Missouri Route 6


Route 6 is a state highway in the northern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. It travels from I-29 Bus./U.S. [Route 169 in Missouri|US 169] in St. Joseph to U.S. [Route 24 in Missouri|US 24]/U.S. [Route 61 in Missouri|US 61] about west of Quincy, Illinois. The highway serves as a major east-west corridor in northern Missouri Route 6, south of U.S. [Route 136 in Missouri|US 136] and north of U.S. [Route 36 in Missouri|US 36]. If only a few miles longer in each direction, would be the only state highway to cross Missouri west to east. It is one of the original 1922 highways in Missouri.

Route description

Beginning at I-29 Bus. and US 169 in St. Joseph, Route 6 travels eastward through Buchanan County. Shortly after its starting point, the highway intersects I-29 at exit 47 before continuing east into DeKalb County. In DeKalb County, Route 6 overlaps with Route 31 for a short distance before passing through Maysville, where it intersects Route 33.
Continuing eastward, Route 6 enters Daviess County, where it crosses I-35 at exit 64 near Winston. The highway then runs concurrent with U.S. [Route 69 in Missouri|US 69] for a brief stretch before reaching Gallatin, where it intersects Route 13. East of Gallatin, Route 6 passes through rural areas before entering Grundy County, where it intersects U.S. [Route 65 in Missouri|US 65] in Trenton.
Leaving Trenton, Route 6 continues eastward into Sullivan County, where it intersects Route 5 in Milan. The highway then enters Adair County, passing through Novinger before reaching Kirksville. In Kirksville, Route 6 intersects U.S. [Route 63 in Missouri|US 63] and Route 11, forming a brief concurrency before separating again east of the city.
East of Kirksville, Route 6 enters Knox County, where it intersects Route 15 near Edina. The highway continues eastward through Lewis County, passing through La Belle and Lewistown before reaching Marion County. In Marion County, Route 6 intersects US 24 and US 61 near Taylor, marking its eastern terminus approximately six miles west of Quincy, Illinois.

History

Route 6 was one of the original Missouri [State Highway System|Missouri state highways] formed in 1922, and construction continues into the mid-1920s. Originally it was a gravel or earthen surface with the most developed portions being around Trenton and Milan. By 1955, the highway was fully paved across the state.

Major intersections