U.S. Route 36 in Missouri

Section of U.S. Highway in Missouri, United States

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 36 in Missouri. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 36.

U.S. Route 36

V.F.W. Memorial Highway

US 36 highlighted in red, with business routes in green

Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length| 192.660 mi[1] (310.056 km)
Major junctions
West end|  US-36 in St. Joseph at the Kansas state line
Major intersections|

* I-229 / US 59 in St. Joseph
* I-29 / US 71 in St. Joseph

I-35 / Route 110 (CKC) in Cameron
* US 65 in Chillicothe
* US 63 in Macon
* US 24 in Monroe City
* US 24 near Hannibal

US 61 (Avenue of the Saints) in Hannibal
* I-72 in Hannibal

East end|
I-72 / US 36 / IL 110 (CKC) / Great River Road at the Illinois state line
Location
Country| United States
State| Missouri
Counties| Buchanan, DeKalb, Caldwell, Livingston, Linn, Macon, Shelby, Ralls, Marion
Highway system

* United States Numbered Highway System

* List
* Special
* Divided

* Missouri State Highway System

* Interstate
* US
* State
* Supplemental

| ←  I-35| | →  Route 37

|
|

U.S. Route 36 (US 36) in the state of Missouri is an expressway with many freeway sections, connecting Kansas to Illinois. From Cameron to the Illinois state line, it forms part of the principal route between Kansas City and Chicago, known as the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway.

All of US 36 in Missouri is named the V.F.W. Memorial Highway.[2]

## Route description

[edit]

U.S. Route 36 in Missouri runs from the Pony Express Bridge over the Missouri River in St. Joseph to the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River in Hannibal. After leaving the Missouri River valley, U.S. 36 then links major cities in Northern Missouri with Kansas City and cities in the east. From Cameron to the Illinois state line, it is overlapped with Route 110, also known as the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway. Starting in St. Joseph, it passes through the cities of Cameron, Hamilton, Chillicothe, Macon, Shelbina, Monroe City, and Brookfield. The final 2 miles (3.2 km) of US 36 in Missouri is concurrent with I-72. The route passes through mostly flat, fertile, productive farmland. Even though there are some surface intersections, U.S. 36 has many grade-separated interchanges and town bypasses that suggest a future extension of I-72 west from Hannibal.

## History

[edit]

US 36 across Missouri parallels the route of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, which was the reason St. Joseph was selected for the Pony Express. The two towns were the second and third largest cities in the State of Missouri prior to the American Civil War. Prior to the establishment of the railroad in the late 1850s, the stagecoach route was called the "Hound Dog Trail."[3]

The road was originally Route 8 from 1922 to 1926, before being designated as US 36. Over the years some busier sections were widened to four lanes. On August 3, 2005, residents of Macon, Marion, Monroe, Shelby, and Ralls counties approved Proposition 36B, which excluded Ralls County from the Transportation Development District, and allowed for a 4-lane US 36 to be constructed without Ralls County's participation. On July 10, 2010, work was completed and the route ceremonially opened making US 36 a four-lane highway across the entire state, saving considerable travel time.[4]

## Future

[edit]

Presently, I-72 ends at US 61 (Avenue of the Saints) in Hannibal and was planned to extend westward to St. Joseph along US 36, but the proposal was shelved for years. In the interim, further lengthening was proposed by Marion County who published a five-item transportation list that was finalized by the County Commission on February 16, 2016, adding US 36, from the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge across the Mississippi River to the split of US 24 and US 36 near Rocket Plaza, as a new priority. Citing potential benefits including economic development and marketing of Hannibal Lakeside Industrial Park, the Commission advocate extending I-72 west approximately seven miles (11 km).[5] In May 2023, the extension plans of I-72 to St. Joseph were renewed under the belief it would relieve traffic off of I-70.[6] However, in July 2023, a bill to run a $2.5 million study was vetoed by Governor Mike Parson who said that it was not the right time to run the study.[7]

## Major intersections

[edit]

All exits are unnumbered.

County| Location| mi[1]| km| Destinations| Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Missouri River| 0.000| 0.000|
US-36 west / California National Historic Trail / Pony Express National Historic Trail – Elwood| Continuation into Kansas
Pony Express Bridges; Kansas–Missouri state line
Buchanan| St. Joseph| 0.195–
0.204| 0.314–
0.328|

