenue) – HartvilleAccess to the Lake of the Ozarks, Bennett Spring State Park, and Pomme de Terre Lake
130.160209.472130    I-44 BL (Elm Street) / Route MMAccess to Mercy Hospital
135.239217.646135  Route F – SleeperFormer US 66
139.999225.307140   Route N / Route T – Stoutland
Pulaski145.711234.499145   Route 133 / Route AB – Richland
150.630242.415150   Route 7 / Route P – Richland, Laquey
153.411246.891153  Route 17 – Buckhorn
Waynesville156.396251.695156   Route H / I-44 BL – Waynesville, Fort Leonard WoodAccess to the Missouri Veterans Cemetery
St. Robert159.832257.225159  I-44 BL – St. Robert, WaynesvilleFormer US 66
161.160259.362161    I-44 BL / Route Y – St. Robert, Fort Leonard WoodAccess to Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport and U.S. Army Museums at Fort Leonard Wood
163.836263.668163  Route 28 – Dixon
169.086272.118169  Route J
Phelps172.574277.731172  Route D – Jerome, DixonNo westbound entrance
176.531284.099176Sugar Tree Road
Doolittle179.447288.792179   Route C / Route T – Newburg, Doolittle
Rolla184.579297.051184 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  I-44 BL east (Kingshighway) / Route 72 east to US 63 south – Rolla, Salem
Western terminus of Route 72; former US 66 east; access to Phelps Health Medical Group
185.651298.776185   Route E – RollaAccess to Missouri University of Science and Technology and Phelps Health Medical Group
186.642300.371186 
 
 
 
  I-44 BL west / US 63 east (Bishop Avenue) / Route 72 – Rolla, Jefferson City
Former US 66
189.744305.363189  Route V (Hy Point Industrial Park Drive)
St. James195.613314.809195   Route 8 (Jefferson Street) / Route 68 – St. JamesFormer US 66; access to Ozark National Scenic Riverways and Meramac Spring Park
Crawford203.388327.321203   Route F / Route ZZ
Cuba208.284335.201208  Route 19 – Cuba, Owensville
210.782339.221210  Route UU
214.250344.802214  Route H – LeasburgAccess to Onondaga Cave State Park
Bourbon218.492351.629218    Route C / Route J / Route N – Bourbon
FranklinSullivan224.286360.953225 
 
   Route 185 north / Route D – Sullivan
Access to Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
225.831363.440226 
 
  Route 185 south / Route AF – Sullivan, Potosi
Access to Meramec State Park
230.240370.535230   Route W / Route JJ – StantonAccess to Meramec Caverns
St. Clair238.816384.337239    Route 30 / Route AB / Route WW – St. Clair
240.309386.740240  Route 47 – St. Clair, Union
242.189389.765242  Route AH
247.088397.650247 
 
   US 50 west / Route O / Route AT – Union, Jefferson City
Western terminus of US 50 concurrency; access to Robertsville State Park and East Central College
Villa Ridge251.485404.726251 
 
  Route 100 west – Washington
Former US 66; access to Mercy Hospital
Gray Summit253.289407.629253  
 
I-44 BL / Route 100 east – Gray Summit
Former US 66; access to Shaw Nature Reserve and Purina Farms
Pacific256.555412.885256  I-44 BL – Pacific
St. LouisEureka261.505420.852261 
 
I-44 BL west / Six Flags Road
Access to Six Flags St. Louis
264.459425.606264  Route 109 – EurekaAccess to Babler State Park and Don Robinson State Park
265.262426.898265Williams RoadEastbound exit and entrance; access to Route 66 State Park
266.557428.982266Lewis RoadAccess to Route 66 State Park Visitor Center
268.788432.572269Beaumont Antire RoadAccess to Jay Henges Shooting Range
Valley Park272.385438.361272   Route 141 – Fenton, Valley ParkAccess to SSM Health St. Clare Hospital
Fenton273.844440.709274ABowles AvenueSigned as exit 274 westbound
274.664442.029274BMraz LaneEastbound exit and westbound entrance
275.630443.583275North Highway Drive / Soccer Park RoadWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Sunset Hills275.872–
276.932
443.973–
445.679
276   I-270 – Memphis, ChicagoAccess to St. Louis Lambert International Airport
276.132–
276.844
444.391–
445.537
277A 
 
