Interstate 240 (Tennessee)
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway W.B. Fowler Sr. Expressway Avron B. Fogelman Expressway | ||||
Route information | ||||
Auxiliary route of I-40 | ||||
Maintained by TDOT | ||||
Length | 19.27 mi[1] (31.01 km) | |||
Existed | November 12, 1958[2]–present | |||
NHS | Entire route | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end | I-40 in Memphis | |||
East end | I-40 / Sam Cooper Boulevard in Memphis | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Tennessee | |||
Counties | Shelby | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Interstate 240 (I-240) is a 19.27-mile-long (31.01 km)
The first sections of I-240 were opened in 1962, and the present-day route was completed in 1971. I-240 was first envisioned in the 1950s as a complete circular beltway around Memphis. The western segment between I-40 and I-55 was designated as I-255 until 1973, however. Citizen opposition to the routing of I-40 through Overton Park in the central part of Memphis resulted in I-40 being rerouted onto what was originally the northern loop of I-240 in 1981. As a result of this change, I-240's exits are still numbered according to their original mileage, which today is inconsistent with its length.
Route description
I-240 begins as a north–south route in Midtown Memphis east of
I-240 continues east-northeast once again as a six-lane freeway and immediately crosses
History
Planning and construction controversies
I-240 was first planned in 1955 as a 30.8-mile (49.6 km)
The Supreme Court remanded the case to the District Court for further review, and it ruled that the highway commission had not adequately explored alternative routes.[4] The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), however, continued to explore alternative options to construct the route through Overton Park, including tunneling under the park or constructing the highway below grade, but ultimately concluded that these alternatives were too expensive.[5] On January 9, 1981, then-Governor Lamar Alexander submitted a request to the then-Secretary of Transportation Neil Goldschmidt to cancel the route through Overton Park, which was approved seven days later.[6][7] I-40 was then rerouted onto a concurrency with the northern loop of I-240, and I-240 was removed from this section the following year. This turned I-240 into a semi-beltway around the southern part of the city, and exits were not renumbered. Part of the proposed I-40 route was constructed from North Highland Street east to the eastern I-40/I-240 junction. The road is now called Sam Cooper Boulevard and is owned by the city. In addition, right-of-way was acquired west of the park and many structures demolished to make way for the Interstate. Most of these empty lots have since been built over.[8]
Construction
The first segment of I-240, located between US 51 and US 78 (Lamar Avenue), opened on December 15, 1962.[9] The section between US 78 and Walnut Grove Road opened on December 31, 1962.[10] The section between Walnut Grove Road and the interchange with I-40 and Sam Cooper Boulevard, along with the short segment of I-40 north to US 64/US 70/US 79 (Summer Avenue), which was then part of I-240, was dedicated on October 9, 1963, and opened 14 days later.[11][12] On July 23, 1965, the segment between I-55 and South Parkway opened.[13] The segment between South Parkway and US 78 (Lamar Avenue, E. H. Crump Boulevard) opened on October 20, 1966.[14] The section between US 78 and Union Avenue opened on May 27, 1971.[15] The final section of the present-day alignment of I-240, located between Union Avenue and the Midtown interchange with I-40, opened on July 14, 1971.[16] The connecting segments of I-40 between the Midtown interchange and Chelsea Avenue, which was then signed as part of I-240, and between US 51 and the Midtown interchange, were also opened at the same time.[16] The last section of what was originally part of I-240 to be completed was the section between Chelsea Avenue and US 64/US 70/US 79, which is now part of I-40. Construction on this segment began in April 1974, and the section was opened to traffic on March 28, 1980, after years of delays.[17]
I-40/I-240 interchange reconstructions
The cancelation of the section of I-40 through Overton Park rendered both interchanges with I-240 inadequate to handle the unplanned traffic patterns, thus necessitating their reconstruction.[8] In addition, both interchanges contained ramps with hazardous sharp curves with some of the highest crash rates in the state.[18] On the eastern interchange, reconstruction was accomplished in two separate projects.[19] The first project, which began in January 2001 and was completed in June 2003, constructed a new two-lane flyover ramp from I-40 westbound to I-240 westbound, replacing a single-lane loop ramp, and widened I-240 south of the interchange.[20] Also in this project, I-40 directly north of the interchange was reconstructed in preparation for the second project and the interchanges with US 64/US 70/US 79 (Summer Avenue) and White Station Road were modified.[19]
The second project was initially slated to begin in January 2004 but was delayed until October 2013 due to funding and redesign complications.[19][21] A two-lane flyover was constructed to carry I-40 eastbound traffic through the interchange, replacing a one-lane ramp with a slow design speed. The single-lane ramp carrying I-40 westbound traffic through the interchange was rerouted to become the exit ramp for Summer Avenue and replaced with a two-lane flyover that connects to the flyover constructed in the first project. Additional aspects of this project widened the ramp between I-240 eastbound and I-40 eastbound to three lanes, widened both approaches to the interchange on I-40, which required a new 14-lane bridge over the Wolf River, widened the approach on I-240 south of the interchange, added throughlanes to Sam Cooper Boulevard, and reconfigured the SR 204 (Covington Pike) interchange.[22] The project costed $109.3 million (equivalent to $141 million in 2023[23]), which was, at the time, the highest-bid contract in state history and was completed on December 15, 2016.[21][24]
The interchange with the western terminus of I-240 near Midtown Memphis was reconstructed between June 2003 and December 2006.[25] This project consisted of converting the interchange into a directional T-interchange and the demolition of several unused ramps and bridges that had been constructed with the intent of I-40 continuing directly east of this interchange prior to the Overton Park controversy.[26] The nearby cloverleaf interchange with SR 14 (Jackson Avenue) was also converted into a parclo interchange, and several additional auxiliary lanes and slip ramps were constructed. The northern merge with I-40 and I-240 was moved north of the SR 14 interchange.[27]
Other projects
I-240 has seen significant reconstruction over its history as usage has exceeded design capacity. The portion between US 78 (Lamar Avenue) and Mount Moriah Road was widened to eight throughlanes in the early 2000s.
