Tennessee

[I-39]

Glad to see some attention is finally being given to the I-65 and State Route 96 interchange in Franklin. This interchange is way beyond functionally obsolete and has been a significant issue for more than a decade. Traffic flow through the area has gotten significantly worse in the last 5 years. The stakes are very high considering the main county hospital is right there.

The worst part though is this is the first time someone is publicly acknowledging it.

https://fox17.com/news/growing-nashville/franklin-leaders-urge-redesign-of-dangerous-i-65-interchange-i-65-and-murfreesboro-road-nashville-news-google-trends

[I-55]

Glad to see some attention is finally being given to the I-65 and State Route 96 interchange in Franklin. This interchange is way beyond functionally obsolete and has been a significant issue for more than a decade. Traffic flow through the area has gotten significantly worse in the last 5 years. The stakes are very high considering the main county hospital is right there.

The worst part though is this is the first time someone is publicly acknowledging it.

https://fox17.com/news/growing-nashville/franklin-leaders-urge-redesign-of-dangerous-i-65-interchange-i-65-and-murfreesboro-road-nashville-news-google-trends

Might turn into of the larger DDI projects we've seen. Not enough room to add loop ramps, too much volume for a roundabout (not to mention the fact that Tennessee is allergic to roundabouts), and over 20k vehicles on the SB off/on ramps each. Could see 5-6 lanes in the eastbound direction on the bridge. Reminds me of the interchange at I-75 and FL-56 just north of I-275 in the Tampa area.

[The Ghostbuster]

A DDI looks like it would be a good fit at this location. Would a SPUI work here as well?

[jdunlop]

A DDI looks like it would be a good fit at this location. Would a SPUI work here as well?

SPUIs and DDIs have similar operational benefits.  But if both work, there's typically little to recommend a SPUI, given the much higher costs (~'three times the construction cost.).

Definitely looks like a good DDI candidate.

[Plutonic Panda]

Parts of I-40 in Tennessee are being looked at for improvement due to heavy truck traffic:

https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/knoxville/tennessee-department-transportation-holding-meeting-about-heavy-i-40-traffic-asking-public-opinion-knox-county/51-6dadc777-580e-47e4-bdc8-2f1aa05ad35e

[Georgia]

Something needs to be done, that stretch is congested far too much for the relative size of Knoxville.

[I-55]

I expect a list of alternatives would include (from likeliest to least likely):

Flex Lanes (see Tri-State and Jane Addams Tollways)
Reversible "Choice Lanes" (2 lanes, inbound AM, outbound PM)
"Choice Lanes", each way 24h
Widening west of TN-131 from 6-8 lanes
Widening east of TN-131 from 8-10 lanes
--- big gap ---
I-475 revival

The corridor already includes auxiliary lanes between interchanges, and the issues appear to be mainline LOS related and not interchange related. Capacity is the concern, which would require either more lanes or an alternate route. Tennessee has already explored the use of tolled "choice lanes," which are just rebranded HOT lanes, for use on other corridors (and I think this one too) though no construction has occurred anywhere as of yet. Tennessee is notoriously slow to widen interstates, hence why I listed those options lower. I could see the "flex lanes" being a preferred option by TDOT, which would be the lowest cost option and would utilize the shoulders as an additional lane during peak congestion. This would require some widening though not as much as it would require to add a travel lane. I'm not a fan of this option, I think the Borman (80/94) flex lane project in NWI will do nothing to improve that corridor (which has similar traffic and interchange density to 40/75) and any attempt to do so on 40/75 would likely be just as ineffective.

[The Ghostbuster]

All of those alternatives seem plausible to me, save the 475 revival. Reviving and building it now would probably cost more than it would have when it was cancelled in 2010.

[ElishaGOtis]

I have a feeling choice lanes / express lanes whatever will be on the docket. I'm realllly hoping they don't go with reversible ones, however... never was the biggest fan of those tbh...

[roadman65]

I read a gantry on I-65 in Nashville got hit by a semi.  I believe yesterday the road was closed due to it.

[Tomahawkin]

For the Love, Can we get some traffic improvements on IH 65 South of Nashvegas??? The interchange with IH 440 is a complete cluster#### because the ramp traffic from that interchange backs up onto the mainline! Same with IH 40 and 400. Looks like TDOT is more reactive than proactive? Thats how you end up with Atlanta Scale of FUBAR Traffic!

[freebrickproductions]

I-65 also really desperately needs widening between I-840 and TN 396, at least.

[TBKS1]

Not a very major change at all but TN 278 was recently signed along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Downtown Memphis. This route was designated some time in 2024 and was a former alignment of US 78. I took these earlier today.

[freebrickproductions]

For whatever reason, this interchange between I-240 and US 78 in Memphis (I-240 Exit 21) has a completely superfluous left turn lane on eastbound US 78 that manages to duplicate three separate ramps at the interchange. Amusingly, it also means there are three different ways one could make the eastbound US 78 -> westbound I-240 movement there. Anyone know why that left turn lane on eastbound US 78 exists?

