I'm surprised Sam Cooper Boulevard still exists as a freeway along much of it, considering that opposition forced I-40 to be rerouted. Why does it still exist if citizens have voiced concerns about it, opposition killed the segment connecting to I-40 Exit 1E and it isn't even a spur or business loop of I-40? Note/Disclaimer: There was a thread about this road, but it was mainly about who maintains it.
I'm not sure if Memphians even care about it that much in it's current state. The reason I-40 met so much opposition in Memphis was because of its planned routing through Overton Park and the zoo, not because of the part of Sam Cooper Blvd that is extant. As far as what I've seen there are no concerns about it locally (and rightfully so, as Memphis's roadway network has some much bigger fish to fry), and it still serves as a glorified arterial, so no need to remove it.
I can't answer why it's not a 3di of I-40.
Quote from: CoreySamson on October 22, 2021, 05:57:22 PMI can't answer why it's not a 3di of I-40.
Surely it's because it lacks a logical terminus on its west end.
Quote from: Tom958 on October 22, 2021, 06:09:32 PM
Quote from: CoreySamson on October 22, 2021, 05:57:22 PMI can't answer why it's not a 3di of I-40.
Surely it's because it lacks a logical terminus on its west end.
Plenty of odd 3dis dead end at a city street at one end.
It's been 50 years since the Overton Park segment of I-40 was cancelled, and the opponents had a very good reason for it because its routing would've destroyed a heavily forested area, as well as downtown to the west.
Quote from: SkyPesos on October 22, 2021, 06:34:45 PM
Quote from: Tom958 on October 22, 2021, 06:09:32 PM
Quote from: CoreySamson on October 22, 2021, 05:57:22 PMI can't answer why it's not a 3di of I-40.
Surely it's because it lacks a logical terminus on its west end.
Plenty of odd 3dis dead end at a city street at one end.
Also, the westernmost stretch is actually an at-grade parkway, which is unnumbered like the limited-access section.
At the very least, it deserves a state highway number. The signage is all super cluttered because the Coop only has that long-ass name instead of simple number.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on October 25, 2021, 01:48:09 PM
At the very least, it deserves a state highway number. The signage is all super cluttered because the Coop only has that long-ass name instead of simple number.
What about Business I-40?
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on October 25, 2021, 03:41:33 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on October 25, 2021, 01:48:09 PM
At the very least, it deserves a state highway number. The signage is all super cluttered because the Coop only has that long-ass name instead of simple number.
What about Business I-40?
I prefer not having any more business interstates on freeways.
Quote from: SkyPesos on October 25, 2021, 04:20:25 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on October 25, 2021, 03:41:33 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on October 25, 2021, 01:48:09 PM
At the very least, it deserves a state highway number. The signage is all super cluttered because the Coop only has that long-ass name instead of simple number.
What about Business I-40?
I prefer not having any more business interstates on freeways.
I do too but it might be the best option, and not all of it is a freeway.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on October 25, 2021, 03:41:33 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on October 25, 2021, 01:48:09 PM
At the very least, it deserves a state highway number. The signage is all super cluttered because the Coop only has that long-ass name instead of simple number.
What about Business I-40?
Tennessee is one of many states with no business Interstates, so you'd have to convince TnDOT to do something new.
Also, Sam Cooper Blvd. doesn't provide access to any businesses not already served by the adjacent US 64/70/79, so it wouldn't really work as a business route, Interstate or otherwise.
Quote from: oscar on October 25, 2021, 07:28:44 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on October 25, 2021, 03:41:33 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on October 25, 2021, 01:48:09 PM
At the very least, it deserves a state highway number. The signage is all super cluttered because the Coop only has that long-ass name instead of simple number.
What about Business I-40?
Tennessee is one of many states with no business Interstates, so you'd have to convince TnDOT to do something new.
Also, Sam Cooper Blvd. doesn't provide access to any businesses not already served by the adjacent US 64/70/79, so it wouldn't really work as a business route, Interstate or otherwise.
How about a 3di? I-140 already exists near Knoxville - but what about I-340?