On January 18, 2008, the
A widening project began on the stretch of I-240 from north of SR 385 to north of Walnut Grove Road in April 2011. This included adding one throughlane in each direction and a redesigning of the US 72 (Poplar Avenue) interchange, as well as new retaining walls and noise barriers. The project was completed in late 2014, more than one year later than initially expected.[29]
Major incidents
On December 23, 1988, a tanker truck hauling liquefied propane crashed at the interchange between I-40 and the western terminus of I-240 and exploded, producing a massive fireball that enveloped the Interstate and started multiple structural fires. The tank was then propelled from the highway by the force of the combusting gas within the tank and crashed into a nearby duplex, starting additional fires. The incident resulted in the deaths of six motorists and three occupants of nearby buildings and injured 10 people.[30][31][32]
On March 24, 2010, a sinkhole formed in the two leftmost northbound lanes north of the Walnut Grove interchange. It was initially thought to have been a smaller pothole and had been paved over the day before. It formed around 3:00 pm and damaged several cars, although no injuries were reported. These two lanes were shut down until March 28 while the sinkhole was filled.[33]
Exit list
The exits on I-240 run clockwise, reflecting their initial numbering as part of a circumferential beltway. Because of the rerouting of I-40, I-40 retains I-240's historic exit numbers 1 through 12A–C. The entire route is in Memphis, Shelby County.
mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.00 | 0.00 | I-40 west – Little Rock | Counterclockwise terminus | |||
12A | US 64 / US 70 / US 79 (Summer Avenue, SR 1) | No westbound exit; eastbound exit via White Station Road | ||||
12B | Sam Cooper Boulevard | Sam Cooper Blvd. exits 10A–B | ||||
12C | I-40 east – Nashville | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-40 exit 10A | ||||
1.81 | 2.91 | 13 | Walnut Grove Road (SR 23 west) | Signed as exits 13A (west) and 13B (east) westbound; eastern terminus of SR 23 | ||
3.67 | 5.91 | 15 | US 72 (SR 57 / Poplar Avenue) – Germantown | Signed as exits 15A (east) and 15B (west) | ||
5.18– 5.30 | 8.34– 8.53 | 16 | Bill Morris Parkway) – Collierville | Western terminus of SR 385 | ||
6.07 | 9.77 | 17 | Mount Moriah Road | |||
6.94 | 11.17 | 18 | Perkins Road | |||
8.33 | 13.41 | 20 | SR 176 south (Getwell Road) | Signed as exits 20A (south) and 20B (north) eastbound; northbound terminus of SR 176 | ||
9.75 | 15.69 | 21 | SR 4 / Lamar Avenue) – Birmingham | Westbound exit to northwest-bound Lamar Avenue and second westbound entrance via Prescott Road | ||
11.48 | 18.48 | 23 | Airways Boulevard - Memphis International Airport | Signed as exits 23A (north) and 23B (south) | ||
12.76– 12.87 | 20.54– 20.71 | 24 | Millbranch Road / Nonconnah Boulevard | |||
13.86 | 22.31 | 25 | St. Louis | Signed as exits 25A and 25B; I-55 exit 6; south end of future I-69 overlap | ||
14.53 | 23.38 | 26 | Norris Road | |||
16.38 | 26.36 | 28 | South Parkway | Signed as exits 28A (east) and 28B (west) | ||
17.85 | 28.73 | 29 | Lamar Avenue ( SR 4) / Crump Boulevard | |||
18.36– 18.49 | 29.55– 29.76 | 30 | Union Avenue ( US 64 / US 70 / US 79 / US 51) | Northbound signage | ||
Madison Avenue | Southbound signage | |||||
19.13 | 30.79 | 31 | I-40 west – Little Rock | Northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-40 exit 1E | ||
19.80 | 31.87 | 32 | SR 14 (Jackson Avenue) | Northbound exit and southbound entrance; before the exit was redesigned, was signed as I-40 exit 1F-G | ||
- | I-40 east – Nashville | Clockwise terminus; north end of future I-69 overlap | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
- United States portal
- U.S. Roads portal
- Transportation in Memphis, Tennessee
References
- ^ Staff (October 31, 2002). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration.
