Special routes of U.S. Route 54

Several special routes of U.S. Route 54 exist, from Texas to Missouri. In order from southwest to northeast, separated by type, they are as follows.

U.S. Route 54 marker


Special routes of U.S. Route 54
Highway system

Texas

El Paso business loop

Business U.S. Highway 54

LocationEl Paso, Texas
Length12.5 mi[1] (20.1 km)
Existed1990–present

New Mexico

Tucumcari business loop

Business Loop US 54

LocationTucumcari, New Mexico
Length2.410 mi (3.879 km)

Kansas

El Dorado Truck Route

U.S. Highway 54 Truck

LocationEl Dorado, Kansas
Length0.327 mi[2] (526 m)

U.S. Route 54 Truck (US 54 Truck.) is a truck route of US 54. The route starts at a junction with U.S. 54 heading west 1 block before heading north to rejoin with U.S. 54. The entire route is concurrent with U.S. 77 Truck. The route is commonly used as a bypass for downtown.

Missouri

Lake Ozark business loop

U.S. Route 54 Business

LocationLake Ozark, Missouri
Length5.474 mi[3] (8.810 km)
Existed1969–2021

Route 354

LocationLake Ozark, Missouri
Length5.474 mi (8.810 km)
Existed1968–1969

U.S. Route 54 Business (US 54 Bus.) was a business route of US 54. It followed due west via Missouri Route 242 and then due south via Osage Beach Parkway. Then, it traveled due west via Bagnell Dam Boulevard to get to downtown Lake Ozark. It then continued to travel north to reconnect to US 54.[4]

Before 1968, US 54 used to connect directly to Lake Ozark.[5] In 1968, a bypass was finished which caused US 54 to get rerouted. As a result, Missouri Route 354 briefly appeared on a former alignment of US 54.[6] In 1969, US 54 Business appeared, replacing Route 354 in the process.[7] The designation was removed in 2021.[8]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Lake Ozark.

Countymi[3]kmDestinationsNotes
Miller0.0000.000 US 54 – Camdenton, Jefferson City

Route 242 begins
Interchange; western end of Route 242 overlap
0.3240.521
Route 242 west – Lake Ozark
Eastern end of Route 242 overlap
0.9171.476Old Highway 54Former US 54
Camden2.9624.767

Horseshoe Bend Parkway to US 54 / Route MM

To Route 5 – Sunrise Beach (via toll bridge)
Miller4.187–
4.635
6.738–
7.459
Bagnell Dam over Lake of the Ozarks
5.1908.352 Route WRoundabout
5.3948.681 US 54 – Osage Beach, EldonRoundabout interchange
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Eldon business loop

U.S. Route 54 Business

LocationEldon, Missouri
Length5.838 mi[3] (9.395 km)
Existed1975[9]–present

U.S. Route 54 Business (US 54 Bus.) is a business route of US 54. It travels due northwest via Route 52 to connect to Eldon. It then travels due northeast to reconnect to US 54.[10]

Before 1975, US 54 used to run towards Eldon.[11] In 1975, US 54 bypassed Eldon which resulted in the creation of US 54 Business.[9]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Eldon, Miller County.

mi[3]kmDestinationsNotes
0.0000.000
US 54 east / Route 52 – Lake of the Ozarks, Jefferson City
Interchange; western end of Route 52 overlap
3.0674.936
Route 52 west (4th Street)
Eastern end of Route 52 overlap
3.5995.792
Route 87 south (E. North Street)
Southern end of Route 87 overlap
4.2076.771
Route 87 north (Manor Drive)
Northern end of Route 87 overlap
5.8389.395 US 54 – Jefferson CityNorthbound exit and southbound entrance only
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Jefferson City alternate route

U.S. Route 54 Alternate

LocationJefferson City, Missouri
Length1 mi (1.6 km)
Existed1957–1964

Fulton business loop

U.S. Route 54 Business

LocationFulton, Missouri
Length5.870 mi[3] (9.447 km)
Existed1972[12]–present

U.S. Route 54 Business (US 54 Bus.) is a business route of US 54. It travels due northeast to connect to downtown Fulton. It then travels due north via Market Street, St. Louis Avenue, and Bluff Street before reconnecting to US 54.[13]

Prior to 1972, US 54 used to run straight to Fulton.[14] Since 1972, US 54 bypassed Fulton. This resulted in the creation of US 54 Business.[12]

Mexico business loop

U.S. Route 54 Business

LocationMexico, Missouri
Length6.223 mi[3] (10.015 km)
Existed1990–present

In the 1990s, US 54 was rerouted to bypass Mexico.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Mexico, Audrain County.

mi[3]kmDestinationsNotes
0.0000.000 US 54 – Bowling Green, Jefferson City


Route 15 begins / Route 22 begins
Interchange; southern end of Route 15 and Route 22 overlap
3.3245.349

Route 15 north / Route 22 west (Boulevard Street) / S. Clark Street – Mexico
Northern end of Route 15 and 22 overlap
6.22310.015
US 54 west – Jefferson City
Road continues as US 54
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Bowling Green business loop

U.S. Route 54 Business

LocationBowling Green, Missouri
Length2.967 mi[3] (4.775 km)
Existed1985–present

A three-mile (4.8 km) business loop exists in Bowling Green, Missouri. It intersects with Business 61. It is also known as Old U.S. Route 54.

Louisiana business loop

U.S. Route 54 Business

LocationLouisiana, Missouri
Length3.375 mi[3] (5.432 km)
Existed2003–present

A three-mile business loop exists in Louisiana, Missouri.

Kankakee business loop

U.S. Route 54 Business

LocationKankakee, Illinois
Length6 mi (9.7 km)
Existed1959[15]–1969[16]

U.S. Route 54 Business (formerly U.S. Route 54 City) was a business route of US 54. Before 1959, US 54 ran through downtown Kankakee.[17] In 1959, US 54 was rerouted onto a bypass (now part of Interstate 57) which, as a result, created US 54 City. It followed north through Kankakee via US 45/52 and present-day IL 50. It was then changed into US 54 Business in 1960.[18] Originally, the freeway abruptly stopped at North Street which caused US 54 to travel west to its city route.[15] It remained like that until 1962 when a freeway connection between US 54 Business and North Avenue was made.[19] In 1969, US 54 supplanted its business route as the bypass was extended on both ends.[16] Three years later, in 1972, US 54 was significantly truncated, removing a section of US 54 between Griggsville and Chicago.[20]

References