Quote from: KCRoadFan on October 25, 2021, 09:09:04 PM
Quote from: oscar on October 25, 2021, 07:28:44 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on October 25, 2021, 03:41:33 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on October 25, 2021, 01:48:09 PM
At the very least, it deserves a state highway number. The signage is all super cluttered because the Coop only has that long-ass name instead of simple number.
What about Business I-40?
Tennessee is one of many states with no business Interstates, so you'd have to convince TnDOT to do something new.
Also, Sam Cooper Blvd. doesn't provide access to any businesses not already served by the adjacent US 64/70/79, so it wouldn't really work as a business route, Interstate or otherwise.
How about a 3di? I-140 already exists near Knoxville - but what about I-340?
IMO this would be the best, most logical option (in a perfect world, maybe it would be controlled access with improved signage all the way to East Parkway). But given the fact that there are much greater roadway issues to address across the city and the rest of West TN — a region which is already shortchanged by TDOT and the state as a whole — I doubt we'll see any major work on Sam Cooper anytime soon.
There's nothing really along Sam Cooper that would warrant a logical termini for an Interstate...no major traffic generators or major public/port/intermodel facilities and no cross-roads that are on the National Highway System. At best, you could possibly convince TDOT to give it a TN x40 route number...340 is taken but 540 is available.
The City of Memphis actually owns the road instead of TDOT. And good luck trying to assign a route number to it, x40 or not.
Quote from: Chrysler375Freeway on October 22, 2021, 02:30:34 PM
I'm surprised Sam Cooper Boulevard still exists as a freeway along much of it, considering that opposition forced I-40 to be rerouted. Why does it still exist if citizens have voiced concerns about it, opposition killed the segment connecting to I-40 Exit 1E and it isn't even a spur or business loop of I-40? Note/Disclaimer: There was a thread about this road, but it was mainly about who maintains it.
The bone of contention that opponents of I-40 had over routing the freeway through Memphis wasn't so much about the portion of Sam Cooper Boulevard that was completed; rather it was about building it through Overton Park and the Memphis Zoo to connect to the I-40/I-240 interchange just east of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge. An important factor is there is a very wealthy neighborhood that surrounds Overton Park. Opponents were able to fight the routing of I-40 all the way to the US Supreme Court, due in large part to their ability to afford a dream team of lawyers who could take the fight all the way to the SCOUTS...and win.
They taught the history of this in high school in Memphis. It's rather famous as this went all the way up to SCOTUS and they ruled against it. Really a groundbreaking case of the Feds losing eminent domain. In reality, the Zoo should have been relocated to Shelby Farms.
Today, it is now the Zoo and the park supporters fighting each other over parking.
That said, it's an excellent zoo and was the home to the original MGM Leo the Lion.
They should build a tunnel and connect it with I-40/I-69. Tennessee needs to get with it.
Nah; waste of scarce money to shave 2 minutes off a drive to downtown from the west. Especially since Memphis needs a 3rd Mississippi River bridge and replace the two its got and do something about I-69 and do some more about Lamar Ave and fix at least two dogshit system interchanges and six lane I-40 heading east and so on...
Quote from: Wayward Memphian on October 26, 2021, 04:33:26 PM
They taught the history of this in high school in Memphis.
Hell, I lived it.
My father worked for the Memphis/Shelby County Office of Planning and Development.
My mother worked for the zoo.
There were a few tense dinner conversations back in the day.
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on October 27, 2021, 05:17:05 PM
Quote from: Wayward Memphian on October 26, 2021, 04:33:26 PM
They taught the history of this in high school in Memphis.
Hell, I lived it.
My father worked for the Memphis/Shelby County Office of Planning and Development.
My mother worked for the zoo.
There were a few tense dinner conversations back in the day.
Mom got the last word on that one.
Yeah, any extension of the Sam Cooper Blvd freeway is a dead issue. Building a 2.5 mile tunnel from the I-40/I-240 interchange, under Overton Park and to the Sam Cooper Blvd freeway stub would cost billions. That kind of money could be devoted to far bigger needs in the Memphis area.
