Mississippi Highway 498 (MS 498) is a state highway in eastern Mississippi. The highway starts at U.S. Route 45 (US 45) near Porterville, and it travels eastward from its western terminus. One mile (1.6 km) later, MS 498 ends near a railroad crossing west of Porterville, and the road continues as Porterville–Alabama Road. The route was designated around 1957, from US 45 to the Alabama–Mississippi state line. MS 498 was truncated to Porterville by 1970.
The highway starts at the intersection of US 45 and Dekalb–Porterville Road,[2] also known as Fire Tower Road. MS 498 travels eastward from the intersection, then east-northeast to Dan Whitsett Road inside a forested area. Afterwards, the road continues eastward and crosses over a small ditch. Around 1,000 feet (300 m) later, MS 498 crosses over the Sucarnoochee River.[5] State maintenance ends several yards before a crossing over a railroad operated Kansas City Southern Railway.[2][6] The road crosses over the railroad and it continues through Porterville as Porterville–Alabama Road.[2] The Porterville General Store is located near the eastern terminus.[7] Past the unincorporated area, the road continues southeastwards to the Alabama–Mississippi state line,[2] and it becomes Sumter County Road 12 in Alabama.[5]
History
Around 1957, MS 498 was constructed as a gravel road from US 45 near Porterville to the Alabama–Mississippi state line.[8][9] By 1962, the section from US 45 to Porterville was paved in asphalt.[10][11] The remaining section east of Porterville was removed from the state highway system by 1970.[12][13]
^ abcdeMississippi Department of Transportation (2018). Kemper County, Mississippi(PDF) (Map). c. 1:70,000. Jackson: Mississippi Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
^Mississippi Department of Transportation (March 2009). Begin/End State Maintenance (Traffic sign). Porterville: Mississippi Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 14, 2019 – via Google Street View.
^"Porterville General Store". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
^Mississippi State Highway Commission (1956). Official Road Map State of Mississippi(PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Commission. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
^Mississippi State Highway Commission (1957). Official Road Map State of Mississippi(PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Commission. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
^Mississippi State Highway Commission (1960). Official Road Map State of Mississippi(PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Commission. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
^Mississippi State Highway Commission (1962). Road Map State of Mississippi(PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Commission. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
^Mississippi State Highway Department (1969). Official Road Map(PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Department. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
^Mississippi State Highway Department (1970). Official Road Map(PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Department. Retrieved March 14, 2019.