Route 21 is a highway in eastern Missouri. Its northern terminus is at Route 30 in Affton. Its southern terminus is at the Arkansas 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 marker
Route 21
Tesson Ferry Road
Map
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length188 mi (303 km)
Existed1922–present
Major junctions
South end AR 115 at the Arkansas state line
Major intersections
North end Route 30 in Affton
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMissouri
CountiesRipley, Carter, Reynolds, Iron, Washington, Jefferson, St. Louis
Highway system
Route 20 Route 22

The section through northern Jefferson County, Missouri 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.[1]

Route 21 from the Meramec River to Route B, along with Route M, make up the Jefferson County Scenic Byway.[2][3]

Major intersections

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CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Ripley0.0000.000 
 
AR 115 south – Pocahontas
Arkansas state line
8.57813.805 
 
Route 142 west – Gatewood
Southern end of Route 142 overlap
9.82515.812 
 
US 160 west – Alton
Southern end of US 160 overlap
Doniphan11.71418.852 
 
Route 142 east – Business District
Northern end of Route 142 overlap
13.67722.011 
 
US 160 east – Poplar Bluff
Northern end of US 160 overlap
Carter36.03157.986 
 
US 60 east – Poplar Bluff
Southern end of US 60 overlap
45.60873.399 
 
 
 
US 60 west / Route 34 begins – Van Buren
Northern end of US 60 overlap; Southern end of Route 34 overlap
Reynolds48.95978.792 
 
Route 34 east – Clearwater Dam, Piedmont
Northern end of Route 34 overlap
Ellington65.112104.788 
 
Route 106 west – Owls Bend, Eminence, Business District
77.088124.061 
 
Route 72 west – Bunker
Southern end of Route 72 overlap
85.027136.838 
 
Route 49 north – Black, Oates
Southern end of Route 49 overlap
Iron98.252158.121 
 
Route 49 south – Annapolis
Northern end of Route 49 overlap
Arcadia107.967173.756 
 
Route 72 east
Northern end of Route 72 overlap
Pilot Knob110.072177.144 
 
Route 221 north
119.405192.164 
 
Route 32 west
Southern end of Route 32 overlap
WashingtonCaledonia123.672199.031 
 
Route 32 east – Bismarck
Northern end of Route 32 overlap
Potosi135.913218.731  Route 8 – Potosi, Leadwood
Old Mines142.085228.664 
 
Route 47 south – Bonne Terre
Southern end of Route 47 overlap
147.011236.591 
 
Route 47 north – Richwoods
Northern end of Route 47 overlap
Washington State Park149.523240.634 
 
Route 104 east
150.912242.869 
 
Route 104 west
Jefferson161.379259.714 
 
Route 110 east
Hillsboro165.177265.827 
 
Route B begins / Business 21
Southern end of Route B overlap
165.547266.422 
 
Route B north
Northern end of Route B overlap; southern end of freeway
Hillsboro167.854270.135  Route A / Business 21
169.236272.359Hayden Road
172.575277.733Old Route 21 - Goldman
175.162281.896Old Route 21 / Schenk Road
Otto177.733286.034   Route MM / Route M – House Springs, Barnhart
180.341290.231Old Route 21 - Shady Valley
184.555297.012Old Route 21 - Meramec HeightsSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
185.469298.483  Route 141 – Fenton, ArnoldInterchange; northern end of freeway
185.864299.119Meramec Bottom Road
St. LouisConcord190.517306.607  I-270 – Chicago, MemphisI-270 exit 2
191.717308.539    US 50 / US 61 / US 67 (Lindbergh Boulevard)
Affton194.126312.416  Route 30 (Gravois Road)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Hillsboro Business Spur

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Route 21 Business
LocationHillsboro, Jefferson County

Business 21 follows the old alignment of Route 21 through the city of Hillsboro. It begins at the intersection of Route 21 and Highway B on the southern edge of the city, and continues north to the intersection of Route A and Old Route 21, where it ends. Business 21 is the only way one can now reach Route BB, as the rerouting of Route 21 bypasses the road.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ROUTE 21 IMPROVEMENTS (ROUTE B TO DESOTO)". Missouri Department of Transportation. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  2. ^ Scenic Byway Plan
  3. ^ Jefferson County examines 'scenic byways' designation for routes 21 and M Archived 2012-07-15 at archive.today
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