Missouri Route 72

Route 72
Route information
Maintained by MoDOT
Length:	157 mi (253 km)
Existed:	1922 – present
Major junctions
West end:	I-44 in Rolla
East end:	Route 34 west of Jackson
Highway system
Missouri State Highway System Interstate US State Supplemental ← I-72 Route 73 →

Route 72 is a highway in southern Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at Route 34 west of Jackson; its western terminus is at I-44 on the exit with U.S. Route 63 in Rolla.

Route 72 is one of the original 1922 state highways. Its eastern terminus was at Centerville, and its western terminus was at the junction with Route 32. The part between Arcadia and Fredericktown was Route 70 from 1922 to 1959, when it became part of Route 72 because of I-70.

Route 72 was rebuilt a few years back from Elk Prairie, just south of Rolla; to the intersection of Hwy 32, west of Salem. The road was widened and shoulders were built.

As Route 72 passes through Salem, it crosses Route 19; then runs concurrently eastward for 10 miles with Route 32. It then splits off to the southeast towards the small town of Bunker. It is very curvy; it passes back and forth between Dent and Reynolds county several times. After passing through Bunker, it runs mostly eastward for 17 miles; before intersecting Hwy 21; 3 miles south of Centerville. 72 then turns left (north) and runs concurrently with Hwy 21 through Centerville. Between Centerville and Lesterville, Route 49 joins it and 21, 72 and 49 run concurrently eastward to the Glover corner. Route 49 turns right (south) at that corner; while Route 72 and 21 turn left (north). Route 72 and Route 21 run north for 10 miles to Arcadia; at the south edge of Ironton; Route 21 continues north while Route 72 turns east. However, it has a unique interchange; it crosses under Hwy 72 east on 21/72, then turns left (west)for one block, then turns left(southeast) and goes back up over 21/72. Route 72 then runs east, intersects US Hwy 67 west of Fredericktown. It then proceeds to its eastern terminus with Route 34 at Jackson, MO

Major intersections

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Phelps	Rolla			I-44 / US 63 north / Historic US 66 east – St. Louis, Springfield, Jefferson City	I-44 exit 186; west end of I-44 Bus. / US 63 / Historic US 66 overlap
				Business Loop I-44 west / Historic US 66 west (Kingshighway) – Business District	east end of I-44 Bus. / Historic US 66 overlap
				US 63 south – Edgar Springs, Cabool	east end of US 63 overlap
Dent	Salem			Route 32 west – Licking	west end of Route 32 overlap
				Route 19 (Main Street) – Steelville, Eminence, Downtown Salem
	​			Route 32 east – Howes Mill	east end of Route 32 overlap
Reynolds	​			Route 21 south – Ellington	west end of Route 21 overlap
	​			Route 49 north – Black, Oates	west end of Route 49 overlap
Iron	​			Route 49 south – Annapolis	east end of Route 49 overlap
	Arcadia			Route 21 north	east end of Route 21 overlap
Madison	Fredericktown			US 67 – Farmington, Poplar Bluff	interchange
				West Main Street - Business District	roundabout; former US 67 Bus. south / Route 72 east
	Junction City			Route OO north – Mine La Motte
	Junction City–Fredericktown line			Lincoln Drive - Fredericktown, Business District	former Route 72 west
Bollinger	Patton Junction			Route 51 – Perryville, Patton
Cape Girardeau	​			Route 34 west – Marble Hill, Bollinger Mill Historic Site	west end of Route 34 overlap
	Jackson			Business Loop I-55 / US 61 / Route 34 east / Great River Road / Route 25 south – Cape Girardeau, Fruitland, Dutchtown	east end of Route 34 overlap
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi