Observations along US 72 in Tennessee

[US71]

Sunday, I clinched WB US 72 in Tennessee. We drove part of it during the Road Meet, so I decided to drive the whole thing from the Mississippi Line to US 64.

Like all Tennessee US Routes, it's co-signed with a TN State Route (57),  but the co-signing seems to alter between Primary and Secondary State Route, often within a couple blocks.

Just beyond TN 385,  West 72 is posted as North 72 (Kudos to Cody for the tip off on that one).  Of course, the exit ramp from WB 385 to US 72 has (Primary) TN 72 Shields.

The I-240/US 72 interchange is a big mess from all the reconstruction going on.

There are no END signs when 72 reaches East Parkway (US 64/70/79  TN Secondary 212), nor any guide signs along 72 indicating you're at 64. If you don't have a map, or know where you're going you'll get lost. TN 57 appears to turn north and follow 64.

East Parkway at Union, there is a trailblazer for 72/57 which seems to indicate they follow Union.  I didn't think to check EB Union approaching Parkway.

As an aside, US 51 and US 61 are well posted, though 78 isn't posted very well from what I saw.

There is no signage along 64/70/79 at Poplar St indicating one turns on US 72.

[UptownRoadGeek]

What exactly does the construction at 240 and Poplar entail?

[US71]

What exactly does the construction at 240 and Poplar entail?

Looks like TDOT is widening I-240 for a few miles either direction.

[codyg1985]

What exactly does the construction at 240 and Poplar entail?

Looks like TDOT is widening I-240 for a few miles either direction.

I think it ties into the widening that was done a few years ago on I-240 between US 78 and TN 385 on the south end and the I-240/I-40 interchange that was done a few years ago as well. When finished I-240 will be four lanes in either direction plus auxiliary lanes.

[codyg1985]

East Parkway at Union, there is a trailblazer for 72/57 which seems to indicate they follow Union.  I didn't think to check EB Union approaching Parkway.

There is an set of shields on Union Ave going eastbound after US 51/Bellevue that shows US 72 (but not TN 57):
http://g.co/maps/c5g3a

[UptownRoadGeek]

I think it ties into the widening that was done a few years ago on I-240 between US 78 and TN 385 on the south end and the I-240/I-40 interchange that was done a few years ago as well. When finished I-240 will be four lanes in either direction plus auxiliary lanes.

Oh, about time. You would think that I-240, at least the southern half, would have been on the same level as I-55 south into Mississippi and I-40 east toward Lakeland by now.  Maybe they'll go ahead and finish the interchange with I-40 now.

[codyg1985]

I think it ties into the widening that was done a few years ago on I-240 between US 78 and TN 385 on the south end and the I-240/I-40 interchange that was done a few years ago as well. When finished I-240 will be four lanes in either direction plus auxiliary lanes.

Oh, about time. You would think that I-240, at least the southern half, would have been on the same level as I-55 south into Mississippi and I-40 east toward Lakeland by now.  Maybe they'll go ahead and finish the interchange with I-40 now.

I-240 between I-55 and US 78 is still three lanes in each direction plus auxiliary lanes. That needs to be widened, too.

[US71]

East Parkway at Union, there is a trailblazer for 72/57 which seems to indicate they follow Union.  I didn't think to check EB Union approaching Parkway.

There is a set of shields on Union Ave going eastbound after US 51/Bellevue that shows US 72 (but not TN 57):
http://g.co/maps/c5g3a

There is at least one going WB on Union, near the hospital: