House Bill 1594

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO DESIGNATE THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI HISTORIC BYWAY AS AN OFFICIAL MISSISSIPPI SCENIC BYWAY PURSUANT TO THE MISSISSIPPI SCENIC BYWAY PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The following highways, roads and streets located in the State of Mississippi are hereby designated as an official Mississippi scenic byway to be known as the "Lower Mississippi Historic Scenic Byway," pursuant to Section 65-41-1 et seq.:

Begin on U.S. Highway 61 at the Issaquena County line and travel south along U.S. Highway 61 in Warren County, to Business 61 (North Washington Street); travel north on Washington Street to downtown Vicksburg. Continue traveling on Washington Street as it merges into Warrington Road; travel Warrington Road to U.S. Highway 61; continue on U.S. Highway 61 South to Claiborne County.

Upon entering Claiborne County, continue traveling south on U.S. Highway 61. At Grand Gulf Road, travel west to Grand Gulf Military Park. Turn on Grand Gulf Road to U.S. Highway 61. Travel south on U.S. Highway 61 to Port Gibson. U.S. Highway 61 at Port Gibson is also known as "Church Street." At the intersection of Church Street and Orange Street, travel west on Orange Street, past the Claiborne County Courthouse to Market Street. Travel south on Market Street four (4) blocks, past Mississippi Cultural Crossroads, Matt Ross Administrative Building, Harriette Pearson Memorial Library and Meyer Marx Building until you reach Carroll Street. Return to Church Street and travel south on U.S. Highway 61 to Jefferson County. This corridor also includes Rodney Road, which is Carroll Street (west of Market Street). Travel west on Rodney Road, past the Shaifer House and grounds; travel past the Ruins of Windsor where Rodney Road merges into Highway 552. Travel past Alcorn State University on Highway 552 back to U.S. Highway 61.

Travel south on U.S. Highway 61 until you reach Adams County and continue on U.S. Highway 61 through the City of Natchez to U.S. Highway 61/84 Interchange; travel west on U.S. Highway 84 to the Natchez Intermodal Center at the Mississippi River Bridge. Return to U.S. Highway 61/84 interchange and travel south on U.S. Highway 61 through the southern portion of Natchez to Wilkinson County. Traveling south on U.S. Highway 61 through Woodville to the Louisiana state line. This terminates the Lower Mississippi Historic Byway.

(2) Outdoor advertising as identified in the Lower Mississippi Historic Byway Corridor Management Plan shall be allowed on U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 84 within the corporate limits of the impacted municipalities along the byway subject to the zoning and signage statutes and ordinances of the state and the impacted municipalities. Outdoor advertising outside of a municipality's corporate limit must be in compliance with applicable local, state and federal guidelines.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.