Interstate 640

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Interstate 640 marker
Interstate 640
I-640 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-40
Maintained by TDOT
Length10.1 mi[1] (16.3 km)
Existed1977–present
Major junctions
West end I-40 / I-75 in Knoxville
 
East end I-40 / US 25W in Knoxville
Location
CountiesKnox
Highway system
← SR 477→ US 641

Interstate 640 (I-640) is a bypass of Interstate 40 running north of Knoxville, Tennessee. The route serves as an alternative for traffic going east on Interstate 40 intending to turn northward on Interstate 75, which has greatly relieved congestion in downtown Knoxville.[citation needed]

Route description[]

I-640 begins at a directional T interchange with I-40 and I-75, where I-75 continues onto a concurrency with I-640. Along this section, exits are numbered according to I-640 mileage. Initially heading northwest, I-640 and I-75 turn north, intersecting with SR 62 (Western Avenue) in a parclo interchange a little over 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) later. The highway then turns northeast, and about 2 miles (3.2 km) later reaches a complicated interchange with US 25W (Clinton Highway), I-75, and the northern terminus of I-275. At this interchange, I-75 splits off to the north, and US 25W begins a concurrency with I-640. The highway then shifts slightly east-northeast, and about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) later, has a parclo interchange with US 441 (Broadway). A little over 2 miles (3.2 km) later, I-640 turns almost directly east and has an interchange with Washington Pike and Millertown Pike; access between the two roads is provided via frontage roads on both sides of the interstate. I-640 then gradually turns south, and a little over 2 miles (3.2 km) later, crosses US 11W (Rutledge Pike), but does not have an interchange with this route. I-640 then reaches its eastern terminus at a directional T interchange with I-40 about 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) later. At this interchange, US 25W continues onto an unsigned concurrency with I-40 to the east.[2][3]

History[]

The highway that is now I-640 had its origins in a plan for freeways in Knoxville, commissioned by the city in the 1940s. It was initially known as the Dutch Valley Loop. In December 1970, the 2.2 miles (3.5 km) segment between I-75/275/US 25W and US 441 was opened. This was the only section of I-640 that was open for some time.[4] The section between I-40/75 and I-75/275 opened on December 23, 1980.[5][6] Then-Governor of Tennessee Lamar Alexander officially opened this section by walking its entire length dressed in his red plaid shirt that he famously wore during both of his campaigns for governor.[6] At this time, I-75 was rerouted onto this section, and the section of I-75 between I-640 and I-40 in downtown Knoxville was renumbered I-275. The final section opened in April 1982.[citation needed]

Between May 1, 2008 and June 12, 2009, a complete reconstruction of I-40 east of downtown, part of a larger project called "SmartFix 40" resulted in a complete closure of that section.[7] During this closure, through traffic passing on I-40 through Knoxville was required to use I-640, and the ramps at both termini of I-640 carrying this traffic were temporarily widened to three lanes to facilitate the extra traffic.[8]

Exit list[]

The entire route is in Knoxville, Knox County.

mikmExitDestinationsNotes
0.000.00 I-75 south / I-40 west – Nashville, ChattanoogaWestern terminus; western end of I-75 concurrency; I-40 exit 385
— I-40 east – KnoxvilleWestbound left exit and eastbound entrance; I-40 exit 385
0.60.971 SR 62 (Western Avenue)
2.33.73B
 To US 25W north (SR 9 north) / Gap Road – Clinton		Eastbound exit only
2.94.7 US 25W north (SR 9 north) – ClintonNo eastbound exit; western end of US 25W/SR 9 concurrency
3A I-75 north / I-275 south – Knoxville, LexingtonEastern end of I-75 concurrency; I-275 exit 3
5.48.76 US 441 (Broadway / SR 33 / SR 71) / Old Broadway (SR 331)Old Broadway signed eastbound only
7.612.28Washington Pike / Mall Road / Millertown PikePartially signed as Mall Rd. South eastbound, Mall Rd. North westbound
10.116.310B I-40 west – NashvilleEastbound exit and westbound entrance; I-40 exit 393
10A I-40 east (US 25W / SR 9 south) – AshevilleEastern terminus; eastern end of US 25W/SR 9 concurrency; I-40 exit 393
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Concurrency terminus
  •       Incomplete access

References[]

Route map:

( • help)
KML is from Wikidata
  1. ^ "Route Log - Auxiliary Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 2". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  2. ^ Google (December 21, 2013). "I-640 Tennessee" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  3. ^ Tennessee Department of Transportation Long Range Planning Division Office of Data Visualization (2018). Knox County (PDF) (Map). Tennessee Department of Transportation.
  4. ^ "I-24 Section Opened Today". The Daily News-Journal. Murfreesboro, Tennessee. December 9, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-11-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Alexander Opens Stretch of Interstate Allowing Downtown Knoxville Bypass". The Tennessean. Associated Press. December 24, 1980. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-09-21 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Brewer, Carson (December 23, 1980). "Governor Lifts Curse on Junction; Opens I-640". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. A3.
  7. ^ "Interstate 40 Reopens In Knoxville 18 days ahead of schedule". Tennessee State Government Newsroom. Nashville. Tennessee Department of Transportation. June 12, 2009. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009.
  8. ^ Jacobs, Don (April 13, 2008). "Downtown's 14-month I-40 shutdown will mean new routes, potential surprises". Knoxville News-Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
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