| Tesson Ferry Road | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by MoDOT | ||||
| Length | 188 mi (303 km) | |||
| Existed | 1922–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  AR 115 at the Arkansas state line | |||
| Major intersections | ||||
| North end |  Route 30 in Affton | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Missouri | |||
| Counties | Ripley, Carter, Reynolds, Iron, Washington, Jefferson, St. Louis | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Route 21 is a highway in eastern Missouri. Its northern terminus is at Route 30 in Affton. Its southern terminus is at the Arkansas–Missouri state line (where it continues as Highway 115). In the St. Louis area, it is known as Tesson Ferry Road, which was named after the 19th century proprietor of the ferry across the Meramec River. Route 21 from the Meramec River to Route B, along with Route M, make up the Jefferson County Scenic Byway.[1][2]
Route M' is a short arterial highway. It is a major east–west route which connects Route 21 to Interstate 55. For the majority of its length, Route M is a four-lane divided highway with limited access. At its junction with Interstate 55, Route M becomes an undivided two lane road until its eastern terminus at U.S. 61/US 67. Route M was rerouted to its present location in the late 1990s after traffic became too great for the original road to handle. The original route is now known as Old Route M.
History
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The section through northern Jefferson County was considered dangerous. As a result, the road was rerouted and built to freeway standards. Construction to reroute the highway to just south of Hillsboro was completed on December 15, 2008, and Route 21 is currently freeway standard from Route 141 to Highway B. Plans to extend the freeway south to De Soto have been approved, but funds are lacking to complete this part of the project.[3]
Route description
Route 21 begins at the Arkansas state line, where it continues southward as Highway 115. As the highway enters Ripley County, it passes through the city of Doniphan, where it intersects US 160 and Route 142. Route 21 runs concurrently with US 160 for a short distance before separating east of Doniphan.[4]
Continuing northward, Route 21 enters Carter County, where it meets US 60 near Van Buren. The highway briefly overlaps US 60 before diverging and heading northeast into Reynolds County. In Reynolds County, Route 21 passes through Ellington, where it intersects Route 72 and continues northward toward Iron County.[4]
Upon reaching Iron County, Route 21 enters Arcadia and Pilot Knob, where it intersects Route 221. The highway then continues northward, passing through Washington County and reaching Potosi, where it meets Route 8. Further north, Route 21 intersects Route 47 near Old Mines before entering Jefferson County.[4]
In Jefferson County, Route 21 passes through De Soto, where it intersects Route 110. The highway continues northward, reaching Barnhart, where it meets Route M and Route MM. As Route 21 enters the St. Louis metropolitan area, it becomes a major arterial road known as Tesson Ferry Road, and passes through Concord and intersecting I-270. The highway then reaches its northern terminus at Route 30 in Affton.[4]
Major intersections
| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ripley | | 0.000 | 0.000 |  AR 115 south – Pocahontas | Arkansas state line |
| | 8.578 | 13.805 |   Route 142 west – Gatewood | Southern end of Route 142 overlap | |
| | 9.825 | 15.812 |  US 160 west – Alton | Southern end of US 160 overlap | |
| Doniphan | 11.714 | 18.852 |  Route 142 east – Business District | Northern end of Route 142 overlap | |
| | 13.677 | 22.011 | US 160 east – Poplar Bluff | Northern end of US 160 overlap | |
| Carter | | 36.031 | 57.986 |  US 60 east – Poplar Bluff | Southern end of US 60 overlap |
| | 45.608 | 73.399 |   US 60 west / Route 34 begins – Van Buren | Northern end of US 60 overlap; southern end of Route 34 overlap | |
| Reynolds | | 48.959 | 78.792 | Route 34 east – Clearwater Dam, Piedmont | Northern end of Route 34 overlap |
| Ellington | 65.112 | 104.788 |  Route 106 west – Owls Bend, Eminence, Business District | ||
| | 77.088 | 124.061 |  Route 72 west – Bunker | Southern end of Route 72 overlap | |
| | 85.027 | 136.838 |   Route 49 north – Black, Oates | Southern end of Route 49 overlap | |
| Iron | | 98.252 | 158.121 | Route 49 south – Annapolis | Northern end of Route 49 overlap |
| Arcadia | 107.967 | 173.756 | Route 72 east | Northern end of Route 72 overlap | |
| Pilot Knob | 110.072 | 177.144 |  Route 221 north | ||
| | 119.405 | 192.164 |  Route 32 west | Southern end of Route 32 overlap | |
| Washington | Caledonia | 123.672 | 199.031 | Route 32 east – Bismarck | Northern end of Route 32 overlap |
| Potosi | 135.913 | 218.731 |  Route 8 – Potosi, Leadwood | ||
| Old Mines | 142.085 | 228.664 |  Route 47 south – Bonne Terre | Southern end of Route 47 overlap | |
| | 147.011 | 236.591 | Route 47 north – Richwoods | Northern end of Route 47 overlap | |
| Washington State Park | 149.523 | 240.634 |  Route 104 east | ||
| 150.912 | 242.869 | Route 104 west | |||
| Jefferson | | 161.379 | 259.714 |  Route 110 east | |
| Hillsboro | 165.177 | 265.827 |  Route B begins / Business 21 | Southern end of Route B overlap | |
| | 165.547 | 266.422 | Route B north | Northern end of Route B overlap; southern end of freeway | |
| Hillsboro | 167.854 | 270.135 |  Route A / Business 21 | ||
| | 169.236 | 272.359 | Hayden Road | ||
| | 172.575 | 277.733 | Old Route 21 - Goldman | ||
| | 175.162 | 281.896 | Old Route 21 / Schenk Road | ||
| Otto | 177.733 | 286.034 |   Route MM / Route M – House Springs, Barnhart | ||
| | 180.341 | 290.231 | Old Route 21 - Shady Valley | ||
| | 184.555 | 297.012 | Old Route 21 - Meramec Heights | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |
| | 185.469 | 298.483 |  Route 141 – Fenton, Arnold | Interchange; northern end of freeway | |
| | 185.864 | 299.119 | Meramec Bottom Road | ||
| St. Louis | Concord | 190.517 | 306.607 |  I-270 – Chicago, Memphis | I-270 exit 2 |
| 191.717 | 308.539 |    US 50 / US 61 / US 67 (Lindbergh Boulevard) | |||
| Affton | 194.126 | 312.416 | Route 30 (Gravois Road) | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
Related routes
Hillsboro business spur
| Location | Hillsboro |
|---|---|
Route 21 Business (Route 21 Bus.) follows the old alignment of Route 21 through the city of Hillsboro. It begins at the intersection of Route 21 and Route B on the southern edge of the city, and continues north to the intersection of Route A and Old Route 21, where it ends. Route 21 Bus. is the only way one can now reach Route BB, as the rerouting of Route 21 bypasses the road.
