A year later, the highway was paved between Woodville and McComb, from east of Tylertown to Foxworth, and within Lamar County between Columbia and Hattiesburg. In addition, MS 24 was shifted to a new improved alignment from Hattiesburg to west of New Augusta, following a portion of US 49 along with a newly constructed road. In 1943, the new alignment of MS 24 between McComb and Tylertown was completed. Also, the highway was paved between Columbia and the border between Marion County and Lamar County as well as west of New Augusta. In 1944, paving was completed between McLain and Leakesville. A year later, MS 24 was moved to a more direct alignment between Hattiesburg and New Augusta that bypassed Camp Shelby. MS 24 was extended east from Leakesville to the Alabama border in 1953. The same year, a portion of the highway west of Woodville was paved.