I-69 in TN

[GreenLanternCorps]

Google Maps now has updated satellite images showing the completed TN 21 interchange and construction going East to the US 51 interchange.

[sprjus4]

What is the purpose of the flyover between US-51 North and I-69 South at the northern end of the project?

[abqtraveler]

What is the purpose of the flyover between US-51 North and I-69 South at the northern end of the project?

Two reasons: to connect the TN-22 freeway to I-69 NB and SB, and to also allow traffic from the north end of Union City to access I-69 SB without having to go through Union City.

[abqtraveler]

Google Maps now has updated satellite images showing the completed TN 21 interchange and construction going East to the US 51 interchange.

Yes, and it also shows initial paving around the TN-21 interchange. It looks like they haven't done any paving from TN-21 to US-51 south of Union City.

[Ryctor2018]

That's what I saw when I visited the area last November. Most of the activity centered around the northern US-51/Future I-69 interchange. Paving should not take that long since the rest of the road is graded. Once the last interchanges and bridges are completed this year, paving should move along quickly. Depending on how the weather holds up, the entire bypass could be paved by the end of the year.

[CoolAngrybirdsrio4]

Google Maps now has updated satellite images showing the completed TN 21 interchange and construction going East to the US 51 interchange.

Looks like part of the freeway pavement is done at the interchange with TN 21, and part of the interchange at US 51 is under construction with two flyover ramps.

[Ryctor2018]

I traveled from Memphis to Indianapolis following the route of I-69 this past weekend. For the Mid-South board, I stopped by the construction zone around Union City to check the progress. Looks like the flyovers at the north US-51/I-69 interchange are attached. The interchange is far from complete, but once Spring commences the work can proceed steadily. The road west of TN-21 still was not paved (nor was i expecting it). The bridge for I-69 over Section Line road is in the early stages; only earthwork is completed. The piers, columns, girders and everything else is needed. However, the road near the south US-51/I-69 interchange is paved with a layer of asphalt. So it looks like the middle bend west of town needs the initial pavement laid, then more layers will be added. I've added a few pictures of the south interchange, plus took pics of the TN-21/I-69 interchange again.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892754912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing southbound N of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894054809/in/album-72157720172236422/
Slightly different angle of US-51 exit

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893717406/in/album-72157720172236422/
Looking nb on future I-69 north of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892756912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Pic of US-51 interchange looking SW

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894372540/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing east TN-21/I-69 interchange

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893807998/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing west TN-21/I-69 interchange

[edwaleni]

I traveled from Memphis to Indianapolis following the route of I-69 this past weekend. For the Mid-South board, I stopped by the construction zone around Union City to check the progress. Looks like the flyovers at the north US-51/I-69 interchange are attached. The interchange is far from complete, but once Spring commences the work can proceed steadily. The road west of TN-21 still was not paved (nor was i expecting it). The bridge for I-69 over Section Line road is in the early stages; only earthwork is completed. The piers, columns, girders and everything else is needed. However, the road near the south US-51/I-69 interchange is paved with a layer of asphalt. So it looks like the middle bend west of town needs the initial pavement laid, then more layers will be added. I've added a few pictures of the south interchange, plus took pics of the TN-21/I-69 interchange again.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892754912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing southbound N of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894054809/in/album-72157720172236422/
Slightly different angle of US-51 exit

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893717406/in/album-72157720172236422/
Looking nb on future I-69 north of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892756912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Pic of US-51 interchange looking SW

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894372540/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing east TN-21/I-69 interchange

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893807998/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing west TN-21/I-69 interchange

First off, thank you for taking the time to update everyone here.

Your pictures in Flickr are marked private. You must make them "public" for the links to work properly.

[Thegeet]

I traveled from Memphis to Indianapolis following the route of I-69 this past weekend. For the Mid-South board, I stopped by the construction zone around Union City to check the progress. Looks like the flyovers at the north US-51/I-69 interchange are attached. The interchange is far from complete, but once Spring commences the work can proceed steadily. The road west of TN-21 still was not paved (nor was i expecting it). The bridge for I-69 over Section Line road is in the early stages; only earthwork is completed. The piers, columns, girders and everything else is needed. However, the road near the south US-51/I-69 interchange is paved with a layer of asphalt. So it looks like the middle bend west of town needs the initial pavement laid, then more layers will be added. I've added a few pictures of the south interchange, plus took pics of the TN-21/I-69 interchange again.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892754912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing southbound N of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894054809/in/album-72157720172236422/
Slightly different angle of US-51 exit

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893717406/in/album-72157720172236422/
Looking nb on future I-69 north of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892756912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Pic of US-51 interchange looking SW

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894372540/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing east TN-21/I-69 interchange

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893807998/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing west TN-21/I-69 interchange

I can't see the pics.

