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[Chris]

I am confused by I-269.

As far as I know, it is supposed to make a beltline around Memphis. It is under construction as Tennessee SR-385 north and east of Memphis. I am not sure if the Mississippi SR-304 (also signed as I-69 on maps) between Hernando and the US 61 is also part of this project, but if it is, it will be like a 70 mile partial beltway around the northern, eastern and southern side of Memphis. Are there also plans to create an I-269 in Arkansas, thus completing a beltway? If it is, it might be one of the longest beltways in the United States, and the second 3-digit to enter 3 states.

I'm also not sure how the I-69 would run through the Memphis area. Will it run along I-55 and I-240 through downtown? Or will it run along future I-269 much like I-95/I-495 around Washington? It seems quite a detour to use I-269 east of Memphis if I-69 will run along US 61 in Mississippi and US 51 in Tennessee.

[rickmastfan67]

I'm also not sure how the I-69 would run through the Memphis area. Will it run along I-55 and I-240 through downtown? Or will it run along future I-269 much like I-95/I-495 around Washington? It seems quite a detour to use I-269 east of Memphis if I-69 will run along US 61 in Mississippi and US 51 in Tennessee.

I-55 > I-240 > I-40 > TN-300 > US-51 for I-69 in the Memphis area.

[froggie]

Only the segment of MS 304 to the east of I-55 will become I-269.  West of I-55, it's already signed as I-69 except for the westernmost mile or so to US 61 (I-69 splits off at what was MS 713).

[SSF]

MDOT needs to fix that dip on the I-69 eastbound bridge currently marked with the "DIP" sign, i went over it at 45 and it was scary as heck.

[Chris]

So it'll be like this? (my great paint.net skills  )

[froggie]

More or less, although it won't directly follow either US 61 or US 51 in the area you show.  It'll be new alignment...the alignment in Mississippi has been finalized.  While a preferred alignment has been selected in Tennessee, there isn't an easy-does-it map on the Tennessee side, but the preferred alignment will be west of and parallel to US 51.

[Bryant5493]

Here's a video of I-69 North/S.R. 304 East.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfuBjiATsEI

So, let me see if I got this right. Is the I-269 beltway supposed to loop from Memphis into Mississippi into Arkansas then back into Memphis again?


Be well,

Bryant

[rickmastfan67]

So, let me see if I got this right. Is the I-269 beltway supposed to loop from Memphis into Mississippi into Arkansas then back into Memphis again?

No. I-269 will not even enter Arkansas.

[Bryant5493]

^^ Oh, okay.


Be well,

Bryant

[Sykotyk]

Question:

With that layout, will the new I-22 (current US-78) ever reach I-240? Or will it simply end at I-269 or follow I-269 west to I-69 or north to I-40, etc?

That stretch of US-78 looks like it'd need some major work, or be aligned elsewhere, to make I-22 continue to I-240/I-40.

Sykotyk

[Chris]

That's a good question, I wondered why I-22 doesn't lead to the Nonconnah Parkway near Collierville (slightly to the north). That would make an easy way to connect to I-240.

[froggie]

TDOT has no plans to upgrade their portion of US 78 to freeway.

Haven't gotten an answer from MDOT about I-22's future routing, but the two popular theories going around are that it'll either A) end at I-269, or B) duplex with I-269 to end at I-55/I-69.

[Chris]

or B) duplex with I-269 to end at I-55/I-69.

That would make an I-22/I-55/I-69/I-269 interchange. I'm sure one of you trivia-gurus know if a 4-interstate interchange is rare or not. 

[xonhulu]

I-44-55-64-70 in St Louis, at least after US 70 gets re-routed.  It's signed like it has all 4 freeways now, but I'm not sure I-44 officially makes it there now.  Anyone?

[Anthony_JK]

TDOT has no plans to upgrade their portion of US 78 to freeway.

Haven't gotten an answer from MDOT about I-22's future routing, but the two popular theories going around are that it'll either A) end at I-269, or B) duplex with I-269 to end at I-55/I-69.

Ending a 2di at a 3di doesn't really make much sense to me.

Duplexing I-22 along MS 304/I-269 probably makes more sense....but how confusing would it be to have TWO interstate highways terminating at the same exact point??

I'd prefer the former as a temporary solution, with I-269 between the I-22 and I-55/I69 interchanges shielded with "TO I-22" shields. Sooner or later, they'll have to  make some form of connection with I-240, though, to make it complete....possibly to promote access to Memphis' airport. Perhaps maybe an expessway connection with existing US 78 as a stopgap until there is funding for a proper freeway upgrade??


Anthony

[Revive 755]

I-44-55-64-70 in St Louis, at least after US 70 gets re-routed.  It's signed like it has all 4 freeways now, but I'm not sure I-44 officially makes it there now.  Anyone?

