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[Grzrd]

So whatever happened to the I-55/Crump upgrade?  IIRC, plans were published that showed the details of the rework -- as of a few short years ago, this seemed to be a done deal!  Obviously funding (and in-state priorities) had something to do with the inaction here -- if any local/regional posters have any further info regarding this project's status, please let the rest of us know! (apologies for using this thread to ask a Mid-South question)

(above quote from I-67: TN, KY, IN thread)

I decided to start a Mid-South thread for a Mid-South question. Here is the latest from TDOT:

http://www.tn.gov/tdot/topic/i-55-crump

The project is temporarily on hold for the reasons stated in the link.

[sparker]

So whatever happened to the I-55/Crump upgrade?  IIRC, plans were published that showed the details of the rework -- as of a few short years ago, this seemed to be a done deal!  Obviously funding (and in-state priorities) had something to do with the inaction here -- if any local/regional posters have any further info regarding this project's status, please let the rest of us know! (apologies for using this thread to ask a Mid-South question)

(above quote from I-67: TN, KY, IN thread)

I decided to start a Mid-South thread for a Mid-South question. Here is the latest from TDOT:

http://www.tn.gov/tdot/topic/i-55-crump

The project is temporarily on hold for the reasons stated in the link.

So it looks like the last physical traffic counts done at/near the location didn't correspond with the modeling algorithm of the Memphis MPO planners -- and either they're going to change the projection methodology, take another physical count, or both.  Sounds like a way to affect a postponement until they actually have available funding -- or, in an alternate scenario, there are factions in the MPO (or elsewhere in the TN transportation arena) who don't think this project (which does principally benefit out-of-state traffic movement) warrants priority.  Either way, it looks like I-55 NB traffic will be "looping it" for the near term. 

[intelati49]

 

I actually looked this up a week ago. (Before this thread was made)

We drove around the interchange (SB I-55) and I thought "why isn't this project started yet?"

Even my family was like "Wow, this is awfully narrow roadway here"

[bwana39]

It seems to still slowly be inching through the process. Hopefully it might even be a priority item in Biden's idea of infrastructure.

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2021/02/16/i-55-crump-boulevard-update.html

[codyg1985]

It seems to still slowly be inching through the process. Hopefully it might even be a priority item in Biden's idea of infrastructure.

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2021/02/16/i-55-crump-boulevard-update.html

Just imagine if this project would have been under construction as originally proposed with the I-55 bridge being closed and then the I-40 bridge fracture occurred. That would have been crippling for Memphis and beyond.

[Wayward Memphian]

It seems to still slowly be inching through the process. Hopefully it might even be a priority item in Biden's idea of infrastructure.

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2021/02/16/i-55-crump-boulevard-update.html

Just imagine if this project would have been under construction as originally proposed with the I-55 bridge being closed and then the I-40 bridge fracture occurred. That would have been crippling for Memphis and beyond.

I made that point on the other thread.  The only real option is a new southern bridge first.

[Avalanchez71]

Why not add ferry service?

[Wayward Memphian]

Why not add ferry service?

That's funny

[bwana39]

Why not add ferry service?

Don't think ferry service is a good fit for an interstate. Besides. The bank structure on the Tennessee side is nor really conducive for it.  The river is too swift too.

[MikieTimT]

Why not add ferry service?

That's funny

Any solution other than to build, maintain, or repair roads/bridges with this one.

[roadman65]

I do not know why they don't build a bridge at the west end of MS 304.  Extend the freeway into AR and make it tie into I-40 west of West Memphis.   You could apply I-269 to it or make it another x40 interstate.  Then you would have another route for I-55 NB to I-40 WB, or EB I-40 to I-55 SB and have a three quarter  outer beltway around Memphis.

[Avalanchez71]

Why not add ferry service?

That's funny

Any solution other than to build, maintain, or repair roads/bridges with this one.

I think they should repair the Desoto bridge.  I just don't agree with a I-69 or I-269 additional bridge.

[sprjus4]

Why not add ferry service?

That's funny

Any solution other than to build, maintain, or repair roads/bridges with this one.

I think they should repair the Desoto bridge.  I just don't agree with a I-69 or I-269 additional bridge.

Redundancy is needed across the river. There’s only 2 bridges in a hundred mile span, let alone those in a major urban area. What happens when both I-40 and I-55 fail?

[bwana39]

Why not add ferry service?

That's funny

Any solution other than to build, maintain, or repair roads/bridges with this one.

I think they should repair the Desoto bridge.  I just don't agree with a I-69 or I-269 additional bridge.

At some point, they are going to have to replace both of them. The M&A was opened in 1949. It is 72 + years old. The HDB was opened in 1973. It is 48+ years old. It makes a lot of sense to build an additional span and then when replacement or major overhaul is required, that closing it will not be so painful. The capacity of the M&A is already a problem even before the HDB was closed. A new span just south of Memphis would solve much if not all of that capacity issue.

