Interstate 69 in Tennessee
Encyclopedia
The proposed Interstate 69 will pass through the western part of the U.S. state of Tennessee
, serving the cities of Union City
, Troy
, Dyersburg
, and Memphis
. State officials are considering building parts of I-69 as a toll road
. Currently (while unsigned), a 21 miles (33.8 km) section of I-69 exists in the Memphis area, sharing its alignment with I-40, I-240, and I-55.
, I-69 is planned to continue to the southwest, replacing and bypassing existing U.S. Route 51
, serving Union City
, Dyersburg
(where it will intersect Interstate 155
), Ripley
, Covington
, and Millington
. Tennessee is considering legislation that would allow I-69 to be built as a toll road, thereby accelerating its design and construction timetable by several years should such legislation be approved. Tennessee's toll road legislation comes as Congress withdrew $171 million allocated for Tennessee highway projects, including funds for I-69. This federal highway allotment was diverted to fund ongoing military operations in Iraq
.
On January 18, 2008, the Federal Highway Administration authorized the states of Mississippi and Tennessee to extend I-69 from the I-40/TN 300 interchange in north Memphis to the I-55/I-69 interchange in Hernando, Mississippi
; however, Tennessee has signed the extension of the route, although Mississippi has already done so.
On January 29, 2010, Senator Dewayne Bunch of the Tennessee General Assembly introduced senate bill 3790, SB3790, in addition to companion bill HB 2785 by Representative Hill, which would affect the construction of I-69 in Tennessee. The bill would make it a class E felony to enter into a contract for the design, construction, survey or maintenance of any portion of I-69 or any other interstate or highway project that is designed to link Canada, U.S., and Mexico. Both bills are not expected to pass due to lack of overall support in the Tennessee General Assembly
.
, and closely follows US Highway 51 to Dyersburg
. The 20 miles (32 km) section between Dyersburg and Troy is at Interstate Highway standards—opening with the completion of Interstate 155
west of Dyersburg. An additional 10 miles (16 km) section north of Union City to the Kentucky border is also a freeway. Thus, much of the work on SIU 7 will involve bypassing the 15 miles (24 km) section of US-51 between Troy and Union City, where it is currently a 4-lane surface arterial with at-grade intersections. This portion has been divided into five smaller segments. The first three segments make up the Troy Bypass, while the northern two sections represent the Union City Bypass.
As of December 2006, land acquisition and utility relocations are underway in all five sub-sections. This advanced work was scheduled to be completed during 2007, but has been delayed until the end of 2010 due to the funding issues explained above in the Route description. The first construction contract was let for SIU 7 on October 30, 2009. The winning bid for constructing the 4.3 miles (7 km) section between TN-21 and TN-5 northwest of Union City, was awarded to Ford Construction Company of Dyersburg, Tennessee
for $33 million. Construction on this portion of the Union City Bypass began in the Spring of 2010, and is expected to be completed in 2012.
has divided SIU 8 into three smaller segments. In April 2006 TDOT has announced the preferred routing for the northern and southern subsections, favoring an alignment to the west of Highway 51. Meanwhile, studies are still ongoing for the central section, which include alignments both east and west of the existing US Highway 51. Once TDOT identifies the preferred alignment for the central segment, it is expected that a supplemental draft EIS will be necessary before the final EIS can be prepared, likely delaying approval until at least 2008.
The routing of I-69 has been criticized by the state Sierra Club
chapter for not making use of the existing right-of-way for U.S. 51 and for potentially impacting the Hatchie River
, a state-designated scenic river.
Memphis Outer Beltway, then continue southwest, roughly parallel to U.S. 51, and connect with Interstate 40
at the existing State Route 300 interchange in the Frayser
neighborhood. Interstate 69 follows I-40 for about 3 miles (5 km) to the I-40/I-240 Midtown Interchange, where I-69 continues south along the Midtown portion of I-240
(mileposts 25-31) to the I-240/I-55
interchange in Whitehaven
. From that interchange, I-69 continues south, merged with I-55 for approximately 12 miles (19 km), crossing the Mississippi
state line. The Mississippi Department of Transportation has been working on widening I-55/I-69 between Hernando and the Tennessee State Line, adding travel lanes in each direction, reconstructing bridges, and improving traffic flow
at interchanges. Meanwhile, TDOT is reconstructing I-55 and I-240 from the Mississippi line to downtown Memphis. With much of the route already built and at Interstate standards through Memphis, the FHWA authorized TDOT to sign the I-69 over I-55, I-240 and I-40 on January 18, 2008.
