I-69 Signage through Memphis (incl. MS and KY)

[codyg1985]

It will be interesting to see if they use I-69 mileage from the Great River Bridge or if they will use MS 304 mileage.

[rickmastfan67]

^It will be interesting to see if they use I-66 mileage from the Great River Bridge or if they will use MS 304 mileage.

I think you mean I-69.

Way to help out, admin...

[Alex]

EDIT - QUESTION

Be honest.  Assuming Mort not a member of this forum, had anyone else in this forum noticed absence of I-69 mile markers in Mississippi?

Yup, the only indication of how far you have traveled are the mileage signs.

[brownpelican]

I the only I-69 signs I saw in Memphis were the "future corridor" signs on I-55 south of I-240...that was back on the Memorial Day weekend.

[Grzrd]

It will be interesting to see if they use I-69 mileage from the Great River Bridge or if they will use MS 304 mileage.

Looks like they can now use I-69 mileage with confidence:

"Area leaders see the Federal Highway Administration's Record of Decision that will bring the North Mississippi sector of Interstate 69 around Clarksdale as the kind of economic news they had been seeking for years ....

crews from the Mississippi Department of Transportation can now "put up signs that indicate future I-69."

The FHA decision officially validated the construction of a 120-mile multi-lane divided interstate highway in a southwest-northeast direction from south of Benoit near Mississippi Highway 1 in Bolivar County to east of Robinsonville near Mississippi Highway 304 referred to as the Section of Independent Utility of the national I-69 corridor ...

Jimmy Walker, chairman of the Chamber's Transportation Committee and Coahoma County's representative on the I-69 Coalition, recalled that support for I-69 had been in the works for more than a decade.

"It means we're going to have signs indicating future I-69 that will help developers,"  Walker said.

The most important aspect from the FHA decision, Morgan said, is that it will mean "Congress can put funds into the contract for future development of I-69."

Morgan said all of the environmental impact studies have been completed that clears the path for construction funding.

"It's a great day for the Mississippi delta,"  Morgan said." (Sept. 29, 2010 Clarksdale Press Register)

(http://www.pressregister.com/articles/2010/09/29/news/doc4ca24e9bda01c671228696.txt)

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Too bad I'm not attending the King Biscuit Blues Fest in Helena (and colaborative events in Clarksdale), otherwise I'd get pictures. 

[cjk374]

Jimmy Walker, chairman of the Chamber's Transportation Committee and Coahoma County's representative on the I-69 Coalition, recalled that support for I-69 had been in the works for more than a decade.[/quote]
That sounds DYYNNOOOMIIITE!!!!!  

[Grzrd]

Jimmy Walker, chairman of the Chamber's Transportation Committee and Coahoma County's representative on the I-69 Coalition ... It means we're going to have signs indicating future I-69 that will help developers,"  Walker said.

Received an email this morning (yep, a Saturday morning) from MDOT re possible "Future I-69 signs: " ... [MDOT] has discussed placing these signs with the City of Clarksdale and will be working towards getting this accomplished. We are also going to review the environmental document to determine what other sections( where I-69 will run concurrently with existing highways) may be eligible for this signing ..."

[froggie]

Problem there is, outside of the Clarksdale bypass, none of the "concurrently with existing highways" is even remotely considered freeway, let alone Interstate grade.  They should be able to post "Future I-69 Corridor" guide signs, but actual Future I-69 shields is a no-go until MDOT upgrades more of the corridor to freeway.

[golden eagle]

EDIT - QUESTION

Be honest.  Assuming Mort not a member of this forum, had anyone else in this forum noticed absence of I-69 mile markers in Mississippi?

I actually noticed that when I traveled on 69 when I last drove it last year. However, I've wondered how would they number the markers with the interstate not anywhere close to being completed in Mississippi.

[Grzrd]

EDIT - QUESTION
Be honest.  Assuming Mort not a member of this forum, had anyone else in this forum noticed absence of I-69 mile markers in Mississippi?

I actually noticed that when I traveled on 69 when I last drove it last year. However, I've wondered how would they number the markers with the interstate not anywhere close to being completed in Mississippi.

