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Tennessee

Started by FLRoads, January 20, 2009, 11:51:22 PM

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hbelkins

Quote from: Daniel Fiddler on May 19, 2011, 08:33:50 PM
The Chicago - Atlanta and Detroit - Atlanta truck routes are two of the busiest, and they converge in Chattanooga.  I - 24's number of lanes is inadequate from exit 81 in Murfreesboro to exit 185 in Chattanooga save for the few miles on the eastern side of Monteagle.  Either the road needs to be widened to 6 lanes or two new interstates need to be built, one as a beltway around Chattanooga on the south, east, and north sides, and one from Hwy 27 in Soddy - Daisy, TN to I - 65 in Cave City, KY through Cookeville, TN, the Soddy - Daisy - Cookeville section being an upgrade of Hwy 111.  In addition, I would support I - 75 from I - 24 in Chattanooga to Chastain Rd in Kennesaw being widened to 8 lanes, Chastain Rd to I - 575 to 10, and I - 575 to Delk Rd in Marietta to 12 lanes.

I don't think the route into Kentucky would need to be an interstate. There are plans to improve KY 90 in spots from Burkesville to Glasgow. Instead of taking TN 111, traffic could use the TN 56-53 corridor north from I-40 to reach Kentucky, then KY 61 to KY 90. Might not be an interstate, but most is already an improved route.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.


NE2

South of Burkesville, that's the alignment of Corridor J (which takes an abrupt turn east to Somerset).
pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

Daniel Fiddler

Quote from: froggie on May 19, 2011, 10:38:39 PM
QuoteI - 24's number of lanes is inadequate from exit 81 in Murfreesboro to exit 185 in Chattanooga save for the few miles on the eastern side of Monteagle.

Not true...it's adequate between Murfreesboro and I-59.  At I-59 is where you have justification to widen I-24 east into Chattanooga.


I drive the interstate frequently, and it could certainly use the widening.  Plus I - 75 from Naples to Chattanooga is either 6+ lanes (or being widened to 6+ lanes), as is I - 65 throughout the length of Kentucky.  Logically, that says to me that I - 24 from Chattanooga to Nashville as well as I - 65 from Nashville to the Kentucky line could stand to be 6+ lanes.

Quote from: hbelkins on May 20, 2011, 12:10:19 AM
Quote from: Daniel Fiddler on May 19, 2011, 08:33:50 PM
The Chicago - Atlanta and Detroit - Atlanta truck routes are two of the busiest, and they converge in Chattanooga.  I - 24's number of lanes is inadequate from exit 81 in Murfreesboro to exit 185 in Chattanooga save for the few miles on the eastern side of Monteagle.  Either the road needs to be widened to 6 lanes or two new interstates need to be built, one as a beltway around Chattanooga on the south, east, and north sides, and one from Hwy 27 in Soddy - Daisy, TN to I - 65 in Cave City, KY through Cookeville, TN, the Soddy - Daisy - Cookeville section being an upgrade of Hwy 111.

I don't think the route into Kentucky would need to be an interstate. There are plans to improve KY 90 in spots from Burkesville to Glasgow. Instead of taking TN 111, traffic could use the TN 56-53 corridor north from I-40 to reach Kentucky, then KY 61 to KY 90. Might not be an interstate, but most is already an improved route.

But an interstate (or toll road, such as a turnpike) would be justified.  Shaving 75 miles off the route through Nashville for travelers between Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Chattanooga in the south to Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Louisville in the north, which combined the metropolitan areas have a little more than 35 million population.  If the road costs $3.5 billion to build (may be higher due to rugged terrain), that's $100 per person who could potentially use it while driving south to north or north to south.  If a vehicle gets 25 miles to the gallon (which many get less than that), the route through Nashville costs approximately an extra $12 in gasoline, not to mention the extra driving time, which would be OVER an hour considering downtown Nashville and Monteagle easily.  Charge that $12 in tolls, most people would gladly fork over that to save the driving time plus gasoline.  If everyone in those 10 metropolitan areas used the highway 9 times, it'd pay for itself using the $3.5 billion figure. 

