Interstate 381 / State Route 381

Interstate 381

Interstate 381 constitutes a 1.39 mile long route extending southwest from I-81/U.S. 58 to Commonwealth Avenue north of Downtown Bristol. The freeway spur winds through a valley between two subdivisions to an at-grade intersection with Keys Street west and Church Street east. Unsigned SR 381 extends 0.63 miles south from the freeway along Commonwealth Avenue to U.S. 11, U.S. 11E, U.S. 11W and U.S. 421 and 1.20 miles overall to the Tennessee state line at State Street.

Interstate 381 was constructed at the same time as a six mile section of I-81 from the Tennessee state line northeast to U.S. 11/19 at Exit 5. Costing $7 million to build, both highways opened to traffic on November 18, 1961.1

References:

  1. "Bristol Bypass Opens Monday." The Progress-Index (Petersburg, VA), November 19, 1961.

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Page Updated Friday June 18, 2021.