New Mississippi River bridge crossings are badly needed for I-55 and even I-40. Plus I think I-269 needs to two Mississippi River crossings of its own both North and South of the Memphis area; the route should be a full outer loop of Memphis. Then there is the issue of I-22. That could be routed along a Western I-269 to I-40 in Arkansas. Or they could keep chipping away at the Lamar Avenue problem. I-22 (or a spur of it) needs to be completed to I-240. Memphis International Airport needs improved access to both I-240 and I-22. The trick is how to deliver on that. Upgrades along Winchester Road and/or Democrat Rd wouldn't be easy. But we're talking about a major shipping hub in this vicinity.
Are there any other major cities sited along a river that only have two bridges? Louisville now has four, Cincinnati has five, and so forth and so on. Memphis gets the same number of Mississippi River crossings as Dubuque, which isn't nearly as large or as important.
Quote from: hbelkins on October 27, 2021, 08:13:00 PM
Are there any other major cities sited along a river that only have two bridges? Louisville now has four, Cincinnati has five, and so forth and so on. Memphis gets the same number of Mississippi River crossings as Dubuque, which isn't nearly as large or as important.
Quebec City has two, and they're right next to each other. (It also has a ferry.)
Quote from: 1 on October 27, 2021, 08:29:27 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 27, 2021, 08:13:00 PM
Are there any other major cities sited along a river that only have two bridges? Louisville now has four, Cincinnati has five, and so forth and so on. Memphis gets the same number of Mississippi River crossings as Dubuque, which isn't nearly as large or as important.
Quebec City has two, and they're right next to each other. (It also has a ferry.)
It also has a third, a two-lane bridge to Ile d'Orleans, but it doesn't completely cross the St. Lawrence River like the other two. One of those two carries an Interstate-class freeway across the river, Autoroute 73.
Like Memphis, there has been talk about building a third crossing, but I wouldn't bet the ranch on that ever happening.
Quote from: hbelkins on October 27, 2021, 08:13:00 PM
Are there any other major cities sited along a river that only have two bridges? Louisville now has four, Cincinnati has five, and so forth and so on. Memphis gets the same number of Mississippi River crossings as Dubuque, which isn't nearly as large or as important.
Depending on how you define I-310, New Orleans arguably has 2.
Baton Rouge has just 2 Mississippi River crossings.
One other problem with Memphis and its 2 outdated Mississippi River bridge crossings is the next nearest crossings North and South of Memphis are pretty far away. The I-155 crossing (the Caruthersville Bridge) is over 70 miles up river from I-40. The US-49 Helena Bridge is over 50 miles South of I-55.
Baton Rouge has the old I-10 and I-110 bridges in town. But the newer John James Audubon Bridge (LA-10) isn't very far North. The Sunshine Bridge (LA-70) isn't too far to the South.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on October 27, 2021, 11:25:42 PM
One other problem with Memphis and its 2 outdated Mississippi River bridge crossings is the next nearest crossings North and South of Memphis are pretty far away. The I-155 crossing (the Caruthersville Bridge) is over 70 miles up river from I-40. The US-49 Helena Bridge is over 50 miles South of I-55.
Baton Rouge has the old I-10 and I-110 bridges in town. But the newer John James Audubon Bridge (LA-10) isn't very far North. The Sunshine Bridge (LA-70) isn't too far to the South.
And the issue with I-155 is that it's right next to where the last "big one" happened, so it's unlikely that it would be usable in the event of another 8+ magnitude quake. For that matter, anything that big probably has widespread impacts on I-57, I-55, I-69, I-24, I-40, various US highway bridges around Cairo, some dams in the Lake City, KY area, etc. as well as impacts in the Memphis/AR/MS areas. I don't know that it's possible to mitigate the infrastructure of a depressed part of the country well enough to prevent widespread travel issues, not to mention the likely lack of fuel, food, and other services that anyone transiting would require as well. However, a loop around Memphis (particularly a southern bypass connecting I-269/I-22) would make for a better flow around a city I generally dread going through. It's bad enough that I sometimes choose to go through Pine Bluff, Lake Village, and Tallulah, LA instead for beach vacations to AL/FL. And no one takes that route for the scenery.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on October 27, 2021, 07:27:57 PM
Yeah, any extension of the Sam Cooper Blvd freeway is a dead issue. Building a 2.5 mile tunnel from the I-40/I-240 interchange, under Overton Park and to the Sam Cooper Blvd freeway stub would cost billions. That kind of money could be devoted to far bigger needs in the Memphis area.