[Great Lakes Roads]

I traveled from Memphis to Indianapolis following the route of I-69 this past weekend. For the Mid-South board, I stopped by the construction zone around Union City to check the progress. Looks like the flyovers at the north US-51/I-69 interchange are attached. The interchange is far from complete, but once Spring commences the work can proceed steadily. The road west of TN-21 still was not paved (nor was i expecting it). The bridge for I-69 over Section Line road is in the early stages; only earthwork is completed. The piers, columns, girders and everything else is needed. However, the road near the south US-51/I-69 interchange is paved with a layer of asphalt. So it looks like the middle bend west of town needs the initial pavement laid, then more layers will be added. I've added a few pictures of the south interchange, plus took pics of the TN-21/I-69 interchange again.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892754912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing southbound N of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894054809/in/album-72157720172236422/
Slightly different angle of US-51 exit

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893717406/in/album-72157720172236422/
Looking nb on future I-69 north of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892756912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Pic of US-51 interchange looking SW

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894372540/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing east TN-21/I-69 interchange

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893807998/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing west TN-21/I-69 interchange

I can't see the pictures as well.

[Ryctor2018]

I traveled from Memphis to Indianapolis following the route of I-69 this past weekend. For the Mid-South board, I stopped by the construction zone around Union City to check the progress. Looks like the flyovers at the north US-51/I-69 interchange are attached. The interchange is far from complete, but once Spring commences the work can proceed steadily. The road west of TN-21 still was not paved (nor was i expecting it). The bridge for I-69 over Section Line road is in the early stages; only earthwork is completed. The piers, columns, girders and everything else is needed. However, the road near the south US-51/I-69 interchange is paved with a layer of asphalt. So it looks like the middle bend west of town needs the initial pavement laid, then more layers will be added. I've added a few pictures of the south interchange, plus took pics of the TN-21/I-69 interchange again.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892754912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing southbound N of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894054809/in/album-72157720172236422/
Slightly different angle of US-51 exit

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893717406/in/album-72157720172236422/
Looking nb on future I-69 north of US-51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51892756912/in/album-72157720172236422/
Pic of US-51 interchange looking SW

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51894372540/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing east TN-21/I-69 interchange

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194446137@N03/51893807998/in/album-72157720172236422/
Facing west TN-21/I-69 interchange

First off, thank you for taking the time to update everyone here.

Your pictures in Flickr are marked private. You must make them "public" for the links to work properly.

Sorry guys. Everyone should see the pictures now.

[bmeiser]

Weird to not see any construction equipment on an unfinished project.

[edwaleni]

Weird to not see any construction equipment on an unfinished project.

Same thoughts. I know they are working over at US-51 north of town as I have seen the cranes.

But to see miles of nothing but bare base asphalt and no work is concerning.

[triplemultiplex]

Par for the course with that project.  It's been under construction for 12 bloody years and STILL not done.  That's the height of absurdity for a relatively simple project over pancake-flat terrain.
Indiana has build dozens of miles of I-69 over the same time period.  I know we've been over why many times, but that doesn't change the fact that it sucks.  It reflects badly on the state and frankly, the country as a whole.

[sprjus4]

^ Indiana built over 100 miles in that time.

[froggie]

Two things to point out here.  First, northwestern Tennessee is *NOT* flat as a pancake.  Sure, it's not as hilly as central or eastern Tennessee, but it's not flat either.

Second, Indiana used a not-small quantity of bonding dollars to pay for their I-69 projects.  Tennessee does not do bonding for road projects...they are strictly a pay-as-you-go state.

[Bobby5280]

Maybe Tennessee needs to make some changes.

[abqtraveler]

Two things to point out here.  First, northwestern Tennessee is *NOT* flat as a pancake.  Sure, it's not as hilly as central or eastern Tennessee, but it's not flat either.

Second, Indiana used a not-small quantity of bonding dollars to pay for their I-69 projects.  Tennessee does not do bonding for road projects...they are strictly a pay-as-you-go state.