In addition to the I-69 routing through downtown Memphis, SIU 9 also includes construction of the Interstate 269
Memphis Outer Loop. In the EIS, the combination of the I-69 downtown routing combined with the I-269 loop is referred to as the "Systems Option" for SIU-9. As of September 2006, a 21 miles (34 km) segment of I-269 from Millington to Eads is open to traffic (signed as State Route 385
). A second segment between Collierville and US Highway 72 is under construction. Construction on the 28.6 miles (46 km) portion of I-269 between US-72
in Collierville and I-55/I-69/MS-304 in Hernando is expected to begin around 2010 and cost $450 million.
The FHWA issued a Record of Decision on January 29, 2007, approving the Final EIS for the "Systems Option" and authorizing Tennessee and Mississippi to begin land acquisition and construction on the remaining portions of I-69 and I-269 through Memphis. Immediately following this decision, Mississippi solicited bids from engineers to complete the final design on its section of I-269. Four engineering firms began preliminary field work and final design on their portion of I-269 on March 22, 2007. MDOT has advanced the final design timetable and plans to begin ROW acquisition between I-55/I-69 and US-78
by the end of 2007. Construction on I-269 in Mississippi will commence once all necessary land has been acquired. MDOT and DeSoto County also plan to upgrade several local roads that I-269 is planned to cross in preparation for expected growth once the highway is built. As noted above, FHWA has authorized TDOT and MDOT to post the I-69 designation along I-40, I-240, and I-55 in Memphis, officially extending the route into Tennessee from Mississippi.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, serving the cities of Union City
Union City, Tennessee
Union City is a city in Obion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,876 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Obion County. The name comes from its location at the union of two railroads, one running roughly east-west and the other roughly north-south...
, Troy
Troy, Tennessee
Troy is a town in Obion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,273 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Union City, TN–KY Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Dyersburg
Dyersburg, Tennessee
Dyersburg is a city in and the county seat of Dyer County, Tennessee, United States, north-northeast of Memphis on the Forked Deer River. The population was 17,145 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Dyersburg is located at...
, and Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. State officials are considering building parts of I-69 as a toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
. Currently (while unsigned), a 21 miles (33.8 km) section of I-69 exists in the Memphis area, sharing its alignment with I-40, I-240, and I-55.
Route description
From Fulton, KentuckyFulton, Kentucky
Fulton is a city in Fulton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,775 at the 2000 census. It was once known as the "Banana Capital of the World" because 70% of imported bananas to the U.S. used to be shipped there . U.S...
, I-69 is planned to continue to the southwest, replacing and bypassing existing U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,286 miles from the western suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana to within of the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Much of the highway in Illinois and southern Wisconsin runs parallel to or overlaps Interstate 39...
, serving Union City
Union City, Tennessee
Union City is a city in Obion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,876 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Obion County. The name comes from its location at the union of two railroads, one running roughly east-west and the other roughly north-south...
, Dyersburg
Dyersburg, Tennessee
Dyersburg is a city in and the county seat of Dyer County, Tennessee, United States, north-northeast of Memphis on the Forked Deer River. The population was 17,145 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Dyersburg is located at...
(where it will intersect Interstate 155
Interstate 155 (Missouri-Tennessee)
Interstate 155 is an east–west spur beginning in far southeast Missouri. The western terminus is south of Hayti, Missouri at Interstate 55, exits 17A and exit 17B . The route proceeds east to the Tennessee border, where it crosses over the Mississippi River...
), Ripley
Ripley, Tennessee
Ripley is a city in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,844 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lauderdale County...
, Covington
Covington, Tennessee
Covington is a city in central Tipton County in the State of Tennessee. Covington is the largest city and county seat of, Tipton County. Covington is located in one of just five counties of West Tennessee that are located along the Mississippi River, thus it is in extreme western Tennessee.This...
, and Millington
Millington, Tennessee
Millington is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 10,176. Millington was the home of the recently closed Memphis Motorsports Park. It was granted the title "Flag City Tennessee" by the Tennessee State Legislature. The Naval Support Activity Mid-South is...
. Tennessee is considering legislation that would allow I-69 to be built as a toll road, thereby accelerating its design and construction timetable by several years should such legislation be approved. Tennessee's toll road legislation comes as Congress withdrew $171 million allocated for Tennessee highway projects, including funds for I-69. This federal highway allotment was diverted to fund ongoing military operations in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
On January 18, 2008, the Federal Highway Administration authorized the states of Mississippi and Tennessee to extend I-69 from the I-40/TN 300 interchange in north Memphis to the I-55/I-69 interchange in Hernando, Mississippi
Hernando, Mississippi
Hernando is a city in central DeSoto County, Mississippi. The population was 6,812 at the 2000 census. The 2006 census estimate reflects a population of 10,580. Hernando is the county seat of DeSoto County, the second-most-populous county in the Memphis metropolitan area. US Hwy 51 and the I-55...