[rte66man]

Reopen the Harahan lanes!!!  <ducks for cover> 

[froggie]

Reopen the Harahan lanes!!!  <ducks for cover> 

They already did.  It's the only way to bike across the Mississippi for 200 miles (Helena, AR to the south and Cairo, IL to the north...the I-155 bridge prohibits bikes).

[Finrod]

I do not know why they don't build a bridge at the west end of MS 304.  Extend the freeway into AR and make it tie into I-40 west of West Memphis.   You could apply I-269 to it or make it another x40 interstate.  Then you would have another route for I-55 NB to I-40 WB, or EB I-40 to I-55 SB and have a three quarter  outer beltway around Memphis.

I would presume that it's because Mississippi and Arkansas would have to build it, and neither of them have any motivation to spend money to make traffic better in Tennessee.

[sprjus4]

I honestly think the previously proposed crossing tying into TN-300 (the stub where I-69 would split off I-40) would be a reasonable proposal to be built, as opposed to the outer crossings. Less new location freeway needed on the Arkansas side.

[Wayward Memphian]

Get all three states a piece. Go south of West Memphis across Presidents Islandand curve it down to US 61 at the MS. Line and upgrade it to interstate standard to the I- 69 junction. There's huge container port proposed for the old Allen Fossil Fuel plant on President's along with CN's intermodal yard. Would make a good route for I-22 one day to continue through Arkansas. The road should connect to I-40 between Lehi and the US 79 south exit. Extend it north to US 64 and near the UP intermodal and eventually up to I-55/I-5544 around between Clarkdale and Turrell where it would eventually then meet a new northern crossing one day.

Anywho, Rep Crawford's words here:
“There’s some question about the global integrity of this structure. So, we’re going to have to start having a conversation about the costs associated with a new bridge, and then, are we in a position now with the amount of the volume of traffic that traverses the Mississippi River at that point, do we need to think about a third bridge? And, so this is a major national concern because of the significance of this logistics hub.”

[bwana39]

I honestly think the previously proposed crossing tying into TN-300 (the stub where I-69 would split off I-40) would be a reasonable proposal to be built, as opposed to the outer crossings. Less new location freeway needed on the Arkansas side.

The river and the oxbow lakes are way too wide / involved there.  A bridge in that location would be more expensive than any amount of road that would be built to the south. Not to mention the airport it would have to close.

Get all three states a piece. Go south of West Memphis across Presidents Islandand curve it down to US 61 at the MS. Line and upgrade it to interstate standard to the I- 69 junction. There's huge container port proposed for the old Allen Fossil Fuel plant on President's along with CN's intermodal yard. Would make a good route for I-22 one day to continue through Arkansas. The road should connect to I-40 between Lehi and the US 79 south exit. Extend it north to US 64 and near the UP intermodal and eventually up to I-55/I-5544 around between Clarkdale and Turrell where it would eventually then meet a new northern crossing one day.

Anywho, Rep Crawford's words here:
“There’s some question about the global integrity of this structure. So, we’re going to have to start having a conversation about the costs associated with a new bridge, and then, are we in a position now with the amount of the volume of traffic that traverses the Mississippi River at that point, do we need to think about a third bridge? And, so this is a major national concern because of the significance of this logistics hub.”

While the idea of sharing the costs might be notable, the route stinks AND the more principals you involve, the greater the problems.
I think the US congress should give them the 80 or 90 percent specifically for a bridge. Then, I bet they come up with their cost sharing portions whatever it takes....

[codyg1985]

Reopen the Harahan lanes!!!  <ducks for cover> 

They already did.  It's the only way to bike across the Mississippi for 200 miles (Helena, AR to the south and Cairo, IL to the north...the I-155 bridge prohibits bikes).

I saw a post on the Memphis subreddit where they had to close the Big River crossing due to motorcycles trying to use it to bypass the I-55 traffic.

[The Ghostbuster]

I do like that they will eliminate Exit 12C since I think it is too close to the Crump Blvd./Riverside Dr. interchange. If they ever do replace the Memphis & Arkansas Bridge, the new bridge should have full shoulders on both sides.

[sprjus4]

Agreed, and a minimum of 3 lanes in each direction, ideally 4. Same with the I-40 bridge.

[sparker]

Agreed, and a minimum of 3 lanes in each direction, ideally 4. Same with the I-40 bridge.

Since I-55 -- and I-240 beyond their shared interchange -- is the direct truck route from the west to the FedEx hub as well as the rail offloading facilities in the south end of Memphis -- dedicated truck lanes might be a part of any full-scale expansion of the river crossing itself -- possibly a 3rd (or even 3rd/4th) parallel span, with one or more reserved for trucks.  Crump east of the 55 interchange is a direct route to a number of these offload facilities (CN, BNSF/CSX in particular) so a significant portion of the commercial traffic would likely diverge from I-55 at that location.   

[sprjus4]

In that case, two truck and two car lanes in each direction could work. Question is how you tie into the Crump interchange.