| Perry County Line reference signage on U.S. 98 eastbound. Traffic tends to be light on U.S. 98, with the bulk made up by out of state traffic from Jackson, Memphis, Tennessee, and points north and west traveling to and from the upper Gulf Coast and Interstate 10. Photo taken 06/01.
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| Mississippi 29 shield assembly on U.S. 98 eastbound. Mississippi 29 is a rural route between Wiggins and New Augusta, much of which enshrined in the De Soto National Forest. The approximately to New Augusta sees this stretch at a 45 mph speed limit for a short distance. Otherwise, all of U.S. 98 is posted at 65 mph between Interstate 59 and the Alabama state line. Photo taken 06/01.
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| Downtown New Augusta guide signage for Mississippi 29 northbound on U.S. 98 eastbound. Mississippi 29 continues as a relative backroad between New Augusta and Ellisville (to the southwest of Laurel). Photo taken 06/01.
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| Approaching the Beaumont segment of Mississippi 198. This is one of numerous stretches of old U.S. 98 kept within the state highway system as Mississippi 198. Mississippi 15 also sees its return from the obscurity, beginning at this upcoming interchange. Photo taken 06/01.
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| U.S. 98 travels over Mississippi 15/198 and sees a partial cloverleaf interchange with those highways. Mississippi 15 is split between two segments, one between U.S. 90 and Mississippi 26, the other between this junction and the Tennessee state line near Walnut. Photo taken 06/01.
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| Crossing into Greene County on U.S. 98, near the western terminus of the McLain portion of Mississippi 198. McLain, like Beaumont, is a sleepy small town with a population of 536. The south Mississippi 57 trailblazer is in relation to the fact that Mississippi 57 overlaps the eastern half of Mississippi 198. Photo taken 06/01.
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| The U.S. 98/Mississippi 57 overlap on eastbound.
Mississippi 57 from McLain to Leakesville is an east-west orientated highway, although still signed as
north-south. Mississippi 57 was at one point Mississippi 59. At that point the route terminated
at then U.S. 98 in McLain. The portion from McLain eastward to Leakesville was signed as Mississippi 594.
Leakesville (pop. 1,129) is the county seat for Greene County and is 15 miles from this location.
Photo taken 04/25/02.
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| Crossing the Chickasawhay River on U.S. 98 eastbound. The waterway brings water from the Meridian vicinity southward to the Pascagoula River nearby. The next stop for U.S. 98 is the Lucedale vicinity. Photo taken 06/01.
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| Advance guide signage on U.S. 98 eastbound for the Mississippi 63 expressway bypass of Lucedale. This new alignment of Mississippi 63 allows traffic to continue northward to U.S. 98 uninterrupted with a 65 mph speed limit. Photo taken 06/01.
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| Mississippi 63 shield assembly on U.S. 98 eastbound. This is one of only two signs that indicate Mississippi 63 northbound is to overlap with U.S. 98 to the original routing. Otherwise, signage in Lucedale itself retains Mississippi 63 shields throughout the old alignment. Photo taken 06/01.
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| A standard diamond interchange facilitates movement between the two corridors. The Mississippi 63 guide signage is affixed with a green-out over the future northern control city of Leakesville. The south sign tab is temporary as well, as eventually the expressway of Mississippi 63 is to extend northward. Photo taken 06/01.
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| Detail of the Mississippi 63 guide signage at the eastbound U.S. 98 exit. Both highways are lightly traveled, so only a diamond interchange is needed. Interestingly enough, the 2000 opened highway extends about 150 feet north of U.S. 98, and already has a southbound guide sign for U.S. 98 west in place. Photo taken 12/08/00.
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| Here is what the interchange looked like when the new alignment was still under construction. This interchange, one of two on the new bypass, opened for business fall of 2000. There is also an interchange with Mississippi 26 to the south. Photo taken 10/20/99.
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| This is what U.S. 98 looks like as it heads eastward from the Mississippi 63 overpasses. This photograph was also taken during construction. Note that the exit ramps were just composed of red clay bases at this point. Photo taken 10/20/99.
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| Flashers delineate traffic movements at the U.S. 98 and Mississippi 63 intersection. Mississippi 26 trailblazers are present in both directions, as Mississippi 63 was the primary route to that east-west thoroughfare that ends in downtown Lucedale. Northward, Leakesville is situated 17 miles away. Photo taken 08/21/01.
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| MDOT standard is to place 4-Lane Ends advisory signage at the end of any expressway type alignment. Since U.S. 98 carries a 65 mph speed limit and no traffic lights between the Alabama state line and Hattiesburg, it definitely fits that category. Photo taken 06/01.
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| The signs in the above photograph did not lie, as U.S. 98 indeed narrows to two lanes at the Escatawpa River crossing for the Alabama state line. This section of highway was repaved Winter of 2000/2001. Photo taken 06/01.
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| The Escatawpa River as seen from the right-hand shoulder of U.S. 98 westbound. This two lane bridge is in the process of receiving a twin span. The new bridge that is under construction will carry the eastbound lanes. Photo taken 06/01.
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| Although this photograph is actually just across the state line, it is a fitting end to this U.S. 98 phototour throughout southeastern Mississippi. This two lane version of U.S. 98 persists eastward to Semmes, a distance of roughly ten miles. Bypasses for Semmes and Wilmer are in the planning stage, and all of U.S. 98 will eventually be four-laned between Hattiesburg and downtown Mobile. Photo taken 06/01.
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Page Updated February 22, 2004.