Route 759 to I-229 / US 59 north / 4th Street – Central Business District, Stockyards| Interchange; 4th St. not signed eastbound; westbound signed as Route 759/4th St. only
0.296–
0.489| 0.476–
0.787|  I-229 / US 59 – Kansas City, Central Business District| Interchange; no access to northbound I-229 from eastbound US 36 and no access to westbound US 36 from southbound I-229; exit 4B on I-229; western end of freeway section at traffic light for I-229 NB entrance ramp
0.573–
0.670| 0.922–
1.078|
I-29 BL north (10th Street)| Westbound entrance includes direct entrance ramp from 8th Street
1.440| 2.317| 22nd Street|
1.956| 3.148| 28th Street|
2.966–
3.456| 4.773–
5.562|  US 169 (Belt Highway)|
3.580–
4.079| 5.761–
6.565|  I-29 / US 71 – Kansas City, Council Bluffs| Exits 46A-B on I-29
5.059| 8.142|  Route AC (Riverside Road)|
6.032| 9.708| Ag Expo Way|
Marion Township| 11.743| 18.899|
Route 31 south – Gower| Western end of Route 31 overlap
DeKalb| Washington Township| 15.925| 25.629|

Route 31 north to Route 6 – King City| Eastern end of Route 31 overlap
Colfax Township| 24.787| 39.891|
Route 33 south – Plattsburg| Western end of Route 33 overlap
27.186| 43.752|
Route 33 north / Route M – Maysville, Lathrop| Eastern end of Route 33 overlap
Cameron| 32.892| 52.935|

US 36 Bus. east (Grand Avenue)|
33.693–
34.056| 54.224–
54.808|

US 69 / I-35 BL south / US 36 Bus. west (Walnut Street)| Western end of Loop 35 overlap
34.538–
34.700| 55.584–
55.844|

I-35 / Route 110 (CKC) south / I-35 BL ends – Kansas City, Des Moines| Eastern end of Loop 35 overlap; western end of Route 110 overlap
Caldwell| Hamilton Township| 44.460| 71.551|

US 36 Bus. east – Hamilton|
Hamilton| 46.603| 75.000|

US 36 Bus. west / Route 13 – Gallatin, Kingston| Interchange
Livingston| Chillicothe| 71.594–
71.852| 115.219–
115.635|

US 65 east / US 36 Bus. – Chillicothe, Carrollton| Interchange
72.459| 116.611|

US 36 Bus. west|
Linn| Parson Creek Township| 85.054| 136.881|

Route 139 north / Route W south – Meadville| Western end of Route 139 overlap. Access to Fountain Grove Conservation Area
Jefferson Township| 89.952| 144.764|
Route 130 south| Access to Pershing State Park
Laclede| 91.830| 147.786|

Route 5 north / Route 139 south – Laclede, Linneus, Sumner| Eastern end of Route 139 overlap; western end of Route 5 overlap
Brookfield| 95.515| 153.716|

US 36 Bus. east – Brookfield|
97.359| 156.684|

US 36 Bus. west / Route 11 – Brookfield, Mendon|
Marceline–Bucklin
township line| 104.265–
104.717| 167.798–
168.526|

Route U north / Route 5 south – Marceline| Interchange; eastern end of Route 5 overlap
Bucklin Township| 107.000| 172.200|
Route 129 north – Bucklin| Western end of Route 129 overlap
Macon| Lingo Township| 112.553| 181.136|
Route 129 south – Wien| Eastern end of Route 129 overlap
114.575–
115.042| 184.391–
185.142|

Route 149 north / Route P south – New Cambria, Ethel| Interchange
Callao Township| 121.166–
121.731| 194.998–
195.907|  Route 3 – Callao, Kaseyville| Interchange
Bevier Township| 124.603–
124.993| 200.529–
201.157|

Route O north / Route C south – Bevier| Interchange
Hudson Township| 127.873–
128.316| 205.792–
206.505| Long Branch Lake Road| Interchange. Access to Long Branch State Park
Macon| 130.053–
130.356| 209.300–
209.788|  US 63 – Kirksville, Moberly, Columbia| Interchange
Hudson Township| 132.978| 214.007|

US 36 Bus. east – Macon|
Shelby| Clarence| 141.119–
141.645| 227.109–
227.956|

US 36 Bus. east / Route 151 – Clarence| Interchange
142.403| 229.175|

US 36 Bus. west|
Shelbina| 152.972| 246.185|

US 36 Bus. east|
153.710–
154.120| 247.372–
248.032|  Route 15 – Shelbina, Paris, Shelbyville| Interchange
154.792| 249.114|

US 36 Bus. west|
Marion| Monroe City| 170.138| 273.811|

US 36 Bus. east – Monroe City|
Ralls| 171.969–
172.490| 276.757–
277.596|

US 24 west / US 36 Bus. west / Route Z – Monroe City| Interchange, western end of US 24 overlap; future western end of I-72. Access to Mark Twain State Park and Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site
Marion| Miller Township| 184.089–
184.442| 296.263–
296.831|
US 24 east – Palmyra| Eastern end of US 24 overlap, west end of freeway section
Hannibal| 187.716–
188.111| 302.100–
302.735| Shinn Lane|
189.141–
189.557| 304.393–
305.062| Veterans Road|
190.604–
190.955| 306.747–
307.312|

