Special routes of U.S. Route 54 explained

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.

Texas

El Paso business loop

New Mexico

Tucumcari business loop

See main article: New Mexico State Road 237.

Kansas

El Dorado Truck Route

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 (US 54 Bus.) was a business route of US 54. It traveled due west along Missouri Route 242, briefly south along Osage Beach Parkway, and west along Bagnell Dam Boulevard to get to downtown Lake Ozark. It then continued northward along the same street to reconnect to US 54.

Originally, US 54 used to directly serve Lake Ozark.^[1] Then, in 1968, US 54 was rerouted onto a newly-opened bypass; Missouri Route 354 briefly took the place of US 54's old alignment.^[2] In 1969, Route 354 was replaced with US 54 Bus.^[3] The business route designation was eventually removed in 2021.

Major intersections

Eldon business loop

U.S. Route 54 Business (US 54 Bus.) is a business route of US 54. It travels north along Route 52 to directly serve Eldon. It then travels due northeast to reconnect to US 54.

Originally, US 54 directly served Eldon.^[5] In 1975, US 54 bypassed Eldon, which resulted in the creation of US 54 Bus.^[4]

Major intersections

Jefferson City alternate route

Fulton business loop

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.

Prior to 1972, US 54 used to run straight to Fulton.^[7] Since 1972, US 54 bypassed Fulton. This resulted in the creation of US 54 Business.^[6]

Mexico business loop

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

Major intersections

Bowling Green business loop

A 3adj=onNaNadj=on 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

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

Kankakee business loop

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. 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. Originally, the freeway abruptly stopped at North Street which caused US 54 to travel west to its city route. It remained like that until 1962 when a freeway connection between US 54 Business and North Avenue was made. In 1969, US 54 supplanted its business route as the bypass was extended on both ends. Three years later, in 1972, US 54 was significantly truncated, removing a section of US 54 between Griggsville and Chicago.

Notes and References

1. 1967 Missouri Highway Map . August 16, 2020.
2. 1968 Missouri Highway Map . August 16, 2020.
3. 1969 Missouri Highway Map . August 16, 2020.
4. 1975 Missouri Highway Map . August 17, 2020.
5. 1974 Missouri Highway Map . August 17, 2020.
6. 1972 Missouri Highway Map . August 17, 2020.
7. 1971 Missouri Highway Map . August 17, 2020.