Route 366 east (Watson Road)
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former US 66
Sunset HillsKirkwood
city line
277.619446.784277B 
 
   US 50 east / US 61 / US 67 (Lindbergh Boulevard)
Eastern terminus of US 50 concurrency; access to Historic Downtown Kirkwood, The Magic House, and Laumeier Sculpture Park
KirkwoodCrestwood
city line
278.634448.418278Big Bend Road
OaklandWebster Groves line279.736450.191279Berry RoadWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Webster Groves280.739451.806280Elm AvenueAccess to Historic Downtown Webster Groves and Webster University
Webster GrovesShrewsbury line282.300454.318282Murdoch Avenue / Laclede Station RoadEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Shrewsbury282.485454.616283Shrewsbury AvenueWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
City of St. Louis284.175457.335284AJamieson AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance
284.432457.749284BArsenal StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
284.800458.341285Southwest AvenueWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
285.602459.632286Hampton AvenueAccess to Forest Park, Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, and the Saint Louis Zoo
286.779461.526287AKingshighway BoulevardEastbound exit and westbound entrance; access to Tower Grove Park and Washington University Medical Center
287.127462.086287BVandeventer AvenueAlso signed westbound for Kingshighway Boulevard; access to Missouri Botanical Garden
288.254463.900288  Grand BoulevardAccess to Saint Louis University, Saint Louis University Hospital, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, John Cochran Veterans Hospital, and Missouri School for the Blind
289.265465.527289Jefferson AvenueAccess to Enterprise Center and Union Station
289.595–
290.274
466.058–
467.151
290B 
 
I-55 south – Memphis
Western terminus of concurrency with I-55; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former eastern terminus of I-44
290.123466.908290A  Route 30 (12th Street / Gravois Avenue)Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
290.296467.186290BLafayette AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance; former Route 755
290.591467.661290CPark Avenue / 7th Street
291.167–
291.528
468.588–
469.169
291A 
 
  
 
 
 
 
I-55 north / I-64 / US 40 east to I-70 east – Illinois
Eastern terminus of concurrency with I-55; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
291.267468.749291BWalnut StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance
291.369468.913292Lumiere Place Boulevard / Washington Avenue / Eads BridgeEastbound exit and westbound entrance; access to the Gateway Arch
292.146470.163292AConvention Plaza / Martin L. King Bridge – IllinoisWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; access to IL 3, I-55, I-70, and I-64
I-70 Express LanesWestbound entrance only
292.605470.902292BBroadwayWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
292.919471.407293Madison Street / St. Louis AvenueEastbound exit only; access to Municipal River Terminal
293.183471.832 
 
I-70 west – Kansas City
Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Business loops

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All of I-44's business routes are in Missouri. Most of these business loops were the former US 66. Missouri also has the unusual occurrence of a business loop and business spur from the same Interstate intersecting (the Waynesville–St. Robert loop and the Ft. Leonard Wood spur).

References

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  1. ^ a b Missouri Department of Transportation (January 5, 2015). MoDOT HPMAPS (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Traffic Control Sheets" (PDF). Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "Forward 44 | Missouri Department of Transportation". www.modot.org. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "I-44 and Range Line interchange open". The Joplin Globe. July 20, 2013. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  5. ^ Tang, Didi (January 28, 2010). "Missouri test drives 'diverging diamond' interchange". USA Today.
  6. ^ "Missouri Route 125 Intersection Improvements in Green County | Missouri Department of Transportation". www.modot.org. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
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