Missouri Route 15
{{short description|State highway in Missouri, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{redirect-synonym|MO 15|{{ushr|Missouri|15}}}}
{{Infobox road
|state=MO
|type=MO
|route=15
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=250|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Missouri Route 15}}}}
|map_custom=yes
|maint=MoDOT
|established=1922
|length_mi=118
|direction_a=South
|direction_b=North
|terminus_a={{jct|state=MO|US|54|US-Bus|54|dab1=Mexico}} in Mexico
|junction={{Plainlist|
- {{jct|state=MO|US|24}} near Paris
- {{jct|state=MO|US|36|CKC|110}} in Shelbina
- {{jct|state=MO|US|136|US-Bus|136|dab1=Memphis}} in Memphis
}}
|terminus_b={{jct|state=IA|CR|V56|county1=Van Buren}} near Milton, Iowa{{cite web|url=http://www.iowahighwayends.net/ends/ia15S.html|title=South 15|access-date=June 18, 2025|website=Iowa Highway Ends}}
|previous_type=MO
|previous_route=14
|next_type=MO
|next_route=16
}}
Route 15 is a highway in northeast Missouri. Its northern terminus is at the Iowa state line about {{convert|13|mi|km|spell=in}} north of Memphis; its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 54 in Mexico. Route 15 serves as a key north-south corridor in northeast Missouri, with its busiest portion supportnig transport for more than 2,000 rural Missourians.{{cite web|url=https://www.modot.org/traffic-volume-maps|publisher=MoDOT|title=Traffic Volume Maps|access-date=June 17, 2025}}
Route description
Beginning at US 54 in Mexico, Route 15 travels north through Audrain County. Shortly after its starting point, the highway intersects Route 22 and continues northward through rural farmland. Route 15 then passes through Paris, where it intersects US 24 and Route 154 before continuing into Shelby County.{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2021}}
In Shelby County, Route 15 reaches Shelbina, where it intersects US 36 and Route 110. The highway then continues northward, passing through Shelbyville before entering Knox County. In Knox County, Route 15 intersects Route 6 near Edina and continues northward toward Scotland County.{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2021}}
Upon reaching Scotland County, Route 15 intersects US 136 in Memphis, forming a brief concurrency before separating again north of the city. The highway then enters Clark County, where it reaches its northern terminus at the Iowa state line near Milton, connecting with Iowa County Highway V56.{{Cite MoDOT map|year=2021}}
History
Route 15 is one of the original 1922 Missouri highways, though its southern terminus was significantly farther at Route 71 (now U.S. Route 65) at Buffalo. It was replaced by U.S. Route 54 from Mexico to southwest of Macks Creek and by Route 73 from that point to Buffalo.{{cite web|url=https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/Maps/id/57/rec/5|title=Missouri's State Road System, 1924|website=The State Historical Society of Missouri|access-date=June 16, 2025}}
Major intersections
{{jcttop|state=MO|length_ref=}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|county=Audrain
|cspan=3
|location=Mexico
|lspan=3
|road={{jct|state=MO|US|54|Supp|D|US-Bus|54|dab1=Mexico|city1=Bowling Green|city2=Jefferson City|city3=Auxvasse}}
|notes=interchange; southern end of US 54 Bus. / Route 22 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=MO|US-Bus|54|dab1=Mexico|dir1=east|name1=Boulevard Street|road|S. Clark Street}}
|notes=northern end of US 54 Bus. overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|22|name1=Monroe Street|city1=Centralia}}
|notes=northern end of Route 22 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|county=Monroe
|cspan=3
|location=none
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|154|city1=Perry}}
|notes=southern end of Route 154 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|location=Paris
|road={{jct|state=MO|US-Bus|24|dab1=Paris|Route|154|city1=Madison}}
|notes=northern end of Route 154 overlap; southern end of US 24 Bus. overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|location=none
|road={{jct|state=MO|US|24|US-Bus|24|dab1=Paris|city1=Madison|city2=Monroe City|city3=Paris}}
|notes=northern end of US 24 Bus. overlap
}}
{{MOint
|county=Shelby
|cspan=3
|location=Shelbina
|lspan=2
|road={{jct|state=MO|US-Bus|36|dab1=Shelbina|name1=Maple Street}}
}}
{{MOint
|road={{jct|state=MO|US|36|CKC|110|city1=Macon|city2=Monroe City}}
|notes=interchange
}}
{{MOint
|location=Shelbyville
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|168|Supp|K|name1=Main Street|city1=Hagers Grove|city2=Emden}}
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|county=Knox
|cspan=5
|location=none
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|156|city1=Newark}}
|notes=southern end of Route 156 overlap; access to Henry Sever Lake Conservation Area
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|location=none
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|156|Route|151|city1=Novelty}}
|notes=northern end of Route 156 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|location=none
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|6|city1=Kirksville}}
|notes=southern end of Route 6 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|location=Edina
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|6|city1=Knox City}}
|notes=northern end of Route 6 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|location=none
|road={{jct|state=MO|Route|11|dir1=south|Supp|K|county2=Knox|dir2=east|city1=Adair|city2=Baring}}
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|county=Scotland
|cspan=4
|location=none
|road={{jct|state=MO|US|136|dir1=west|city1=Lancaster}}
|notes=southern end of US 136 overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|location=Memphis
|lspan=2
|road={{jct|state=MO|US|136|dir1=east|city1=Kahoka}}
|notes=northern end of US 136 overlap; southern end of US 136 Bus. overlap
}}
{{MOint
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=MO|US-Bus|136|dab1=Memphis|dir1=east|name1=Monroe Street}}
|notes=northern end of US 136 Bus. overlap
}}
{{MOint
|location=none
|road={{jct|state=IA|CR|V56|county1=Van Buren|dir1=north|city1=Milton}}
|notes=former Iowa 15
}}
{{jctbtm}}
References
{{reflist}}