Missouri Route 106

Missouri Route 106
State	MO
Type	MO
Route	106
Length mi	33.705
Direction a	West
Terminus a	Summersville
Direction b	East
Terminus b	Ellington
Counties	Dent County; Shannon County

Missouri Route 106 is a state highway in southern Missouri. The route connects rural communities and public lands between U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 63, serving as a corridor through Mark Twain National Forest, access to recreational sites, and links to small towns such as Summersville, Van Buren, and Ellington. It passes near landmarks associated with regional history, natural resources, and transportation networks in Dent County and Shannon County.

Route description

Route 106 begins near U.S. Route 60 west of Summersville and proceeds eastward through terrain characteristic of the Ozark Plateau. The alignment traverses portions of Mark Twain National Forest, skirts the edges of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and approaches tributaries of the Current River. Along the corridor the highway intersects with Missouri Route 21, provides access to local municipal facilities in Ellington, and connects with county roads leading toward Sainte Genevieve-region historical sites and recreational amenities associated with the Ozark Mountains. The pavement alternates between two-lane rural highway segments and short stretches that expand near small commercial clusters in Summersville and Ellington. Vegetation zones adjacent to the roadway include oak–hickory stands documented in studies conducted by researchers affiliated with University of Missouri and conservation work coordinated with the Missouri Department of Conservation.

History

The corridor that became Route 106 has origins in early 20th-century state highway planning overseen by the Missouri State Highway Commission and later administrations during the New Deal era infrastructure efforts. Early improvements intersected with Civilian Conservation Corps projects within Mark Twain National Forest and with Works Progress Administration road crews that also worked near communities such as Van Buren and Ellington. Mid-century realignments reflected traffic patterns influenced by the construction of U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 63, and the highway was modified to improve access to state parks and to accommodate logging and mining activities historically associated with the Ozark Plateau region. Funding and maintenance have involved the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission alongside regional planning entities, with periodic upgrades tied to federal programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration.

Major intersections

Major intersections along the route include its western terminus at U.S. Route 60 near Summersville, junctions with county routes that feed traffic to Van Buren and to the Sunklands Conservation Area environs, intersections providing indirect connections to Missouri Route 19 and to Missouri Route 21, and an eastern terminus at U.S. Route 63 near Ellington. Several intersections serve as access points for forest roads into Mark Twain National Forest and for recreation areas linked to the Current River watershed. Coordination of signage and control at these intersections involves state agencies such as the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Traffic and usage

Traffic volumes on Route 106 are typical of rural two-lane state highways, with data collected by the Missouri Department of Transportation showing seasonal fluctuations driven by outdoor recreation in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and hunting and fishing seasons promoted by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Commercial vehicle use reflects local industries including forestry operations connected to markets in Springfield and regional distribution centers served by U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 63. Emergency services coordination on the corridor involves providers based in Dent County and Shannon County as well as regional trauma networks anchored at hospitals in Rolla and Ironton.

Points of interest along the route

Points of interest accessible from Route 106 include trailheads and recreation sites in Mark Twain National Forest, canoe put-ins for tributaries of the Current River associated with the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, local historic sites linked to early settlement patterns in Dent County and Shannon County, and community landmarks in Summersville and Ellington. Nearby cultural institutions and heritage organizations such as historical societies in Van Buren preserve archives concerning regional mining and timber industries, while statewide conservation programs managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and volunteer groups like The Nature Conservancy maintain habitat restoration projects adjacent to the highway.

Future developments

Planned and potential developments affecting Route 106 focus on routine pavement rehabilitation and safety improvements funded through Missouri Department of Transportation capital programs and federal transportation grants administered in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration. Initiatives include culvert replacements to improve aquatic organism passage in tributaries of the Current River, signage and shoulder enhancements to support recreational traffic to Mark Twain National Forest sites, and local government proposals to optimize freight connectivity with U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 63. Stakeholders in future projects include county commissions in Dent County and Shannon County, regional planning organizations, and conservation partners such as the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Category:State highways in Missouri Category:Transportation in Dent County, Missouri Category:Transportation in Shannon County, Missouri