Some notes from a recent five-day road trip from the Gulf Coast northward to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
Widening is currently underway along Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama. This project totals 4.613 miles in length and focuses on replacing the original concrete surface with asphalt while expanding the previous four-lane freeway into six lanes overall. Work exists between U.S. 80 (Exit 167) and the Alabama River bridge. Overhead highway signs along the stretch were replaced during the project. See Progress65 http://www.progress65.com/ for more details.
New diagrammatic overhead for the split of Interstate 85 north from Interstate 65 north in Montgomery.
Continuing north along Interstate 65, widening is also underway between Exits 262A and 264 in north Birmingham, with additional work slated for next year from Exit 265 to 267. Construction focuses on the building of new collector/distributor roadways that will eventually serve the eastern terminus of Interstate 22 (Corridor X). No work has commenced on the interchange itself, but some land clearing of for the eventual path of the new highway has already occurred.
A look at the ongoing road work along Interstate 65 through northern reaches of Birmingham.
Shifting northward toward Nashville, Tennessee, the long-delayed completion of the Tennessee 840 beltway is moving closer to fruition. 60 of the 78 mile-route is now open to traffic, with crews working on either constructing or developing the final stretch between U.S. 31 and Tennessee 100. Work on 6.1 miles of new freeway between Tennessee 100 to Tennessee 46 (Pinewood Road) is currently underway along this stretch involving grading, drainage, and the building of bridges. Completion of that stretch should occur by 2011. The 7.9-mile segment between Leipers Creek Road and U.S. 31 (Columbia Pike) is also underway, with an opening expected in 2012. This leaves the stretch between Tennessee 46 and Leipers Creek Road, which remains in the developmental stage of work. More info can be found on the TDOT web site http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/sr840s/.
Departing Tennessee 840 westbound at Exit 28 for U.S. 31. A roughly 2.5 mile stretch of completed but unopened roadway stems west from the diamond interchange with Columbia Pike.
If you have never driven Interstate 65 leading north from Tennessee, you will be surprised at how busy the corridor is with commercial trucks. The freeway rivals stretches such as Interstate 70 with its high volume of trucking. With many stretches carrying just four lanes, it can be frustrating trying to maintain a consistent speed with all of the tractor trailers around…
Concrete rehabilitation is currently underway along the Interstate 65 drive between Exits 102 and 112. Orange barrels resume again between Exits 121 and 125 on maintenance related work.
What was once a half-diamond interchange at Kentucky 841 (Gene Snyder Freeway)’s end is now simply a signalized “T” intersection. The westbound ramp to U.S. 42 is closed with all traffic using the footprint of the eastbound on-ramp. This is likely in anticipation for construction involving a new Ohio River bridge for Interstate 265. The proposed East End Bridge of Interstate 265 will consist of a six-lane cable-stayed bridge with 300 foot towers and a 17 foot bike/pedestrian path. Construction on the new bridge is slated to begin in 2010 with a targeted completion of 2013. See the East End Bridge page for more details.
Traffic shifts to the left at what was the beginning of the U.S. 42 northbound on-ramp from Kentucky 841.
Within Louisville, construction is underway along Interstate 65 from Exit 132 southward to Exit 125 (Interstate 265). The northbound direction is complete at this time, offering a unobstructed drive into downtown. Southbound work however continues on what is dubbed “Revive 65”, a $28.7-million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project aimed at replacing the 1988-concrete surface with asphalt.1
Interstate 65 utilizes a series of viaducts on its northward approach into downtown Louisville. Pictured here is the off-ramp (Exit 136A) to Broadway (U.S. 150).
Even though a pair of end signs for Indiana 265 reside at the Exit 10A/B cloverleaf interchange with 10th Street/Indiana 6 north, ITS mile markers continue along Port Road south from the freeway end to milepost 10.0. These markers include Interstate 265 shields as well…
Sources:
http://governor.ky.gov/pressrelease.htm?PostingGUID={24284B7F-8DBC-41A1-B83C-8B29E25654A3}
Last January, I drove the stretch of I-40 from the western end of TN 840 to TN 109 (with Billy and Seth along for the ride).
There are tons of big rigs that clog that stretch of freeway as you approach Nashville.
Update (as of 5-1-14): Heavy work underway on I-64/65/71 convergence (“Spaghetti Junction”) and six new lanes and piers for new Downtown Crossing Bridge to carry I-65 along with current Kennedy Bridge. Estimated completion Spring 2016. Eastern Crossing Bridge (I-265) well underway on connectors from existing I-265 in KY and IN. Bridge piers work underway. Completion and connection of I-265 loop estimated Summer 2016.
Update (as of 5-1-14): Heavy work underway on I-64/65/71 convergence (“Spaghetti Junction”) and six new lanes and piers for new Downtown Crossing Bridge to carry I-65 along with current Kennedy Bridge. Estimated completion Spring 2016. Eastern Crossing Bridge (I-265) well underway on connectors from existing I-265 in KY and IN. Bridge piers work underway. Completion and connection of I-265 loop estimated Summer 2016. Indiana’s “Revive 65” project completed Spring 2009 with excellent results on I-65 traffic on both sides of Ohio River Louisville region.
Update (as of 5-1-14): Heavy work underway on I-64/65/71 convergence (“Spaghetti Junction”) and six new lanes and piers for new Downtown Crossing Bridge to carry I-65 along with current Kennedy Bridge. Estimated completion Spring 2016. Eastern Crossing Bridge (I-265) well underway on connectors from existing I-265 in KY and IN. Bridge piers work underway. Completion and connection of I-265 loop estimated Summer 2016. Indiana’s “Revive 65” project completed Spring 2009 with excellent results on I-65 and surface traffic on both sides of Ohio River Louisville region.