NE2

What would be the benefit of an Interstate over the four-lane divided highway with interchanges at major roads that currently exists south of I-40?
pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

Daniel Fiddler

#79
Quote from: NE2 on May 20, 2011, 07:57:05 PM
What would be the benefit of an Interstate over the four-lane divided highway with interchanges at major roads that currently exists south of I-40?

Right now, yes, you are indeed correct.  The road transverses some of the most desolate land in the state, Van Buren county has barely 5,000 people in the whole COUNTY, and there are SMALL TOWNS in Tennessee (who have no restaurants or shopping much to speak of and whose most exciting social event is the local Walmart) who are three times larger than Van Buren county.  The county seat, Spencer, barely justifies a dot on the map.  As it stands, Highway 111 barely has enough traffic to warrant basic maintenance such as repaving, much less four - laning.  I've been in that part of Tennessee, there's nothing urban about it.  You'll probably see more deer on the route than people between Dunlap and Sparta.

However, imagine a completely new terrain route connecting that through Glasgow to I - 65 at Cave City.  If you consider the national long - haul freight map, which shows the number of trucks going from Atlanta to Chicago and vice - versa, the percentage of trucks that would shift eastward from I - 24 / I - 65 through Nashville to the new interstate / toll road would be substantial enough to warrant a full limited - access highway.  Sure, we can build it with access partially controlled as a four lane, but it may grow overcrowded enough that it would make it unsafe for people turning on / off the highway.  I'd say it'd be wiser to face the inevitable and build it as a four (or even six) lane highway with access fully controlled from the start.  It's not going to be the local traffic that uses the road substantially, it's going to be the long distance travelers, especially the truckers.

mightyace

^^^

OK, if you want to get too deep into new roads, move that discussion into fictional highways.

Quote from: Daniel Fiddler on May 20, 2011, 07:38:17 PM
Logically, that says to me that I - 24 from Chattanooga to Nashville as well as I - 65 from Nashville to the Kentucky line could stand to be 6+ lanes.

I will agree that I-65 north of Nashville could stand to be at least six lanes, especially with Kentucky's widening.

The last time I went through Chattanooga in the daylight was on June 30 last year.  We got to Chattanooga between 6 and 7pm EDT and has no problems whatsoever.  Of course, that was just one time.
My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mightyace

I'm out of this F***KING PLACE!

mightyace

From Newschannel 5 in Nashville, TN:
Federal Law Mandates Road Signs Must Be Replaced
http://www.newschannel5.com/story/14967087/federal-law-mandates-road-signs-must-be-replaced
My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mightyace

I'm out of this F***KING PLACE!

agentsteel53

Quote from: mightyace on June 23, 2011, 08:20:10 PM
From Newschannel 5 in Nashville, TN:
Federal Law Mandates Road Signs Must Be Replaced
http://www.newschannel5.com/story/14967087/federal-law-mandates-road-signs-must-be-replaced

what is the rationale behind this?
live from sunny San Diego.

http://shields.aaroads.com

jake@aaroads.com

Alps

Scare tactics. You have to replace signs that aren't reflective enough, but counties should be doing that anyway. Hardly any new and burdensome rule. And it's not "Federal law" - if you don't do it, you get threatened by FHWA with Federal money getting withheld. That's different, especially when you think about the penalties for breaking Federal law.

agentsteel53

Quote from: Steve on June 23, 2011, 10:46:36 PM
Scare tactics.

if you can scare someone into suddenly having the money to get a lot of things done, I'd like to know how.
live from sunny San Diego.

http://shields.aaroads.com

jake@aaroads.com

Alps

Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 23, 2011, 11:59:43 PM
Quote from: Steve on June 23, 2011, 10:46:36 PM
Scare tactics.

if you can scare someone into suddenly having the money to get a lot of things done, I'd like to know how.
Scare tactics by the newspapers to instill fear in the unwashed masses.

agentsteel53

Quote from: Steve on June 25, 2011, 12:46:30 AM
Scare tactics by the newspapers to instill fear in the unwashed masses.