; however, Tennessee has signed the extension of the route, although Mississippi has already done so.
On January 29, 2010, Senator Dewayne Bunch of the Tennessee General Assembly introduced senate bill 3790, SB3790, in addition to companion bill HB 2785 by Representative Hill, which would affect the construction of I-69 in Tennessee. The bill would make it a class E felony to enter into a contract for the design, construction, survey or maintenance of any portion of I-69 or any other interstate or highway project that is designed to link Canada, U.S., and Mexico. Both bills are not expected to pass due to lack of overall support in the Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
.
Planned extension
I-69 has been divided into three of segments of independent utility (SIUs).SIU 7
This segment begins at the Kentucky/Tennessee border in FultonFulton, Kentucky
Fulton is a city in Fulton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,775 at the 2000 census. It was once known as the "Banana Capital of the World" because 70% of imported bananas to the U.S. used to be shipped there . U.S...
, and closely follows US Highway 51 to Dyersburg
Dyersburg, Tennessee
Dyersburg is a city in and the county seat of Dyer County, Tennessee, United States, north-northeast of Memphis on the Forked Deer River. The population was 17,145 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Dyersburg is located at...
. The 20 miles (32 km) section between Dyersburg and Troy is at Interstate Highway standards—opening with the completion of Interstate 155
Interstate 155 (Missouri-Tennessee)
Interstate 155 is an east–west spur beginning in far southeast Missouri. The western terminus is south of Hayti, Missouri at Interstate 55, exits 17A and exit 17B . The route proceeds east to the Tennessee border, where it crosses over the Mississippi River...
west of Dyersburg. An additional 10 miles (16 km) section north of Union City to the Kentucky border is also a freeway. Thus, much of the work on SIU 7 will involve bypassing the 15 miles (24 km) section of US-51 between Troy and Union City, where it is currently a 4-lane surface arterial with at-grade intersections. This portion has been divided into five smaller segments. The first three segments make up the Troy Bypass, while the northern two sections represent the Union City Bypass.
As of December 2006, land acquisition and utility relocations are underway in all five sub-sections. This advanced work was scheduled to be completed during 2007, but has been delayed until the end of 2010 due to the funding issues explained above in the Route description. The first construction contract was let for SIU 7 on October 30, 2009. The winning bid for constructing the 4.3 miles (7 km) section between TN-21 and TN-5 northwest of Union City, was awarded to Ford Construction Company of Dyersburg, Tennessee
Dyersburg, Tennessee
Dyersburg is a city in and the county seat of Dyer County, Tennessee, United States, north-northeast of Memphis on the Forked Deer River. The population was 17,145 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Dyersburg is located at...
for $33 million. Construction on this portion of the Union City Bypass began in the Spring of 2010, and is expected to be completed in 2012.
SIU 8
SIU 8 proceeds south from Dyersburg, paralleling US Highway 51 to a planned interchange with TN-385 (I-269) in Millington. To facilitate work on the Draft EIS this segment, the Tennessee Department of TransportationTennessee Department of Transportation
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is a multimodal agency with statewide responsibilities in aviation, public transit, waterways and railroads...
has divided SIU 8 into three smaller segments. In April 2006 TDOT has announced the preferred routing for the northern and southern subsections, favoring an alignment to the west of Highway 51. Meanwhile, studies are still ongoing for the central section, which include alignments both east and west of the existing US Highway 51. Once TDOT identifies the preferred alignment for the central segment, it is expected that a supplemental draft EIS will be necessary before the final EIS can be prepared, likely delaying approval until at least 2008.
The routing of I-69 has been criticized by the state Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
chapter for not making use of the existing right-of-way for U.S. 51 and for potentially impacting the Hatchie River
Hatchie River
The Hatchie River is a stream in northern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee. It is of considerable geographic, cultural, and historic significance. In large measure this is because it is the only major stream of West Tennessee that has never been impounded, channelized, or otherwise...
, a state-designated scenic river.
SIU 9
South of Millington, I-69 will intersect the Interstate 269Interstate 269
Interstate 269 is a partially built outer beltline around the city of Memphis, Tennessee, and its adjacent suburban areas in northern Mississippi. The sections of the route which are currently open are designated as State Route 385 and Mississippi Highway 304...
