is a highway in southwest Missouri running from
Interstate 44 at
Fidelity to the
Arkansas state line where it continues as
Highway 59 . It replaced a large section of
U.S. Highway 71 and
Alternate US 71 in sections. The first section was between Lanagan and the Arkansas state line when US 71 was moved down the former
Route 88 . In the 1990s, US 71 was moved and upgraded to interstate standards from Neosho to Lanagan and Missouri 59 was extended north to Neosho. When US 71 was moved east of Joplin in the late 1990s, Alternate US 71 was decommissioned, and Missouri 59 was extended north to replace that highway. The highway was numbered after Highway 59.
Missouri 59 is a two-lane highway for its entire length except for a short section in southern Neosho where it forms a
Concurrency with Business US 71.
The highway begins at I-44 in Fidelity and heads south. There is an interchange with the northern junction with
U.S. Route 60 northeast of Neosho. The road remains two-lane (US 60 is also two-lane here) for the interchange, which was built due to numerous accidents at the former intersection. The two highways then run concurrent to the south side of Neosho. About three miles south of the 59/60 interchange is the northern junction of
Route 86 , which continues west about one half mile later. The MO 59 then curves west where it splits off from US 60 at
Business US 71 . MO 59 then unites with southbound Business 71 for about two miles until Business US 71 turns off west. MO 59 begins to turn into a windy road as it heads into
McDonald County . South of Goodman is a partial interchange with US 71.
At Anderson is a short concurrency with
Route 76 , and the road runs next to the
Kansas City Southern Railway for several miles. As Missouri 59 approaches Noel, it runs into a very scenic area, squeezed between steep bluffs and the railroad. After entering Noel, it form a short concurrency with
Route 90 and runs ''under'' some of the bluffs along the Elk River (with signs warning of low clearance for trucks). 59 then heads south again where it crosses the Arkansas state line after about 4 miles.