well, I hope they get more newspapers sold when the ordinary reader notes that the signs may be getting replaced.
live from sunny San Diego.

http://shields.aaroads.com

jake@aaroads.com

mightyace

In this case, tabloid TV, as the article is on the web site of one of the local TV stations.  But, same difference.
My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mightyace

I'm out of this F***KING PLACE!

codyg1985

Officials are discussing a possible toll bridge and connector between US 27 and I-75 north of Chattanooga: http://timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/19/chattanooga-proposed-toll-bridge-sited-just-south-/
Cody Goodman
Huntsville, AL, United States

Bryant5493

"The Spur"




Be well,

Bryant
Check out my YouTube page (http://youtube.com/Bryant5493). I have numerous road videos of Metro Atlanta and other areas in the Southeast.

I just signed up on photobucket -- here's my page (http://s594.photobucket.com/albums/tt24/Bryant5493).

Crazy Volvo Guy

Quote from: wriddle082 on January 04, 2011, 08:44:38 PMWill this be the push TN needs to adopt Clearview?

Hopefully not.
I hate Clearview, because it looks like a cheap Chinese ripoff.

I'm for the Red Sox and whoever's playing against the Yankees.

codyg1985

#91
It looks like more of I-24 is to be resurfaced in Chattanooga. This time from the GA State line to the Chattanooga Creek bridge. Interesting that this project will be using Open-Graded Friction Course: http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/construction/2011/Proposals/Oct_28/CNK336_propbook.pdf

In other Chattanooga news, a project to straighten and widen US 27 from north of the Tennessee River bridge to US 127 is set to be let at the end of this month: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/mar/08/chattanooga-massive-us-highway-27-project-starting/

The plans for this project can be found on this page (scroll to Item 20): http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/construction/2011/letting_102811.htm
Cody Goodman
Huntsville, AL, United States

wriddle082

Quote from: codyg1985 on October 18, 2011, 08:19:39 AM
It looks like more of I-24 is to be resurfaced in Chattanooga. This time from the GA State line to the Chattanooga Creek bridge. Interesting that this project will be using Open-Graded Friction Course: http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/construction/2011/Proposals/Oct_28/CNK336_propbook.pdf

Well I know this stretch of I-24 has a high accident rate, so the OGFC will help.  I hope it costs less to pave this way, since in a few years they will hopefully go ahead and widen this stretch to six lanes.  Then GA will jump at the chance to widen their portion to six lanes, then the traffic issues to I-59 will finally be resolved.

codyg1985

Quote from: wriddle082 on October 19, 2011, 09:59:22 PM
Quote from: codyg1985 on October 18, 2011, 08:19:39 AM
It looks like more of I-24 is to be resurfaced in Chattanooga. This time from the GA State line to the Chattanooga Creek bridge. Interesting that this project will be using Open-Graded Friction Course: http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/construction/2011/Proposals/Oct_28/CNK336_propbook.pdf

Well I know this stretch of I-24 has a high accident rate, so the OGFC will help.  I hope it costs less to pave this way, since in a few years they will hopefully go ahead and widen this stretch to six lanes.  Then GA will jump at the chance to widen their portion to six lanes, then the traffic issues to I-59 will finally be resolved.


That stretch of I-24 should have been widened years ago. I honestly don't see why the money that's going into widening US 27 isn't going into widening I-24. Then again, I am not as familiar with how congested US 27 can get.

I can see the widening of I-24 being tricky where it runs along the bank of the Tennessee River with the railroad on the other side. TVA would need to be involved I'm sure.
Cody Goodman
Huntsville, AL, United States

Alex

Was doing research to update the Interstate 140 Guide and came across this recent article that the extension to U.S. 321 may happen after all, but with road work not until at least 2017:

Alcoa backs Pellissippi Extension Alternate A

QuotePellissippi Parkway Extension Alternate A was endorsed unanimously Tuesday night by Alcoa City Commission.

Either Alternate A and C would continue Pellissippi Parkway as a controlled-access interstate-type highway to East Lamar Alexander Parkway near Morning Star Baptist Church.

New Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John C. Schroer asked the cities of Alcoa and Maryville and Blount County to state their preference – no build or built Alternative A, C or D.

TDOT indicated that Alternate A is its preferred choice.

QuoteMaryville City Council unanimously endorsed Alternate A on Oct. 4.

County decision next

The Blount County Commission will consider the issue Oct. 20. Meeting as the Agenda Committee on Tuesday, county commissioners voted to send a recommendation for Alternative A as its preferred route for consideration at its next regular meeting.

The NIMBY group Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension is still dead set against the extension.

Alternates map:
http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/pellissippi/pdfs/PPEPmap.pdf

ATLRedSoxFan

Quote from: Alex on October 20, 2011, 04:43:29 PM
Was doing research to update the Interstate 140 Guide and came across this recent article that the extension to U.S. 321 may happen after all, but with road work not until at least 2017:

Alcoa backs Pellissippi Extension Alternate A

QuotePellissippi Parkway Extension Alternate A was endorsed unanimously Tuesday night by Alcoa City Commission.

Either Alternate A and C would continue Pellissippi Parkway as a controlled-access interstate-type highway to East Lamar Alexander Parkway near Morning Star Baptist Church.

New Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John C. Schroer asked the cities of Alcoa and Maryville and Blount County to state their preference – no build or built Alternative A, C or D.

TDOT indicated that Alternate A is its preferred choice.

QuoteMaryville City Council unanimously endorsed Alternate A on Oct. 4.

County decision next

The Blount County Commission will consider the issue Oct. 20. Meeting as the Agenda Committee on Tuesday, county commissioners voted to send a recommendation for Alternative A as its preferred route for consideration at its next regular meeting.

The NIMBY group Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension is still dead set against the extension.

Alternates map:
http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/pellissippi/pdfs/PPEPmap.pdf
Not to you, Alex, but that is such a joke. I lived in Knoxville from 1986 until 1992 and they had JUST finished the bridge in '87, and they said at the time, it would be finished by '89. It finally opened in late '92 (after I left) and was only open between Alcoa Hwy(US129) and Kingston Pike(US 11-70) and finally linked to I-40 and SR162 the year after. And that only got pushed by the city of Knoxville, because they wanted a direct (albeit awkward) interstate connection to the airport/Oak Ridge (Martin Marietta, now Martin/Lockheed)-rationalization most of Knoxville's population is west..Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge could certainly use it as a funnel for traffic, since both towns are always conjested. I know, it's the NIMBYS, but it should have got pushed anyway.

codyg1985

I don't know if this is related to the I-55/Crump Blvd modifications discussed earlier in the thread, but updated Google Maps aerial imagery shows work taking place at the I-55/Crump Blvd interchange in Memphis. I have been through there a few times since construction has begun, but I wasn't sure if the work was related to the modifications or if it was some interm fix until the real modifications are made.

The loop ramp from SB I-55 to NB Riverside Drive has been removed:

http://g.co/maps/6h7yr
Cody Goodman
Huntsville, AL, United States

froggie

Looks to me like interim fixes given what I've seen of the reconstruction proposal (which would make I-55 the "direct route").

codyg1985

I don't know if this has been mentioned on here yet or not, but the I-65/TN 109 proposed interchange design just south of the Kentucky border includes C/D roads on both sides. It also includes widening I-65 to six lanes through the interchange from 1.5 miles south of the KY state line to the state line.

http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/i65sr109/docs/BuildAlternative.pdf
Cody Goodman
Huntsville, AL, United States

UptownRoadGeek

I've noticed that several interstate exits in the TN half of the Memphis area have asphalt thru-lanes with concrete exit ramps. Anyone have any idea why this is? It doesn't appear to be a case of a concrete highway being covered and the ramps left untouched, although it could be. Only thing I could think of was using concrete on ramps so that they will last longer under the stress of cars slowing and stopping on the ramp. Ironically, in the MS half of the metro the thru-lanes are concrete and exit ramps are asphalt.



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