Indiana was using the Toll Road as its cash cow to pay for I-69 and other projects. That started with the $3.8 billion windfall the state got when they initially leased the Toll Road back in 2006. Then they got another $600 million infusion from the Toll Road to accelerate the Martinsville-Indy section of I-69 when they renegotiated the lease a few years ago.

Unfortunately, Tennessee doesn't have such an asset that they can leverage, they don't borrow money to pay for road construction, and Congress has pretty much gotten out of the business of earmarking funds for specific projects. So Tennessee does what they can with what they have. I remember folks in Tennessee talked at one point for building some or all of I-69 as a toll road, but it appears that concept never gained traction.

[ITB]

I, too, wish to express thanks for the photos. Much appreciated! I'd like to mention that from Flickr it's very easy to post the actual pictures in the forum thread. Just use the BBCode function found under the Arrow icon, select the size (large usually works well), fully copy the URL code and then paste in the reply box, and then trim everything out except the stuff between img and /img, keeping the brackets around those two elements intact. (My initial reply eliminated those brackets in the reply, so I'm editing to include that information.) Test how it will look by using the Preview function before actually posting.

Example:



Now about Tennessee and I-69. To be sure, it's a low-to-medium priority in the state. While frustrating to me and to many others, it's understandable. While western Tennessee has generally remained stagnant, population wise, the Nashville region has been booming. Logically, it only makes sense to devote limited fiscal resources to where growth is occurring. The state of Tennessee has committed to completing I-69 to I-155, and it will do so, but, unfortunately, it's just been a slow ... slow ... slow process. One has to wonder if the recently announced huge automotive battery facility, if it actually moves forward, will speed things up a bit. Good chance it will

[Ryctor2018]

Thanks for the suggestion ITB. I may do that the next time I'm in western TN. As for the I-69 project, perhaps the counties that I-69 passes thru can take a page from Missouri with US-36. Implement a millage to pay for construction of the road. The one in Missouri was paid off in what, about 10 years? I think even less. The project in west TN is not very long; if a millage could work (perhaps the law would need changing for this to work), the road could be completed to Dyersburg before 2030. I'm even including the tie-in with the Purchase Pkwy section of I-69.

[abqtraveler]

Thanks for the suggestion ITB. I may do that the next time I'm in western TN. As for the I-69 project, perhaps the counties that I-69 passes thru can take a page from Missouri with US-36. Implement a millage to pay for construction of the road. The one in Missouri was paid off in what, about 10 years? I think even less. The project in west TN is not very long; if a millage could work (perhaps the law would need changing for this to work), the road could be completed to Dyersburg before 2030. I'm even including the tie-in with the Purchase Pkwy section of I-69.

IIRC, that millage in Missouri to upgrade US-36 was approved by the voters of the counties through which US-36 passed, with the ultimate goal of upgrading US-36 to I-72. However, the money ran out before US-36 was fully converted to interstate grade-but it's now pretty much nonstop 4-lane highway with some at-grade intersections from the end of I-72 at Hannibal to I-35 in Cameron. It's still possible that this section could become I-72 someday should a new source of funding be found to complete the remaining required upgrades to interstate standards.

[The Ghostbuster]

I wouldn't hold my breath on an Interstate 72 westward extension, just like I wouldn't on Interstate 69 being constructed bewteen Dyersburg and Memphis. Nor would I hold my breath for the short Mississippi segment of Interstate 69 connecting with the one in Texas.

[Ryctor2018]

I wouldn't hold my breath on an Interstate 72 westward extension, just like I wouldn't on Interstate 69 being constructed bewteen Dyersburg and Memphis. Nor would I hold my breath for the short Mississippi segment of Interstate 69 connecting with the one in Texas.

It's taking a long time just to get the section between Dyersburg & Fulton, KY upgraded to I-69. Unless the piggy bank is cracked open for west TN, it may take a 100 yrs to build south to Memphis! Something like what's done in Missouri maybe their only hope. Priorities may shift with that new plant for Covington, though I would imagine incremental improvements first.

[roadman65]

Why is the Union City Bypass not yet done. Satellite imagery shows it well graded. In 2020 I saw bridges north of Troy up where US 51 and I-69 are to exchange. You mean in two years nothing has been done even to open part of it for locals?

[seicer]

It's not like the old bypass is that congested. I know that Tennessee takes its time on highway construction and planning because its reluctance to take on debt but... this is painfully slow.