Finally putting the nail in the coffin in extending roads along the western portion of the aborted I-40 corridor was the last big hurdle that had to be crossed before TDOT reworked the western I-40/I-240 interchange. There have been discussions in the past couple years about how to develop the right-of-way immediately east of the interchange, with the neighborhood wanting a park (because they're in a bit of a "park desert"), and developers wanting to build housing given that the neighborhood is seeing a revitalization, thanks to the successful redevelopment of the old Sears Crosstown facility.
Quote from: MikieTimT on October 28, 2021, 09:55:39 AM
Quote from: Bobby5280 on October 27, 2021, 11:25:42 PM
One other problem with Memphis and its 2 outdated Mississippi River bridge crossings is the next nearest crossings North and South of Memphis are pretty far away. The I-155 crossing (the Caruthersville Bridge) is over 70 miles up river from I-40. The US-49 Helena Bridge is over 50 miles South of I-55.
Baton Rouge has the old I-10 and I-110 bridges in town. But the newer John James Audubon Bridge (LA-10) isn't very far North. The Sunshine Bridge (LA-70) isn't too far to the South.
And the issue with I-155 is that it's right next to where the last "big one" happened, so it's unlikely that it would be usable in the event of another 8+ magnitude quake. For that matter, anything that big probably has widespread impacts on I-57, I-55, I-69, I-24, I-40, various US highway bridges around Cairo, some dams in the Lake City, KY area, etc. as well as impacts in the Memphis/AR/MS areas. I don't know that it's possible to mitigate the infrastructure of a depressed part of the country well enough to prevent widespread travel issues, not to mention the likely lack of fuel, food, and other services that anyone transiting would require as well. However, a loop around Memphis (particularly a southern bypass connecting I-269/I-22) would make for a better flow around a city I generally dread going through. It's bad enough that I sometimes choose to go through Pine Bluff, Lake Village, and Tallulah, LA instead for beach vacations to AL/FL. And no one takes that route for the scenery.
When talking about earthquake vs infrastructure concerns in that part of the country, it's worth noting that the regional geology means that liquefaction is a much bigger concern there than in other places exposed to the risk of big earthquakes.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on October 27, 2021, 11:25:42 PM
One other problem with Memphis and its 2 outdated Mississippi River bridge crossings is the next nearest crossings North and South of Memphis are pretty far away. The I-155 crossing (the Caruthersville Bridge) is over 70 miles up river from I-40. The US-49 Helena Bridge is over 50 miles South of I-55.
Baton Rouge has the old I-10 and I-110 bridges in town. But the newer John James Audubon Bridge (LA-10) isn't very far North. The Sunshine Bridge (LA-70) isn't too far to the South.
True, but the roads to get to both of those bridges -- especially on the west side of the river -- are a royal pain with very limited capacity.
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on October 28, 2021, 10:25:15 AM
When talking about earthquake vs infrastructure concerns in that part of the country, it's worth noting that the regional geology means that liquefaction is a much bigger concern there than in other places exposed to the risk of big earthquakes.
Put my response in the thread more appropriate for this tangent:https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=30360.msg2675876#msg2675876 (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=30360.msg2675876#msg2675876)
Quote from: Bobby5280 on October 27, 2021, 11:25:42 PM
One other problem with Memphis and its 2 outdated Mississippi River bridge crossings is the next nearest crossings North and South of Memphis are pretty far away. The I-155 crossing (the Caruthersville Bridge) is over 70 miles up river from I-40. The US-49 Helena Bridge is over 50 miles South of I-55.
