page_title: Mississippi Highway 161
section_title: Merigold–Shelby
hierarchical_section_title: Mississippi Highway 161 / Merigold–Shelby
caption_attribution_description: English: A full view of the Public Library in Shelby, Mississippi.
context_page_description: Mississippi Highway 161 is a state highway designation for three highways in the U.S. state of Mississippi, consisting of old alignments of U.S. Route 61. Totaling at 19.872 miles, the three sections are located in Bolivar, Coahoma, and Desoto counties. The Bolivar County section, designated in 2000, travels from Merigold to Mound Bayou and Shelby. In Coahoma County, MS 161 was designated in 2004 and runs through Clarksdale and Lyon. In Desoto County, MS 161 travels through the town of Walls and was created in 1999.
context_section_description: MS 161 starts at US 61 and US 278, south of the town of Merigold. After intersecting Merigold–Drew Road, the road travels north into the town, where it is known as Second Street. The route crosses over the Jones Bayou past South Street and intersects several streets inside Merigold before exiting city limits near Lee Street. It passes through a small tract of farmland and intersects South Lane Road. About one mile (1.6 km) later, MS 161 intersects Ford Road and enters the city limits of Mound Bayou. Inside the city, the road (now known as Edwards Avenue) is the boundary of the Mound Bayou Historical District from South Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The Taborian Hospital is also located on the route, outside the historic district. MS 161 also passes by the John F. Kennedy Memorial High School and crosses the waterway known as Mound Bayou near Lampard Street. The route leaves the city near Mohawk Street, and it crosses northwesterly over US 61 and US 278.
  Past US 61 and US 278, the route intersects Moody Road, the closest connector to US 61 and US 278. The road enters Winstonville at Winston Street, crosses Mount Bayou near Bruce Street, and it leaves the town at Mack Williams Street. Near Tarsi Road, the route turns north and enters Shelby as Broadway Street. MS 161 travels through the residential area of Shelby, and downtown Shelby near Fourth Avenue. The route intersects MS 32 at Second Avenue and travels northward through the town. The road exits the city limits past Blue Cain Road, and it turns eastward past the intersection. MS 161 ends at a three-way junction with US 61 and US 278 north of Shelby.
  In 2000, US 61 was rerouted between Merigold and Shelby, and its old alignment became MS 161. Before US 61 was relocated to a four-lane divided highway, the two-lane road had stop signs and low speed limits that significantly slowed through traffic.
  Major intersections
  The entire route is in Bolivar County.
caption: Shelby Public Library, located on MS 161
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