Missouri Route 72

Route 72 marker

Route 72
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length: 157 mi (253 km)
Existed: 1922 – present
Major junctions
West end: I-44 in Rolla
East end: Route 34 west of Jackson
Highway system
I-72Route 73

Route 72 is a highway in southern Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at Route 34 west of Jackson; its western terminus is at I-44 on the exit with U.S. Route 63 in Rolla.

Route 72 is one of the original 1922 state highways. Its eastern terminus was at Centerville, and its western terminus was at the junction with Route 32. The part between Arcadia and Fredericktown was Route 70 from 1922 to 1959, when it became part of Route 72 because of I-70.

Route 72 was rebuilt a few years back from Elk Prairie, just south of Rolla; to the intersection of Hwy 32, west of Salem. The road was widened and shoulders were built.

As Route 72 passes through Salem, it crosses Route 19; then runs concurrently eastward for 10 miles with Route 32. It then splits off to the southeast towards the small town of Bunker. It is very curvy; it passes back and forth between Dent and Reynolds county several times. After passing through Bunker, it runs mostly eastward for 17 miles; before intersecting Hwy 21; 3 miles south of Centerville. 72 then turns left (north) and runs concurrently with Hwy 21 through Centerville. Between Centerville and Lesterville, Route 49 joins it and 21, 72 and 49 run concurrently eastward to the Glover corner. Route 49 turns right (south) at that corner; while Route 72 and 21 turn left (north). Route 72 and Route 21 run north for 10 miles to Arcadia; at the south edge of Ironton; Route 21 continues north while Route 72 turns east. However, it has a unique interchange; it crosses under Hwy 72 east on 21/72, then turns left (west)for one block, then turns left(southeast) and goes back up over 21/72. Route 72 then runs east, intersects US Hwy 67 west of Fredericktown. It then proceeds to its eastern terminus with Route 34 at Jackson, MO

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
PhelpsRolla I-44 / US 63 north / Historic US 66 east St. Louis, Springfield, Jefferson CityI-44 exit 186; west end of I-44 Bus. / US 63 / Historic US 66 overlap
Business Loop I-44 west / Historic US 66 west (Kingshighway) – Business Districteast end of I-44 Bus. / Historic US 66 overlap
US 63 south Edgar Springs, Cabooleast end of US 63 overlap
DentSalem Route 32 west Lickingwest end of Route 32 overlap
Route 19 (Main Street) Steelville, Eminence, Downtown Salem
  Route 32 east – Howes Milleast end of Route 32 overlap
Reynolds  Route 21 south Ellingtonwest end of Route 21 overlap
  Route 49 north Black, Oateswest end of Route 49 overlap
Iron  Route 49 south Annapoliseast end of Route 49 overlap
Arcadia Route 21 northeast end of Route 21 overlap
MadisonFredericktown US 67 Farmington, Poplar Bluffinterchange
West Main Street - Business Districtroundabout; former US 67 Bus. south / Route 72 east
Junction City Route OO north Mine La Motte
Junction City
Fredericktown
Lincoln Drive - Fredericktown, Business Districtformer Route 72 west
BollingerPatton Junction Route 51 Perryville, Patton
Cape Girardeau  Route 34 west Marble Hill, Bollinger Mill Historic Sitewest end of Route 34 overlap
Jackson Business Loop I-55 / US 61 / Route 34 east / Great River Road / Route 25 south Cape Girardeau, Fruitland, Dutchtowneast end of Route 34 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, October 14, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.