Baton Rouge has the old I-10 and I-110 bridges in town. But the newer John James Audubon Bridge (LA-10) isn't very far North. The Sunshine Bridge (LA-70) isn't too far to the South.
Counterpoint: The John James Audubon Bridge and Sunshine Bridge are too far away from Baton Rouge proper to be useful to it (or any thru traffic, for that matter), much like how the I-155 and Helena crossings are to Memphis. The LA-10 bridge is almost completely abandoned, testifying to its uselessness on a national level. It would be a dumb idea to bypass Baton Rouge on that bridge or the Sunshine Bridge, but at least you could use the Helena or Caruthersville bridges to bypass Memphis in a pinch. If anything, the situations for both cities are very similar.
Further discussion about the Baton Rouge-Memphis debate can go in this thread I made a couple months ago:
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=28262
The LA 10 bridge has an ADT of just over 5k. Hardly abandoned. The US 190 bridge in Baton Rouge itself has just over 7k. I-10 is of course much much busier with over 100,000 crossings daily.
Quote from: Henry on October 26, 2021, 10:21:53 AM
The City of Memphis actually owns the road instead of TDOT. And good luck trying to assign a route number to it, x40 or not.
Following this conversation about the lack of a number for Sam Cooper Blvd. [Sorry, I'm behind on my forum reading!]
Anyway, as mentioned upthread having a shield of some sort is very compact and removes a lot of the wordiness of "Sam Cooper Blvd" at the 40/240 interchange. So while the idea of I-540 or TN-540 seem to be a really good way of dealing with this, Henry correctly notes that this roadway is not owned by TDOT.
So I have two possible suggestions on addressing this:
Memphis-540 shields. This has to be somewhat unique. The closest similar shield is the Clark County-215 near Las Vegas that uses the blue pentagon county shield. It is also a freeway that is not also a state highway.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2744667,-115.0482918,3a,15y,278.69h,99.75t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAdRUsWgGGoFH0x1vnwJyFw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DAdRUsWgGGoFH0x1vnwJyFw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D32.485462%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192
Memphis-SC shields. No number, but still a shield with a symbol. The closest corollaries to this that I can think of are the Long Island Parkways with their own unique shields, that highlight the name of the parkway with letters.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8982338,-73.2673845,3a,15y,142.91h,92.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sc_NT_MOzcDpZMPKCUSVOSw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Quote from: Bobby5280 on October 27, 2021, 07:27:57 PM
Yeah, any extension of the Sam Cooper Blvd freeway is a dead issue. Building a 2.5 mile tunnel from the I-40/I-240 interchange, under Overton Park and to the Sam Cooper Blvd freeway stub would cost billions. That kind of money could be devoted to far bigger needs in the Memphis area.
New Mississippi River bridge crossings are badly needed for I-55 and even I-40. Plus I think I-269 needs to two Mississippi River crossings of its own both North and South of the Memphis area; the route should be a full outer loop of Memphis. Then there is the issue of I-22. That could be routed along a Western I-269 to I-40 in Arkansas. Or they could keep chipping away at the Lamar Avenue problem. I-22 (or a spur of it) needs to be completed to I-240. Memphis International Airport needs improved access to both I-240 and I-22. The trick is how to deliver on that. Upgrades along Winchester Road and/or Democrat Rd wouldn't be easy. But we're talking about a major shipping hub in this vicinity.
When the Hernando De Soto (I-40) Bridge closed back in the summer, traffic built up on the older Memphis & Arkansas (I-55) bridge, and there were safety concerns of that bridge as well. Memphis easily needs new bridges and soon, especially when the next crossings are dozens if not near a hundred miles away. Extending the Outer Loop for Memphis into Arkansas could solve this by requiring another 2 bridges (eventually).