[Mapmikey]

That left turn ramp was added in the early 1980s to accommodate traffic from Farrisview Blvd which used to have a bridge over the 240 EB-US 78 EB ramp to reach US 78.  The Farrisview-78 connection dated to the original construction of the interchange circa 1960.

Farrisview was rerouted in the late 1990s and the left turn from US 78 was never removed.

[freebrickproductions]

That left turn ramp was added in the early 1980s to accommodate traffic from Farrisview Blvd which used to have a bridge over the 240 EB-US 78 EB ramp to reach US 78.  The Farrisview-78 connection dated to the original construction of the interchange circa 1960.

Farrisview was rerouted in the late 1990s and the left turn from US 78 was never removed.

That makes sense, I figured it was added for something in the past and never removed despite a redesign.

[I-39]

For the Love, Can we get some traffic improvements on IH 65 South of Nashvegas??? The interchange with IH 440 is a complete cluster#### because the ramp traffic from that interchange backs up onto the mainline! Same with IH 40 and 400. Looks like TDOT is more reactive than proactive? Thats how you end up with Atlanta Scale of FUBAR Traffic!

The entirety of Interstate loop downtown will have to be reconstructed someday. Why there isn't a bigger movement to address this is beyond me.

I-65 also really desperately needs widening between I-840 and TN 396, at least.

Bare minimum, possibly to US 412 as well. Also, the TN 396 interchange needs expansion to link back to Duplex Road in Spring Hill.

[freebrickproductions]

I-65 also really desperately needs widening between I-840 and TN 396, at least.

Bare minimum, possibly to US 412 as well. Also, the TN 396 interchange needs expansion to link back to Duplex Road in Spring Hill.

In that case, then at least thru the US 412 exit, seeing as TDOT rebuilt that bridge to have space for a third lane in both directions.

[roadman65]

Is there a specific reason why US 41 Alternate and US 64 are not concurrent between Monteagle and Winchester?

The current US 64 there is about five miles longer than US 41 Alternate and makes  more sense to follow the latter.


If memory serves me but in August 1990, I recall seeing from US 41 in Monteagle US 64 coined with Alternate 41, but can't remember that 35 years ago.

[Mapmikey]

Is there a specific reason why US 41 Alternate and US 64 are not concurrent between Monteagle and Winchester?

The current US 64 there is about five miles longer than US 41 Alternate and makes  more sense to follow the latter.


If memory serves me but in August 1990, I recall seeing from US 41 in Monteagle US 64 coined with Alternate 41, but can't remember that 35 years ago.

US 64 was moved to the new 4-lane alignment in 1995.

US 41A is only 1 minute faster per Google. It goes through one built up area and has a mountainous segment.

[ElishaGOtis]

Is there a specific reason why US 41 Alternate and US 64 are not concurrent between Monteagle and Winchester?

The current US 64 there is about five miles longer than US 41 Alternate and makes  more sense to follow the latter. If memory serves me but in August 1990, I recall seeing from US 41 in Monteagle US 64 coined with Alternate 41, but can't remember that 35 years ago.

I triple-dog-dare you to drive a big rig up the 41A grade 

 

Plus, the speed limits are generally faster on the 64 alignment compared to the 41A alignment. (55-65 vs 25-55). All that said, it does make an interesting opportunity for a 64A as well as a 41A lol (fictional ik ik).

[MikeTheActuary]

Not a very major change at all but TN 278 was recently signed along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Downtown Memphis. This route was designated some time in 2024 and was a former alignment of US 78. I took these earlier today.

SSR 278 has existed quite a bit longer than that.   It used to be the secret state route designation for the western 2 miles of US 78.  When US 78 was realigned and extended (*sigh*), I guess TDOT decided to spill the secret.

[roadman65]

Is there a specific reason why US 41 Alternate and US 64 are not concurrent between Monteagle and Winchester?

The current US 64 there is about five miles longer than US 41 Alternate and makes  more sense to follow the latter.


If memory serves me but in August 1990, I recall seeing from US 41 in Monteagle US 64 coined with Alternate 41, but can't remember that 35 years ago.

US 64 was moved to the new 4-lane alignment in 1995.

US 41A is only 1 minute faster per Google. It goes through one built up area and has a mountainous segment.

Well that makes sense. Unfortunately maps don't show topography and being haven't been that way in a while I used to think the land flattened out after Monteagle.  I remember US 41 is flat up until north of Monteagle where SB starts to climb up to the junction of US 41A.

[Great Lakes Roads]

TDOT has added the I-65 widening project from I-840 to SR-396 to the latest 10-year plan (FY27-36)!

$150 million project that has an estimated construction start date in 2028.

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/build-with-us/04042610YP.pdf

[I-55]

TDOT has added the I-65 widening project from I-840 to SR-396 to the latest 10-year plan (FY27-36)!

$150 million project that has an estimated construction start date in 2028.

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tdot/build-with-us/04042610YP.pdf

This makes me believe that it actually will start construction between 2028-2029, since I wouldn't expect them to list such an early date for this large of a project if it wasn't already undergoing engineering/environmental processes. Since those are likely occurring, it's unlikely they'll push back the timeline too far to render that work void.