I-72 begins / US 61 (McMasters Avenue / Avenue of the Saints) / US 36 Bus. east / Great River Road – Palmyra, New London| Western end of I-72 overlap. Access to Hannibal-LaGrange University
191.573–
192.123| 308.307–
309.192|

US 36 Bus. west / Route 79 south / Great River Road – Louisiana, Downtown Hannibal| Exit 157 along I-72. Access to Mark Twain Historic District
Mississippi River| 192.660| 310.056| Mark Twain Memorial Bridge; Missouri–Illinois state line

I-72 east / US 36 east / IL 110 (CKC) north – Springfield, Chicago| Continuation into Illinois
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

* Concurrency terminus
* Incomplete access

## Special routes

[edit]

Number  | Length (mi)[1] | Length (km)  | Southern or western terminus  | Northern or eastern terminus  | Formed  | Removed  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

US 36 Bus. | 1.6[8] | 2.6  | US 36 near the Missouri River in St. Joseph | US 36 / US 59 Bus. / US 71 Bus. in St. Joseph  | 01959-01-011959 | 01963-01-011963  | Served St. Joseph

US 36 Bus. | 1.504 | 2.420  | US 36 in western Cameron | US 36 / US 69 / Loop 35 in Cameron  | 01964-01-011964 | current  | Serves Cameron

US 36 Bus. | 2.807 | 4.517  | US 36 in Hamilton Township | US 36 / Route 13 in Hamilton | 01962-01-011962 | current  | Serves Hamilton

US 36 Bus. | 1.042 | 1.677  | US 36 / US 65 in Chillicothe | US 36 in Chillicothe  | — | —  | Serves Chillicothe

US 36 Bus. | 2.769 | 4.456  | US 36 west of Brookfield | US 36 / Route 11 in Brookfield  | 01955-01-011955 | current  | Serves Brookfield

US 36 Bus. | 2.827 | 4.550  | US 63 in Macon | US 36 east of Macon  | 01973-01-011973[9] | current  | Serves Macon

US 36 Spur | 1.0[10] | 1.6  | US 36 west of Macon | Bourke Street in Macon  | 01956-01-011956 | 01973-01-011973[9] | Former spur into Macon

US 36 Bus. | 1.498 | 2.411  | N. 1st Street in Clarence | US 36 east of Clarence  | — | —  | Serves Clarence

US 36 Bus. | 1.772 | 2.852  | US 36 west of Shelbina | US 36 in eastern Shelbina  | 01968-01-011968[11] | current  | Serves Shelbina

US 36 Bus. | 2.461 | 3.961  | US 36 in western Monroe City | US 24 / US 36 / Route Z in northeastern Monroe City  | 01976-01-011976[12] | current  | Serves Monroe City

US 36 City | 1.88 | 3.03  | — | —  | — | 01960-12-071960  | Served Hannibal from 1940s to 1960s

US 36 Bus. | 3.6[13] | 5.8  | US 36 / US 61 in Hannibal | I-72 / US 36 / Route 79 in Hannibal  | 01960-01-011960 | 02013-01-012013  | Served Hannibal

* Former

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Missouri Department of Transportation (August 13, 2014). MoDOT HPMAPS (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
2. ^ "A Look at Missouri's Named Highways and Bridges". Associated Press. August 24, 2002 - via LexisNexis.
3. ^ The Hound Dog Trail: The Economy of Cameron - cameron-mo.com - Retrieved November 15, 2007
4. ^ Tigue, Kristoffer (April 9, 2018). "Why Missouri officials are celebrating U.S. 36 for its innovation". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
5. ^ Henley, Danny. "Hannibal Expressway Tabbed as Ralls County Priority". Hannibal Courier. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
6. ^ "State lawmakers approve $2.5M study on new Missouri interstate". FOX 2. May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
7. ^ Griffin, Marshall (July 31, 2023). "Gov. Parson explains why he vetoed an I-72 study". Missourinet. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
8. ^ "US 36 St. Joseph business route" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
9. ^ a b U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee (November 10, 1973). "U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee Agenda Showing Action Taken by the Executive Committee" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Retrieved August 13, 2014 - via Wikisource.
10. ^ "US 63 Macon spur" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
11. ^ U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee (June 18, 1968). "U.S. Route Numbering Subcommittee Agenda Showing Action Taken by the Executive Committee" (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway Officials. Retrieved August 13, 2014 - via Wikisource.
12. ^ Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (July 13, 1976). "Route Numbering Committee Agenda Showing Action Taken by the Executive Committee" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Retrieved August 13, 2014 - via Wikimedia Commons.
13. ^ "US 36 Hannibal business route" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved August 13, 2014.

## External links

[edit]

KML file (edit • help)

Template:Attached KML/U.S. Route 36 in Missouri

KML is from Wikidata

U.S. Route 36

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