Quote from: MikieTimT on October 28, 2021, 09:55:39 AM
Quote from: Bobby5280 on October 27, 2021, 11:25:42 PM
One other problem with Memphis and its 2 outdated Mississippi River bridge crossings is the next nearest crossings North and South of Memphis are pretty far away. The I-155 crossing (the Caruthersville Bridge) is over 70 miles up river from I-40. The US-49 Helena Bridge is over 50 miles South of I-55.
Baton Rouge has the old I-10 and I-110 bridges in town. But the newer John James Audubon Bridge (LA-10) isn't very far North. The Sunshine Bridge (LA-70) isn't too far to the South.
And the issue with I-155 is that it's right next to where the last "big one" happened, so it's unlikely that it would be usable in the event of another 8+ magnitude quake. For that matter, anything that big probably has widespread impacts on I-57, I-55, I-69, I-24, I-40, various US highway bridges around Cairo, some dams in the Lake City, KY area, etc. as well as impacts in the Memphis/AR/MS areas. I don't know that it's possible to mitigate the infrastructure of a depressed part of the country well enough to prevent widespread travel issues, not to mention the likely lack of fuel, food, and other services that anyone transiting would require as well. However, a loop around Memphis (particularly a southern bypass connecting I-269/I-22) would make for a better flow around a city I generally dread going through. It's bad enough that I sometimes choose to go through Pine Bluff, Lake Village, and Tallulah, LA instead for beach vacations to AL/FL. And no one takes that route for the scenery.
Hear hear!
As to why (other than money and whatnot) Memphis has only 2 river bridges to this day is anyone's guess. But getting back to route from roughly central AR to beach cities in MS, AL, FL, I also dread the drive through Memphis. Since I-269 opened up, I now stay away from Lamar (US 78) and instead take I-55 south out from Memphis and then go east on I-269 and on to I-22 to Birmingham; I-65 and then US 231 to I-10 or further down to Panama City Beach.
About Sam Cooper Blvd, I would just say keep it as is.
Quote from: capt.ron on December 29, 2021, 11:57:37 AM
About Sam Cooper Blvd, I would just say keep it as is.
A tunnel to connect to the western section part of I-40 wouldn't upset me. ;)
While a tunnel under Overton Park would have been nice, it is never going to happen. Sam Cooper Boulevard will likely remain as-is for the rest of eternity.
A 2 mile long tunnel from the I-40/I-240/I-49 interchange, under Crosstown and Overton Park, to Sam Cooper Blvd would cost at least a couple or so billion dollars. For the first 1.5 miles of Sam Cooper Blvd going East from the park the road is an at-grade boulevard before finally turning into a freeway. And the freeway itself is not entirely up to Interstate standards.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 29, 2021, 02:28:04 PM
While a tunnel under Overton Park would have been nice, it is never going to happen. Sam Cooper Boulevard will likely remain as-is for the rest of eternity.
Only if a benevolent overlord wishes it so. ;)
Memphis definitely has more pressing needs that's for sure.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on December 29, 2021, 11:59:43 AM
Quote from: capt.ron on December 29, 2021, 11:57:37 AM
About Sam Cooper Blvd, I would just say keep it as is.
A tunnel to connect to the western section part of I-40 wouldn't upset me. ;)
That was actually looked into back in the 70s. It was deemed impractical for a number of reasons (money, exhaust fumes being dumped into the zoo, money, hard to build, money, etc.).
Quote from: rlb2024 on December 29, 2021, 05:44:36 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on December 29, 2021, 11:59:43 AM
Quote from: capt.ron on December 29, 2021, 11:57:37 AM
About Sam Cooper Blvd, I would just say keep it as is.
A tunnel to connect to the western section part of I-40 wouldn't upset me. ;)
That was actually looked into back in the 70s. It was deemed impractical for a number of reasons (money, exhaust fumes being dumped into the zoo, money, hard to build, money, etc.).
Well to be fair they could dump the exhaust fumes elsewhere but alas that would require more money which is the main reason it isn't and likely won't be built any time soon if ever.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on December 30, 2021, 12:14:54 AM
Quote from: rlb2024 on December 29, 2021, 05:44:36 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on December 29, 2021, 11:59:43 AM
Quote from: capt.ron on December 29, 2021, 11:57:37 AM
About Sam Cooper Blvd, I would just say keep it as is.