Route M
| Location | Otto–Barnhart |
|---|---|
| Length | 7.478 mi[5] (12.035 km) |
| Existed | c. 1953–present |
Route M begins as a four-lane divided highway at a diamond interchange with Route 21 near the community of Otto. West of the interchange, the highway is called Route MM. The highway heads east for less than 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) where it has a partial cloverleaf interchange with the former alignment of Route 21, appropriately named Old Route 21.[6] It continues east where there are two turn-offs which connect to nearby grade-separated highways. The first highway is the former alignment of Route M (Old Route M), the second is Old Lemay Ferry Road near the community of Antonia. Only the eastbound lanes have direct access to Old Lemay Ferry Road. Access is provided to the westbound lanes via median u-turn crossovers on either side of the intersection.[7]
Route M continues east, where it has two at-grade intersections before entering Barnhart; one at St. Luke's Church Road and the other at Moss Hollow Road. At Barnhart, the intersection with Marriott Parkway connects Interstate 55 traffic with gas stations and retail stores. As of December 2009[update], the I-55 interchange was being reconstructed to better handle access to southbound I-55.[8] East of the I-55 interchange, Route M becomes a two-lane highway and ends a mile (1.6 km) later at a T intersection with U.S. Route 61 / U.S. Route 67.[6]
Route M, along with Route 21, make up the Jefferson County Scenic Byway.[9][10]
Due to an increasing number of accidents at the intersection of Route M with Old Lemay Ferry Road, MoDOT rebuilt the intersection in 2007, with the eastbound lanes only having access to Old Lemay Ferry Road. Turnarounds built short distances east and west of the intersection allow access to and from the westbound lanes.[7] On December 7, 2009, access to southbound I-55 was closed when MoDOT began a project to rebuild the interchange. The project was scheduled to last through the end of 2010. Southbound access to I-55 from Route M, which had featured a loop ramp, was being relocated to a new roundabout on Metropolitan Boulevard, which will also connect to a park and ride.[8] As of 2011, the interchange is fully open. Southbound I-55 access is possible through a roundabout.
The entire route is in Jefferson County. All exits are unnumbered.
| Location | mi[5] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otto | 0.000 | 0.000 | Route MM | Continuation as Route MM | |
| 0.154– 0.171 | 0.248– 0.275 |  Route 21 – Hillsboro, St. Louis | Diamond interchange | ||
| 0.541 | 0.871 | Old Route 21 | Partial cloverleaf interchange | ||
| 1.323 | 2.129 | To Old Route M | |||
| Antonia | 2.423 | 3.899 | Old Lemay Ferry Road | Eastbound access only; westbound access via median u-turn crossovers | |
| | 4.273 | 6.877 | St. Luke's Church Road | ||
| | 5.126 | 8.249 | Moss Hollow Road | ||
| Barnhart | 6.372 | 10.255 | Caitlin Road | ||
| 6.797– 6.815 | 10.939– 10.968 |  I-55 / Metropolitan Boulevard – Festus, St. Louis | Partial cloverleaf interchange with I-55; access to southbound I-55 is available via a roundabout; end of four-lane segment | ||
| 7.478 | 12.035 | US 61 / US 67 | Eastern terminus | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
Connector route
A 0.22-mile (0.35 km) connector between Route M and Old Lemay Ferry Road exists in Jefferson County.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Scenic Byway Plan". Jefferson County, Missouri. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ^ Jefferson County examines 'scenic byways' designation for routes 21 and M Archived July 15, 2012(Date mismatch), at archive.today
- ^ "Route 21 Improvements (Route B to Desoto)". Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Missouri Department of Transportation (2021). Official Highway Map (Map) (2021–2022 ed.). Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Transportation.
- ^ a b Missouri Department of Transportation (July 3, 2013). MoDOT HPMAPS (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ a b General Highway Map Jefferson County (PDF) (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ a b Missouri Department of Transportation. "South County/North Jefferson County projects - Completed". Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ a b Missouri Department of Transportation. "Southbound I-55 improvements at Route M". Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ Jefferson County, Missouri (2000). "Scenic ByWay Plan". Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ AuBuchon, Sarah (July 31, 2007). "Jefferson County examines 'scenic byways' designation for routes 21 and M". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
- ^ Kurz, Don (May 21, 2013). Scenic Routes & Byways the Ozarks: Including the Ouachita Mountains. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7627-9540-6.
External links
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