Memphis Outer Beltway, then continue southwest, roughly parallel to U.S. 51, and connect with Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
at the existing State Route 300 interchange in the Frayser
Frayser, Memphis
Frayser is a community in North Memphis, Tennessee.-History:Frayser is the western tip of a peninsula created by the Loosahatchie and Wolf Rivers as they converge into the Mississippi River just north of Downtown Memphis. Mud Island is the peninsula's southwest tip...
neighborhood. Interstate 69 follows I-40 for about 3 miles (5 km) to the I-40/I-240 Midtown Interchange, where I-69 continues south along the Midtown portion of I-240
Interstate 240 (Tennessee)
Interstate 240 is an Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Running or 31.0 km, it loops southward from Interstate 40 in east Memphis, then turning west at TN 385 . At I-55, the highway turns north and runs through midtown to end at I-40...
(mileposts 25-31) to the I-240/I-55
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 is an Interstate Highway in the central United States. Its odd number indicates that it is a north–south Interstate Highway. I-55 goes from LaPlace, Louisiana at Interstate 10 to Chicago at U.S. Route 41 , at McCormick Place. A common nickname for the highway is "double...
interchange in Whitehaven
Whitehaven, Memphis
Whitehaven is a predominantly African-American community in Memphis, Tennessee, first organized in the late 19th century. Its current population is about 50,000.-Geography:...
. From that interchange, I-69 continues south, merged with I-55 for approximately 12 miles (19 km), crossing the Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
state line. The Mississippi Department of Transportation has been working on widening I-55/I-69 between Hernando and the Tennessee State Line, adding travel lanes in each direction, reconstructing bridges, and improving traffic flow
Traffic flow
Traffic flow, in mathematics and civil engineering, is the study of interactions between vehicles, drivers, and infrastructure , with the aim of understanding and developing an optimal road network with efficient movement of traffic and minimal traffic congestion problems.-History:Attempts to...
at interchanges. Meanwhile, TDOT is reconstructing I-55 and I-240 from the Mississippi line to downtown Memphis. With much of the route already built and at Interstate standards through Memphis, the FHWA authorized TDOT to sign the I-69 over I-55, I-240 and I-40 on January 18, 2008.
In addition to the I-69 routing through downtown Memphis, SIU 9 also includes construction of the Interstate 269
Interstate 269
Interstate 269 is a partially built outer beltline around the city of Memphis, Tennessee, and its adjacent suburban areas in northern Mississippi. The sections of the route which are currently open are designated as State Route 385 and Mississippi Highway 304...
Memphis Outer Loop. In the EIS, the combination of the I-69 downtown routing combined with the I-269 loop is referred to as the "Systems Option" for SIU-9. As of September 2006, a 21 miles (34 km) segment of I-269 from Millington to Eads is open to traffic (signed as State Route 385
State Route 385 (Tennessee)
State Route 385 is the designation for three separate segments of highway in the Memphis Metropolitan Area in Shelby and Fayette counties in West Tennessee, forming a semicircle around and through the Memphis suburbs. Clockwise, from the north, they are:...
). A second segment between Collierville and US Highway 72 is under construction. Construction on the 28.6 miles (46 km) portion of I-269 between US-72
U.S. Route 72
U.S. Route 72 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 337 miles from southeast Tennessee through northern Alabama and northern Mississippi to southwest Tennessee. The highway's eastern terminus is Chattanooga, Tennessee. Its western terminus is Memphis, Tennessee...
in Collierville and I-55/I-69/MS-304 in Hernando is expected to begin around 2010 and cost $450 million.
The FHWA issued a Record of Decision on January 29, 2007, approving the Final EIS for the "Systems Option" and authorizing Tennessee and Mississippi to begin land acquisition and construction on the remaining portions of I-69 and I-269 through Memphis. Immediately following this decision, Mississippi solicited bids from engineers to complete the final design on its section of I-269. Four engineering firms began preliminary field work and final design on their portion of I-269 on March 22, 2007. MDOT has advanced the final design timetable and plans to begin ROW acquisition between I-55/I-69 and US-78
U.S. Route 78
U.S. Highway 78 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 715 miles from Memphis, Tennessee, to Charleston, South Carolina. Between Memphis and Birmingham, Alabama, it is being upgraded to become Interstate 22....
by the end of 2007. Construction on I-269 in Mississippi will commence once all necessary land has been acquired. MDOT and DeSoto County also plan to upgrade several local roads that I-269 is planned to cross in preparation for expected growth once the highway is built. As noted above, FHWA has authorized TDOT and MDOT to post the I-69 designation along I-40, I-240, and I-55 in Memphis, officially extending the route into Tennessee from Mississippi.