A tunnel to connect to the western section part of I-40 wouldn't upset me. ;)
That was actually looked into back in the 70s. It was deemed impractical for a number of reasons (money, exhaust fumes being dumped into the zoo, money, hard to build, money, etc.).
Well to be fair they could dump the exhaust fumes elsewhere but alas that would require more money which is the main reason it isn't and likely won't be built any time soon if ever.
I am very confident it won't ever be built. That ship sailed long ago. Way more pressing issues are a new bridge (or bridges) across the river.
Quote from: rlb2024 on January 10, 2022, 01:02:57 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on December 30, 2021, 12:14:54 AM
Quote from: rlb2024 on December 29, 2021, 05:44:36 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on December 29, 2021, 11:59:43 AM
Quote from: capt.ron on December 29, 2021, 11:57:37 AM
About Sam Cooper Blvd, I would just say keep it as is.
A tunnel to connect to the western section part of I-40 wouldn't upset me. ;)
That was actually looked into back in the 70s. It was deemed impractical for a number of reasons (money, exhaust fumes being dumped into the zoo, money, hard to build, money, etc.).
Well to be fair they could dump the exhaust fumes elsewhere but alas that would require more money which is the main reason it isn't and likely won't be built any time soon if ever.
I am very confident it won't ever be built. That ship sailed long ago. Way more pressing issues are a new bridge (or bridges) across the river.
As much as I would love to see it connected, it almost certainly won't ever happen. Even if the money was there it would not surprise me if it went to Middle TN instead.
Quote from: Echostatic on October 28, 2021, 02:00:34 PM
The LA 10 bridge has an ADT of just over 5k. Hardly abandoned. The US 190 bridge in Baton Rouge itself has just over 7k. I-10 is of course much much busier with over 100,000 crossings daily.
No, the LA-10 (Audubon) Bridge has an ADT of around 3,000 (2019 NBI) which is lower than the LA-1 Atchafalaya River Bridge. The BR Long Bridge has an ADT over 20K. The 7K figure is more in line with the traffic at the Atchafalaya River on US-190. As a note the percentage of truck traffic on the Long Bridge is low (around 5%)
Back to the Audubon Bridge.
US-90 Bus (NOLA) Over 175K
US-90 (NOLA) 37K (This figure feels really LOW!)
I-310 (Luling) 55K
LA-3213 (Gramercy) 12K
LA-70 (Sunshine Bridge) 16K
I-10 (Wilkinson) 101K
US-190 (BR) 20K
LA-10 (New Road) 3K
US-84 (Natchez) 12K
I-20 (Vicksburg) 11K (This number is all over the place. It runs as high as 30 K and as low as 11K)
US-82 (Greenville) 6K
US-49 (Helena) 5K
I-55 (Memphis) 55K
I-40 (Memphis) 37K
I-155 (Caruthersville) 8K
As an Aside, there are over 9K per day that cross the Red River on US-84 or 3,500 cross the red on US-67 half a mile from I-30.
The audubon bridge is not abandoned, but it has less traffic on its 4-lanes than many two laned bridges. Add that it is only about 30 miles from the nearest crossing. I still wonder why it was built where it was built.
Quote from: bwana39 on January 10, 2022, 11:38:42 PM
Quote from: Echostatic on October 28, 2021, 02:00:34 PM
The LA 10 bridge has an ADT of just over 5k. Hardly abandoned. The US 190 bridge in Baton Rouge itself has just over 7k. I-10 is of course much much busier with over 100,000 crossings daily.
No, the LA-10 (Audubon) Bridge has an ADT of around 3,000 (2019 NBI) which is lower than the LA-1 Atchafalaya River Bridge. The BR Long Bridge has an ADT over 20K. The 7K figure is more in line with the traffic at the Atchafalaya River on US-190. As a note the percentage of truck traffic on the Long Bridge is low (around 5%)
Back to the Audubon Bridge.