I received an email from MDOT this a.m. regarding the mileage markers:

"These mile markers were installed within the last month. These are considered temporary and the mileage begins for these at the beginning of designated I-69, just east of MS 3. This mileage runs from west to east and terminates at the intersection of I-55.  Ultimately the mileage will begin at the Mississippi River and run to the Tennessee state-line when completed."

Has anyone noticed the new, temporary markers yet?

[rickmastfan67]

So, has anybody been in Memphis lately to see if TDOT got off their behinds finally to post I-69 on the section it got approval for?

[Bryant5493]

It's (I-69) still not signed through Memphis.


Be well,

Bryant

[rickmastfan67]

Man, what is wrong with TDOT then?  They ask and get approval and then don't post it?  Sounds like they only did it so Mississippi could post it on their segment of I-55.  Otherwise, they are pulling a NCDOT (US-311 extension approved, but not posted yet).

[golden eagle]

Man, what is wrong with TDOT then?  They ask and get approval and then don't post it?  Sounds like they only did it so Mississippi could post it on their segment of I-55.  Otherwise, they are pulling a NCDOT (US-311 extension approved, but not posted yet).

Mississippi couldn't sign I-69 without Tennessee getting approval?

[rickmastfan67]

Man, what is wrong with TDOT then?  They ask and get approval and then don't post it?  Sounds like they only did it so Mississippi could post it on their segment of I-55.  Otherwise, they are pulling a NCDOT (US-311 extension approved, but not posted yet).

Mississippi couldn't sign I-69 without Tennessee getting approval?

Along the I-55 multiplex at least.

[InterstateNG]

69 signs have been signed along the 55 multiplex in MS since 2007.  I know because I have a blurry photo of it from a 2007 road trip on my computer.

[RoadWarrior56]

In this case I am going to take the contrarian view.  Why should TN spend the money to erect a considerable number of signs through Memphis along three existing interstates for a roadway number that will serve as a pointless concurrency until the time that I-69 actually begins to be constructed north of Memphis?

I suspect at the time that begins to happen or at least until the signage along those sections of I-55, I-240, and I-40 would normally be replaced, then I-69 will appear.

[rickmastfan67]

Well, then why did Mississippi post it on their section of I-55 very fast?  They even replaced some BGS's that had only been up for ~1 year to do it (right at the I-55/I-69 split).  You would think they would have both posted it the same time.  But then again, TDOT might be pulling a NCDOT (requested US-311 extension in 2003, but haven't posted it yet).  But you would think with approval from the FHWA, they would have done this by now.

[RoadWarrior56]

I don't know why MS did what they did, but it is likely they had just opened an actual segment of I-69, so at least in their case, they had a reason to erect the signs.  As far as the multiplex with I-55, you could make an argument to leave the I-69 signs off for now.  Maybe they just wanted to sign it up to their border and be done with it.

[Alps]

Well, then why did Mississippi post it on their section of I-55 very fast?  They even replaced some BGS's that had only been up for ~1 year to do it (right at the I-55/I-69 split).  You would think they would have both posted it the same time.  But then again, TDOT might be pulling a NCDOT (requested US-311 extension in 2003, but haven't posted it yet).  But you would think with approval from the FHWA, they would have done this by now.

Pretty sure it all has to do with casino access - now you can just follow one number to get there.

[RoadWarrior56]

I had not thought of the casino in Tunica, but that could explain why they went ahead and co-signed I-69 on the I-55 segment. 

[US71]

Pretty sure it all has to do with casino access - now you can just follow one number to get there.

Not entirely. 69 forks off and swings south on 719 then ends, but the main road to the casino is straight ahead on MS 304. However 69 is trailblazed along EB 304 to get you back to the Interstate.

[froggie]

Not entirely. 69 forks off and swings south on 719 then ends, but the main road to the casino is straight ahead on MS 304. However 69 is trailblazed along EB 304 to get you back to the Interstate.

For Harrah's and arguably Gold Strike, the "main road" is to follow 304.  But for Hollywood and Sam's Town, it makes more sense to stay on 69 (which becomes 713).  Most of the non-casino hotels are also closer to 713 than they are to 304.

[codyg1985]

I drove through Memphis Tuesday and all I saw were Future I-69 Corridor signs along I-40 north of the I-40/240 downtown interchange.