Route 103 is a short highway in southeastern Missouri. Its southern terminus is at Route Z inside the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The route travels north and intersects a few county roads as it leaves the national park. The road ends at U.S. Route 60 in a three-way junction. After being proposed in 1930, a road was built from the national park to US 60 in 1933. The gravel road was designated as Route 103, and it was paved five years later.

Route 103 marker
Route 103
Map
Route 103 highlighted in cyan
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length3.832 mi[1] (6.167 km)
Existedc. 1933–present
Major junctions
South end Route Z at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways
North end US 60 near Van Buren
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMissouri
Highway system
Route 102 Route 104

Route description

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Map of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, with Route 103 marked on the southeast portion of the map

All of the route is located in Carter County.[1] In 2016, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) calculated 267 vehicles, including 29 trucks travelling on Route 103 north of its southern terminus. This is expressed in terms of annual average daily traffic (AADT), a measure of traffic volume for any average day of the year.[2]

Route 103 begins at the intersection of Peavine Road and Route Z inside the Ozark National Scenic Riverways,[3] at the Big Spring Historic District.[4] The road travels westward through the forest, and it curves northward near the southern terminus of Skyline Drive. The route then intersects the eastern terminus of County Road 202 (CRD 202) north of Skyline Drive. About one mile (1.6 km) past CRD 202,[1] Route 103 leaves the national park,[3] and it meets the northern ends of Skyline Drive and Peavine Road. The road shifts to the northeast, and intersects a road leading to the unincorporated area of Chicopee. The road ends at US 60 in South Van Buren at a three-way junction south of Current River and the city of Van Buren.[1]

History

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Around 1930, a road was proposed to start from the Ozark National Scenic Riverways to US 60 as a park connection.[5][6] The gravel road was constructed by 1933, and it was designated as Route 103.[7][8] The route was paved by 1938,[9][10] as part of a larger project with a cost of $836,300 (equivalent to $17,724,914 in 2023), with a fraction going to Route 103's improvement.[11] In 1959, a project was announced to establish a supplemental route, Route Z, that would start at the southern terminus of Route 103.[12] The route was built as a gravel road by 1961,[13][14] and it was paved around nine years later.[15][16]

Major intersections

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Big Spring Lodge, a contributing building inside the Big Spring Historic District

The entire route is in Carter County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Big Spring Historic District0.0000.000  Route Z / Peavine RoadSouthern terminus at T-intersection
South Van Buren3.811–
3.832
6.133–
6.167
  US 60 – Winona, Van BurenNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Missouri Department of Transportation (May 11, 2012). MoDOT HPMAPS (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  2. ^ Missouri Department of Transportation (2016). Southeast District Travel Volume and Commercial Vehicle Count Map (PDF) (Map). Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  3. ^ a b General Highway Map – Carter County (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri Department of Transportation. Missouri Department of Transportation. 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  4. ^ "Big Spring Historic District". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  5. ^ Map of Missouri Showing State Road System (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1929. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  6. ^ Map of Missouri Showing State Road System (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1930. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Map of Missouri Showing State Road System (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1932. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 8, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Map of Missouri Showing State Road System (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1933. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  9. ^ Map of Missouri Showing State Road System (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1933. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  10. ^ Missouri Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1938. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  11. ^ "Highway Board to Let Contracts Again on July 9th". The Democrat-Argus. Caruthersville, Missouri. June 29, 1937. p. 4. Retrieved May 15, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  12. ^ "$21 Million in Road Projects Approved". The Springfield News-Leader. Springfield, Missouri. July 3, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved May 15, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  13. ^ Missouri Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1960. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  14. ^ Missouri Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1961. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  15. ^ Missouri Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1969. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  16. ^ Missouri Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1970. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
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