US-90 Bus (NOLA) Over 175K
US-90 (NOLA) 37K (This figure feels really LOW!)
I-310 (Luling) 55K
LA-3213 (Gramercy) 12K
LA-70 (Sunshine Bridge) 16K
I-10 (Wilkinson) 101K
US-190 (BR) 20K
LA-10 (New Road) 3K
US-84 (Natchez) 12K
I-20 (Vicksburg) 11K (This number is all over the place. It runs as high as 30 K and as low as 11K)
US-82 (Greenville) 6K
US-49 (Helena) 5K
I-55 (Memphis) 55K
I-40 (Memphis) 37K
I-155 (Caruthersville) 8K
As an Aside, there are over 9K per day that cross the Red River on US-84 or 3,500 cross the red on US-67 half a mile from I-30.
The audubon bridge is not abandoned, but it has less traffic on its 4-lanes than many two laned bridges. Add that it is only about 30 miles from the nearest crossing. I still wonder why it was built where it was built.
It replaced a ferry crossing -- as did most of the bridges between Baton Rouge and New Orleans that have been built in the last 40 years. The Sunshine Bridge was already there when I moved to Louisiana in 1981, but the I-310, Gramercy-Wallace, and Reserve-Edgard bridges are all newer and all replaced ferry boats that crossed the river. Those ferry crossings were really treacherous in the winter fog season, and at least one was hit by a ship with devastating consequences.
And in the case of Audubon, you have Riverbend & Big Cajun power plants (on either side of the bridge) they wanted to improve access to.
Putting this thing back on track.
Sam Cooper Boulevard does not go through Memphis. A lot of people would seem to like that to happen, but short of some sort of miracle (or disaster depending on how you see it), it is not going to happen.
50+ years ago, had they chosen a slightly different path past the park and zoo, it might have. In the 3rd millennium AD, it is not a happening thing!
Not that I would support it but I am surprised there hasn't been any group trying to convert this freeway to an urban boulevard with bike lanes and crap.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on January 17, 2022, 03:22:02 PM
Not that I would support it but I am surprised there hasn't been any group trying to convert this freeway to an urban boulevard with bike lanes and crap.
Heh, the last time I drove on The Coop, there as some dingbat riding a bike in the right lane going eastbound as the freeway starts. There was construction at that location too, so it created quite the fustercluck. Not to judge a book by it's cover, but there seemed to be something going on with that dude beyond some kind of arrogant cyclist thing.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on January 17, 2022, 03:57:22 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on January 17, 2022, 03:22:02 PM
Not that I would support it but I am surprised there hasn't been any group trying to convert this freeway to an urban boulevard with bike lanes and crap.
Heh, the last time I drove on The Coop, there as some dingbat riding a bike in the right lane going eastbound as the freeway starts. There was construction at that location too, so it created quite the fustercluck. Not to judge a book by it's cover, but there seemed to be something going on with that dude beyond some kind of arrogant cyclist thing.
In heavy traffic in LA I have witnessed on two different occasions people riding E Scooters on the 110 and 101. Absolutely nuts. If traffic picks back up again that becomes life and death. Not denying that it wouldn't fun while traffic is at a standstill but you won't see me doing that.
Quote from: froggie on October 25, 2021, 11:12:39 PM
There's nothing really along Sam Cooper that would warrant a logical termini for an Interstate...no major traffic generators or major public/port/intermodel facilities and no cross-roads that are on the National Highway System. At best, you could possibly convince TDOT to give it a TN x40 route number...340 is taken but 540 is available.
personally i see the sam cooper blvd and it leads right into the memphis zoo, which is technically a city park but if you think about it, its a tourist attraction as well. road around overton park could be turned into a giant 1 way oval that funnels traffic around the park, perhaps with a cute roundabout at the end of sam cooper.
at the same time, the rest could be a spur freeway, 2 laned each way, not very big, kinda similar to Ellington parkway in nashville. the only downside would be it could be a traffic generator as people would see it as a spur to I-40 east.