- ^ Johnson, A. E. (November 12, 1958). "Correspondence to Herbert M. Bates". VisualVault. American Association of State Highway Officials. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ISBN 9781402734687– via Google Books.
- ^ Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402 (U.S. Supreme Court 1971).
- ^ United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (April 19, 1978). Proposed Highway Construction Through Overton Park, Memphis, Tenn.: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation, of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, Ninety-Fifth Congress, Second Session (Report). U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 45–56. 95-H59. Retrieved April 27, 2020 – via Google Books.
- ^ Brosnan, James W. (January 10, 1981). "State Seeks To Withdraw I-40 Segment". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. 3. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cunningham, Morris; Brosnan, James W. (January 17, 1981). "I-40 Funds Diverted, Park Route Canceled". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. 1, 3. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Risher, Wayne (June 28, 1998). "I-40 vs. the Park: Who Was Right? Overton Decision Brought Tradeoff". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. A1, A16, A17. Retrieved November 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Traffic Flows On New Link Of Memphis' Expressway". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. December 16, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved November 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Motorists Will Get 'Bonus' Monday". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. December 27, 1962. p. 25. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ "Expressway Link Will Be Opened Next Wednesday". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. October 5, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved November 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Summer Section Of Expressway Open To Traffic". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. October 24, 1963. p. 8. Retrieved November 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Alterations In Traffic Patterns". Memphis Press-Scimitar. July 22, 1965. p. 19. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Covington, Jimmie (October 4, 1966). "New I-255 Link Likely To Upset Traffic Pattern". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. 1. Retrieved November 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Enoch, Dale (May 27, 1971). "King Freeway To Open Today -- Minus Signs". The Commercial Appeal. p. 39. Retrieved November 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Open At Last (Illustration)". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. July 14, 1971. p. 19. Retrieved November 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Dawson, William (March 29, 1980). "Flow Of Compliments, Traffic Marks Opening Of I-240 Link". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. 13. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Memphis City Council Wants Quick Redesign of Ramp Where Tanker Exploded". Associated Press. December 27, 1988.
- ^ a b c "I-40/I-240 Project". Tennessee Department of Transportation. 2001. Archived from the original on June 16, 2001. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ Adams, Tracy (June 26, 2003). "Honk If You Like I-40 Relief". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. A1.
- ^ a b Reese, Michelle (October 8, 2013). "Construction Set To Begin On I-240/I-40 Interchange". Memphis, Tennessee: WREG-TV. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ "I-40/I-240 Interchange". Tennessee Department of Transportation. 2013. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- Gross Domestic Product deflatorfigures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
- ^ "I-40 / I-240 Interchange – Phase II". Dement Construction Company. 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ Charlier, Tom (December 10, 2006). "Midtown I-40/240 Project Wraps Up; Dangerous curves led to deaths of 8 in 1988". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. B1, B7. Retrieved November 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "I-40/I-240 Midtown Interchange". Tennessee Department of Transportation. 2003. Archived from the original on April 5, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ "I-40/240 Midtown Interchange - Project Facts". Tennessee Department of Transportation. 2003. Archived from the original on December 27, 2005. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ Capka, J. Richard (January 18, 2008). "Letter to Paul D. Degges]" (PDF). Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Interstate 240 Widening Project". Tennessee Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ^ Isner, Michael S. (February 6, 1990). Fire Investigation Report: Propane Tank Truck Incident, Eight People Killed, Memphis, Tennessee, December 23, 1988 (Report). National Fire Protection Association. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ Serafino, Phil (December 23, 1988). "A propane tanker truck crashed into a bridge support..." United Press International. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ "Propane Truck Blows Up; 8 Die, 10 Hurt". Los Angeles Times. December 24, 1988. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ "Large sinkhole opens up on I-240". actionnews5.com. March 24, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
External links
- Media related to Interstate 240 (Tennessee) at Wikimedia Commons