U.S. Route 61
U.S. Highway 61 (also U.S. Route 61, just U.S. 61) is a United States highway that (1400 miles) from New Orleans to Wyoming, Minnesota leads with a length of 2553 km. The Highway essentially follows the course of the Mississippi River and forms a large part of the Great River Road.
Since 2004 opens the Highway at its northern terminus at Interstate 35 in Wyoming, Minnesota. In the past, he continued north through the city of Duluth to the Canadian border at Grand Portage. Today, the Minnesota State Route 61 runs along there.
The southern end of the junction is in the U.S. Highway 90 in the center of New Orleans. The Highway 61 is often referred to as The Blues Highway because he from the north through the Mississippi Delta [note Leads 1] to New Orleans, those regions where developed blues and jazz.
In the period before the establishment of the Interstate highways of Highway 61 was an important north -south connection. Many Southerners drew it on the road to St. Louis in Missouri or further north in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. The highway has been sung by a native of Duluth Bob Dylan in his song Highway 61 Revisited.
Course
Louisiana
From the beginning in New Orleans to the north of Baton Rouge is the distance of four lanes. Further north, on the border with Mississippi, the road is again expanded to four lanes.
The section from New Orleans to Baton Rouge is also known as Airline Highway. Although the highway passing by the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, the name goes back to the rather straight course ( distance) of the road. In contrast, the former Jefferson Highway were predominantly adjacent to the Mississippi, and was characterized by a tortuous course.
Mississippi
In the State of Mississippi, U.S. 61 to four lanes and expanded largely with separate lanes.
The Highway 61 leads to this section of Louisiana Coming on the Cities Natchez, Vicksburg, Leland and Clarksdale to Tennessee and here is also known as Blues Highway. It runs through the Delta region in which the roots of blues music are. The Highway 61 comes in many songs by musicians from the region.
The junction with U.S. Highway 49 in Clarksdale is the place where according to a legend of the musician Robert Johnson had his soul to the devil to be in return for an excellent blues musicians can.
The 50- km long section between Clarksdale and Tunica runs without vertical and horizontal curvature.
As the Route 66 and the Highway 61 become a legend and a symbol of the region around Clarksdale in the western United States.
Tennessee
Coming from Mississippi reached the Highway 61 with the suburbs of the city of Memphis the state of Tennessee. By crossing the Mississippi River is 24 km away from Memphis to West Memphis, Arkansas, the highway leaves the state of Tennessee again.
Arkansas
From West Memphis Highway passes near the Mississippi to 122 km through the state of Arkansas. U.S. Highway 61 crosses the city Osceola, leaving behind Blytheville the state toward Missouri.
Missouri
South of the town of Steele happens Highway 61 a 1924 built archway made of concrete and reached the territory of the State of Missouri. He then proceeds to St. Louis parallel to Interstate 55 Occasionally, the routings of U.S. Highway 61 overlap with other roads. So run between Howardville and Sikeston highways 61 and 62 on the same route. In Sikeston, there is a junction with U.S. Highway 60 Subsequently, the city of Cape Girardeau is happening. North of it is located at the junction with the Missouri State Route 32 to the Ste founded in 1735. Genevieve one of the oldest French settlement west of the Mississippi.
From Festus Highways 61 and 67 pass through the intersection with U.S. Highway 50 to Ladue, a suburb of St. Louis, on the same route. There crosses Interstate 64, which coincides with the U.S. Highway 40 runs at this point. Just south of the village Kirkwood, crosses the former Route 66 (now Missouri State Route 100). This intersection is also known as the rock ' n roll crossroads of America. Highway 61 runs through the St. Louis area partially over the airport St. Louis leading Lindbergh Boulevard.
After reaching the Interstate 64 and U.S. Highways 40 of the Highway 61 runs to Wentzville on the same route. From Wentzville Highway reaching the Interstate 70 runs 61 again on its own route to the northwest. In Bowling Green U.S. Highway 54 crosses North of Interstate 72 and U.S. Highway 36 is reached in the city Hannibal.
Northwest of Hannibal hits the Highway 61 on U.S. Highway 24 and runs together with it to Taylor. He runs north to the vicinity of Wayland to turn right at the junction with the Missouri State Route 27 to the east. Shortly before leaving Missouri meets the Highway 61 on U.S. Highway 136 and, together with this to Iowa.
Iowa
The U.S. Highways 61 and 136 reach south of the city Keokuk together the State of Iowa. From Keokuk Highway 61 runs alone again and hits northwest of the city on U.S. Highway 218 to run together with it for a length of 10 km in a north-westerly direction. The other route runs north and bends with the Iowa Highway 2 to Fort Madison. In the further course to the north, the city of Burlington is reached where U.S. Highway 34 crosses. In Grandview Iowa Highway 92 is achieved and, together with this runs the Highway 61 to Muscatine. There, the highway bends to the east to the Quad Cities. In Davenport of Highway 61 turn off at the junction with U.S. Highway 67 north.
On the northern edge of Davenport crosses U.S. Highway 6, together with the Interstate 80 Then closes as a Freeway -developed section to DeWitt, where U.S. Highway 30 crosses. About Maquoketa the Highway leads partly widened to four lanes to Dubuque, which is achieved together with the U.S. Highways 52 and 151. In Dubuque share of U.S. Highway 20 is crossed. By crossing the Dubuque - Wisconsin Bridge of the State of Iowa will leave.
Wisconsin
On the other side of the Mississippi is achieved together with Highway 151, the Grant County, where from Dickeyville of Highway 61 again runs alone. About Fennimore, Lancaster, Boscobel and the route goes after Read Town. There, the Highway 61 combined with U.S. Highway 14 and achieved together with this La Crosse.
In 2004 a new bridge was inaugurated in La Crosse, which leads to the opposite bank of the Mississippi in the state of Minnesota.
Minnesota
Until La Crescent of Highway 61 four lanes. In the further course of the route based on the Mississippi River and connects the cities lying on its west bank Winona, Lake City and Red Wing. In Hastings the Mississippi is crossed again and work together to achieve the Highways 10 and 61, the city of St. Paul. There the other route covers over a short distance to Interstate 94 In Wyoming, 47 km north of St. Paul, the highway ends 61
The 190 km long section between La Crescent and Cottage Grove has been given the official name of Disabled American Veterans Highway.
The route to Duluth today is part of the Minnesota State Route system.