James River Freeway
Encyclopedia
James River Freeway is a fourteen mile (21 km)-long freeway located largely on the south side of Springfield, Missouri
. Its western terminus is at Interstate 44 north of Brookline
and its eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 65 in southeastern Springfield. It is named for the James River
, which passes near the highway at the freeway's eastern terminus. A total of four highways (and one business route
) are routed on the highway: Route 360, U.S. Route 60, U.S. Route 160, Route 13, and Business U.S. Route 65. A railroad (low-volume) crosses the freeway a few hundred feet west of the US 65 intersection. James River Freeway is part of a proposed Interstate 66
across southern Missouri.
(now part of Republic). Exit markers for the highway mark the road as the James River Freeway and have no control cities, only "To Route 60" eastbound and "To Interstate 44" westbound.
The control cities between US 60 and US 65 are Republic
westbound and Rogersville
eastbound. At US 65, they are Springfield
westbound and Cabool
eastbound.
(east of the interchange) now became Glenstone Avenue. Republic Road also crosses over the same interchange and continues east. At this point, Route M was routed down the freeway and Republic Road became a city street.
37°07′43.34"N 93°14′18.10"W
, at a public meeting on November 29, 2007. So far this is a low priority project and no money is available to begin the project anytime soon.
Just north of this intersection, a safer underpass will be created for E. Bradford Parkway to remove the at-grade intersection with National Avenue. Both of these projects were funded through a partnership between MODOT, the City of Springfield, and Cox Health Systems.
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. Its western terminus is at Interstate 44 north of Brookline
Brookline, Missouri
Brookline is a former village in Greene County, Missouri, United States. The population was 326 at the 2000 census. In 2005, Brookline consolidated with the city of Republic after a vote of the residents of both communities approved the consolidation. The individual names of Brookline and Republic...
and its eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 65 in southeastern Springfield. It is named for the James River
James River (Missouri)
The James River is a river in southern Missouri. Its source is near the town of Diggins in Webster County. It begins on a northwesterly course, then turns southwest near Northview and passes near Springfield...
, which passes near the highway at the freeway's eastern terminus. A total of four highways (and one business route
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
) are routed on the highway: Route 360, U.S. Route 60, U.S. Route 160, Route 13, and Business U.S. Route 65. A railroad (low-volume) crosses the freeway a few hundred feet west of the US 65 intersection. James River Freeway is part of a proposed Interstate 66
Interstate 66 (west)
The U.S. Department of Transportation had plans to extend Interstate 66 westward across the country to California. However, Interstate 66 west of Wichita, Kansas, has been postponed, with the Nevada and California sections cancelled...
across southern Missouri.
Route description
The 4 miles (6 km) portion of the James River Freeway between Interstate 44 and the interchange with U.S. Route 60 and Route 413 is designated as Route 360. Other than its endpoints, there is only one interchange on the route: Route MM in BrooklineBrookline, Missouri
Brookline is a former village in Greene County, Missouri, United States. The population was 326 at the 2000 census. In 2005, Brookline consolidated with the city of Republic after a vote of the residents of both communities approved the consolidation. The individual names of Brookline and Republic...
(now part of Republic). Exit markers for the highway mark the road as the James River Freeway and have no control cities, only "To Route 60" eastbound and "To Interstate 44" westbound.
The control cities between US 60 and US 65 are Republic
Republic, Missouri
Republic is a city in Christian and Greene counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population is 14,751 according to the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
westbound and Rogersville
Rogersville, Missouri
Rogersville is a city in Greene and Webster Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population is 3,071 as of 2009. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Rogersville is located at ....
eastbound. At US 65, they are Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
westbound and Cabool
Cabool, Missouri
Cabool is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,146 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cabool has a total area of , of which is land and is water.- Origin of name :...
eastbound.
History
As Springfield began to expand to the south, traffic began to grow rapidly on Route M (known locally as Republic Road) causing significant traffic problems. A proposal for a new highway on the south side (Interstate 44 is on the north, and US 65, also a freeway, is on the east) had been around for some time. By the early 1990s, the road was under construction. It opened in four sections:Section 1
The first section connected US 160 (Campbell Avenue) with US 65. It took over a slightly reworked Glenstone Avenue which had been around previously and built not-quite to freeway standards. When the original highway had turned, an interchange was built and Glenstone Avenue turned west to become Republic Road. The new south outer roadFrontage road
A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
(east of the interchange) now became Glenstone Avenue. Republic Road also crosses over the same interchange and continues east. At this point, Route M was routed down the freeway and Republic Road became a city street.
