U.S. Route 45 Alternate

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U.S. Route 45 Alternate (US 45 Alt) is a 62.9-mile-long route in northeastern Mississippi. It serves as an alternate path to US 45, running from Brooksville to Shannon, just south of Tupelo. For most of its length it is a four-lane divided expressway with interchanges at major roads, except through West Point where it becomes an undivided four-lane boulevard through the city.

Route overview
- Start: Interchange with US 45 in Brooksville.
- It bypasses downtown Brooksville, then heads northwest.
- Passes near Brooksville’s MS 388 intersection.
- Enters Lowndes County and bypasses Crawford, with MS 245 passing through the area.
- Moves through Mayhew, where it has a large interchange with US 82 / MS 12 and becomes concurrent with MS 25 for a short stretch.
- Continues into Clay County, passing Tibbee and near Tibbee Creek.
- Enters West Point as an undivided boulevard, goes through the business district, and meets MS 50 in downtown West Point.
- Leaves West Point and widens back to a divided highway.
- Crosses into Monroe County, where MS 25 splits toward Aberdeen at Muldon.
- Intersects MS 382 and has an interchange with MS 8 before briefly entering Chickasaw County.
- Passes through Egypt and meets the southern end of the second section of MS 245.
- Re-enters Monroe County and bypasses Okolona on the east side, with an interchange at MS 41.
- Crosses Tubbalubba Creek into Pine Grove, then enters Lee County at Pine Grove Road.
- Crosses Chiwapa Creek and enters Shannon, ending at an interchange with US 45 / US 278 / MS 145. From there, US 45 continues north as a freeway toward Tupelo and I-22.

History in brief
- 1932–1940: The route was designated MS 23, running from Starkville to Shannon.
- 1940–1968: Renumbered MS 45W.
- 1968: MS 45W was renumbered US 45 Alternate (US 45 Alt), its current designation.
- 1998: A bypass around Okolona opened, and US 45 Alt was rerouted onto the new divided highway.
- 2007: More sections were upgraded to four-lane status, including Crawford bypass and designation of MS 245 along the old route from Okolona to Shannon.

Notes
- US 45 Alt is one of only two signed special routes in Mississippi; the other is US-49E/US-49W in the delta region.