Suicide ramps at I-40 exit 1 in Memphis

[bugo]

When I was young (probably 1982-84) my aunt and uncle lived in Memphis, and I recall driving up Riverside Drive and getting onto I-40 and seeing a suicide ramp WAY up in the air. Next time I went through there in the mid-90s it was gone. Was this a stub for the aborted Riverfront Freeway or something else?

[NE2]

This? If not, it's possible that one of the current ramps was not yet connected.

[bugo]

This ramp was way in the air and headed west. I seem to remember it turning south a bit. Maybe it's faulty memory, but I could swear I saw it.

[codyg1985]

I think those ramps were indeed supposed to connect to the Riverfront Freeway that would have connected with TN 300. Was the interchange finished when you went through there in the early 80s?

[MikeTheActuary]

I think those ramps were indeed supposed to connect to the Riverfront Freeway that would have connected with TN 300.

I can confirm that.  That proposed freeway was killed due to costs, leftover backlash from the Overton Park mess, and issues with the glideslope for the Dewitt Spain airport.   Long range plans called for a "Great River Parkway" to continue up through Northhaven, up towards Shelby Forest, connecting to an extension of what's become 385/269.

(My father was an urban planner with Memphis/Shelby County.  My mother was a volunteer for Overton Park.  It made for some interesting arguments at home.)

[iBallasticwolf2]

I don't think that the Riverfront freeway would have helped too much