Section 2
The second section was a relatively short section connecting Kansas Expressway and Campbell Avenue. Shortly after the road was opened, US 60 was rerouted so that it turned south on Kansas Expressway (previously, a city street), then joined the James River Freeway, continuing on east past Glenstone where the road originally joined the freeway.Section 3
The third section connected US 60 with Kansas Expressway. At the same time it was opened, West Bypass (which previously ended at Sunshine Street to the north, then US 60) was extended south and provided access to west Battlefield Road. US 60 was re-routed down the new stretch of freeway at this time and US 160 was rerouted down West Bypass, joining the freeway for a few miles before turning off again at Campbell Ave.Section 4
The final section connected Interstate 44 with US 60. Route MM had long served as a bypass on the west side of the city, running through the former town of Brookline. A two-lane road that was over capacity for its traffic. The final section served to connect these two roads, also provide traffic relief for US 65 on the east side of the city by providing a direct path from Interstate 44 on the west side of Springfield with US 60, a major east–west road on the south side of the state east of the city (much traffic had had to travel to US 65 and head south to US 60). This section, completed in 2002, was designated as Route 360.West of Interstate 44
The freeway will not be extended west of I-44 to connect it to the airport. Instead MoDOT and the city of Springfield shared in the upgrade of the I-44 and Chestnut Expressway interchange. A new road was built that connects the new terminal with Route 266 (Chestnut).Glenstone Avenue interchange
Due to continued development on the city's south side, MODOT and the city shared in the reconstruction of the Glenstone Ave. and James River Freeway interchange. Part of the interchange was moved to the south and west of the original interchange. Traffic wanting to enter James River Freeway going east will travel over the bridge and around a loop. Traffic coming from Republic Road wanting to enter JRF going east will simply take the existing on-ramp. Traffic wanting to exit from eastbound JRF to get to North Glenstone or W. Republic Road will take the new exit to get to the new part of the interchange. Traffic from westbound JRF exiting to N. Glenstone or W. Republic Rd. will use the existing exit ramp and traffic entering westbound JRF from Glestone or Republic will use the existing on-ramp. The stoplight for this part of the interchange will remain. The project was completed in December 2008.US 60 & US 65
The current cloverleaf interchange has been the source of many accidents due to the growth of the cities of Ozark, Nixa, and Branson to the south. Also, the railroad crossing, which crosses not only the freeway itself, but one of the ramps, has also resulted in numerous accidents from vehicles stopping because of a train passing or because they are required to (buses or trucks carrying hazardous materials). The current highway, James River Freeway, curves and then travels down a steep grade to the interchange with US 65 then crosses James River before going up a steep grade and curve before heading east towards Rogersville, MO. A large project will replace the two eastern loops with flyover ramps. The northbound US 65 bridge over US 60, as well as the westbound US 60 bridge over James River will be replaced. the railroad grade crossing will be removed by building four bridges over the James river and the BNSF track.37°07′43.34"N 93°14′18.10"W
East of US 65
MoDOT discussed the possibility of upgrading US 60 east of the US 65 freeway, to as far east as RogersvilleRogersville, Missouri
Rogersville is a city in Greene and Webster Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population is 3,071 as of 2009. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Rogersville is located at ....
, at a public meeting on November 29, 2007. So far this is a low priority project and no money is available to begin the project anytime soon.
National Avenue Area
A construction project was recently completed to improve traffic flow near the Cox Health buildings in southern Springfield by converting the interchange into a six-lane diverging-diamond intersection. It will be the second diverging-diamond interchange to appear in Springfield, Missouri (the first one being the Interstate 44/Kansas Expressway interchange).Just north of this intersection, a safer underpass will be created for E. Bradford Parkway to remove the at-grade intersection with National Avenue. Both of these projects were funded through a partnership between MODOT, the City of Springfield, and Cox Health Systems.
Exit list
| Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
.svg.png) – TulsaTulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's... , Springfield Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of... |
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| Republic Republic, Missouri Republic is a city in Christian and Greene counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population is 14,751 according to the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:... |
 Route MM – RepublicRepublic, Missouri Republic is a city in Christian and Greene counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population is 14,751 according to the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:... |
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  US 60 west/Route 413 |
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 US 160 west – BattlefieldBattlefield, Missouri Battlefield is a city in Greene County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,385 at the 2000 census, but is a fast growing community with approximately 5000 residents as of 2010. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town has no post office of its own,... |
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| Springfield Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of... |
 Route 13 north (Kansas Expressway) |
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| US 160 west/Route 13 south (Campbell Ave.) – Nixa Nixa, Missouri Nixa is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 12,124 at the 2000 census, though a 2009 estimate places it at 19,458. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
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| National Ave. | |||
  BUS US 65 (Glenstone Ave.), Republic Rd. |
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| US 65 – Buffalo Buffalo, Missouri Buffalo is a city in Dallas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,238 at the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Dallas County.Buffalo is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... , Branson Branson, Missouri Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s.... |