Really depends upon the source.  Going by signage only SB I-55 overlaps with I-44.  The FHWA route log has I-55 overlapping I-44 (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table1.cfm), but then it seems to be somewhat error-prone for the St. Louis region (just check the IL mileage for I-70).  The EIS for the SB I-55 viaduct between that interchange and the I-44 interchange was labeled for I-44, so take your pick. 

But after I-70 gets relocated, and before the full build out of the new bridge plans, there will be a pair of three interstate interchanges, with I-44/I-55/I-64 at the west end of the PSB, and I-55/I-64/I-70 at the Tri-Level.  Though the Tri-Level could stay as a three interstate junction should the I-64 connector to the new bridge get a three digit designation.


(Edited to fix I-54 typo in second to last line)

[mightyace]

But after I-70 gets relocated, and before the full build out of the new bridge plans, there will be a pair of three interstate interchanges, with I-44/I-55/I-64 at the west end of the PSB, and I-55/I-64/I-70 at the Tri-Level.  Though the Tri-Level could stay as a three interstate junction should the I-54 connector to the new bridge get a three digit designation.

I-54?  Am I missing something or is that a typo?

[froggie]

He probably meant I-64...

[codyg1985]

No. I-269 will not even enter Arkansas.

I've always thought that it would make sense to connect the NW terminus of I-269 in Tennessee with the I-55/I-555 interchange in Arkansas via a new Mississippi River bridge. This would provide Memphis with a third bridge across the Mississippi, provide a more direct route between Memphis and Jonesboro, and provide a bypass for through trucks on I-55 or I-40 or from I-69 north to I-40 west.

[hbelkins]

I-44-55-64-70 in St Louis, at least after US 70 gets re-routed.  It's signed like it has all 4 freeways now, but I'm not sure I-44 officially makes it there now.  Anyone?

I-44 does NOT make it to I-64 & I-70. Signage on I-44 indicates that it ends and to continue north on I-55.

[froggie]

I-44 does NOT make it to I-64 & I-70. Signage on I-44 indicates that it ends and to continue north on I-55.

According to both MoDOT and FHWA, I-44 does make it to I-64/I-70.

[Revive 755]

I-44-55-64-70 in St Louis, at least after US 70 gets re-routed.  It's signed like it has all 4 freeways now, but I'm not sure I-44 officially makes it there now.  Anyone?

I-44 does NOT make it to I-64 & I-70. Signage on I-44 indicates that it ends and to continue north on I-55.

Depends on which signs you go by:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.61345,-90.197325&spn=0,359.956055&z=15&layer=c&cbll=38.61353,-90.197291&panoid=obq6QXf3RtNmJHsM7Rk7mQ&cbp=12,38.02,,0,-3.44

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.622017,-90.18886&spn=0,359.989014&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.62217,-90.188807&panoid=PJFShzv1vziI0a7lfEcn7w&cbp=12,191.71,,0,3.51

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.617652,-90.181033&spn=0,359.997253&t=k&z=19&layer=c&cbll=38.61774,-90.181373&panoid=oUNAfqM2WD3wvKDIE_TUOA&cbp=12,282.16,,0,-3.17

Two of the few correct signs if I-44 ends at I-55:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.62949,-90.186059&spn=0,359.994507&t=k&z=18&layer=c&cbll=38.629586,-90.186062&panoid=YxkLm_OKe0xy8lqzLyIlBg&cbp=12,175.46,,0,-2.47

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.650696,-90.193022&spn=0,359.994507&t=k&z=18&layer=c&cbll=38.650406,-90.192877&panoid=YH8bnSkjEvZy2GHTMGhr9w&cbp=12,146.14,,0,-29.45

Regarding extending I-269 into Arkansas, I believe there is a semi-active study for a third Mississippi River crossing at Memphis, but I think it would be closer to downtown than the northern end of I-269.

[froggie]

TDOT did a bridge feasibility study back in 2006, and came up with 4 corridors for further study (on the map on the last page).  None would extend I-269 into Arkansas.  What I would consider the main frontrunner (most traffic impact, lowest cost, and lowest environmental impact) would basically be an extension of TN 300 west across the river, connecting either to the I-40/I-55 interchange in West Memphis, or to I-55 north of Marion.

[mightyace]

TDOT did a bridge feasibility study back in 2006, and came up with 4 corridors for further study (on the map on the last page).  None would extend I-269 into Arkansas.  What I would consider the main frontrunner (most traffic impact, lowest cost, and lowest environmental impact) would basically be an extension of TN 300 west across the river, connecting either to the I-40/I-55 interchange in West Memphis, or to I-55 north of Marion.

This bridge idea was studied as a pilot project under the Tennessee Tollway Act.

Tolls are briefly mentioned in feasibility study mentioned in froggie's post and you can link to the TTA thread here

[Revive 755]

Looking through the bridge feasibility study, I really like the Bridge C option, as it could provide a better route for I-40 through Memphis and eliminate the turn at the western I-240 interchange.