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Interstate 75 in Tennessee

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This article is about the section of Interstate 75 in Tennessee. For the entire route, see Interstate 75.

Interstate 75 marker
Interstate 75
Map
I-75 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TDOT
Length161.86 mi[1] (260.49 km)
Existed1958–present
HistoryCompleted December 20, 1974
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end I-75 at Georgia state line
Major intersections
North end I-75 at Kentucky state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountiesHamilton, Bradley, McMinn, Monroe, Loudon, Knox, Anderson, Campbell
Highway system
← SR 74→ SR 75

Interstate 75 (I-75) in the US state of Tennessee runs from Chattanooga to Jellico by way of Knoxville. I-75 enters the East Tennessee region from Georgia, following the Tennessee Valley all the way through Knoxville to near Rocky Top, then climbs into the Cumberland Mountains before crossing over into Kentucky at Jellico.

Of the six states that I-75 traverses, the segment in Tennessee is the shortest, at 161.86 miles (260.49 km). Between Chattanooga and Knoxville, I-75 follows the route of U.S. Route 11 (US 11), and, from Knoxville into Kentucky, it follows the route of US 25W. Beginning in Chattanooga, I-75 follows the route of US 41 for the rest of the length to its southern terminus in Miami.

Route description

[edit]

Chattanooga

[edit]
Scenic view along I-75 southbound crossing White Oak Mountain

I-75 enters Tennessee on the eastern side of East Ridge, a southern suburb of Chattanooga. Less than 0.5 miles (0.80 km) into Tennessee is an interchange with US 41 (unsigned US 76). About a mile (1.6 km) later, at exit 2, is a three-way interchange with the eastern terminus of I-24, which runs west into downtown Chattanooga and to Nashville. At this interchange, I-75 turns northeast, running along the eastern boundary of Chattanooga. Almost two miles (3.2 km) later is an interchange with State Route 320 (SR 320), which connects to East Brainerd, and, about a half mile (0.80 km) later is a three-way interchange with the southern terminus of SR 153, a controlled-access highway that runs northwest to the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport and crosses the Tennessee River on the Chickamauga Dam. Accessible from the northbound lanes at this interchange is Hamilton Place Boulevard, a connector to Hamilton Place. The southbound lanes of I-75 are also accessible from an entrance ramp from this road. At this point, I-75 enters a large commercial area dominated by Hamilton Place and has an interchange with Shallowford Road about a mile (1.6 km) later. A few miles later, at exit 7, I-75 has an interchange with US 11 southbound, US 64 westbound, and SR 317 westbound and begins a concurrency with these respective routes. Turning slightly northeast, the Interstate crosses a Norfolk Southern Railway, and, at exit 9, SR 317 splits off to the east. I-75 then crosses a steep ridge, passing between the Enterprise South Industrial Park to the west and Collegedale to the east. A few miles later, in Ooltewah, US 11/US 64 split off at exit 11, where the route narrows to six lanes. I-75 then turns northwest and narrows to four lanes.

Bradley to Loudon counties

[edit]
I-75 northbound in Athens

A few miles later, I-75 begins a steep ascent up the western slope of White Oak Mountain, where the northbound lanes receive a truck climbing lane. At this point, the Interstate turns northeast and, for the next three miles (4.8 km), traverses east northeast over the top of White Oak Mountain, where it crosses into Bradley County. I-75 then runs for the next several miles through a predominantly wooded and agricultural area and crossing a few ridges before reaching Cleveland at an interchange with APD-40 eastbound (US 64 Bypass [US 64 Byp.]), a bypass and connector to US 64. Running along the western edge of Cleveland, I-75 has an interchange with SR 60 about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) later, also crossing Candies Creek Ridge at this location, and, less than two miles (3.2 km) later, an interchange with Paul Huff Parkway, a major thoroughfare along the northern part of Cleveland. The Interstate then leaves Cleveland and enters rural northern Bradley County, running northeast. Beginning at this point and continuing for nearly 60 miles (97 km), I-75 is very straight and flat, with few curves. Nearly the entirety of this section also contains an extremely wide median, mostly separated by trees. In some locations, the north and southbound lanes are as much as a half mile (0.80 km) apart.

About 12 miles (19 km) north of the central business district of Cleveland, I-75 curves to the northeast, crosses the Hiwassee River into McMinn County, and then curves back to the northwest. This area is extremely susceptible to fog hazards, which obscures the visibility of drivers, and several bad accidents have occurred on this section as a result. Running through mostly wooded and agricultural areas, I-75 reaches Athens about 15 miles (24 km) later and has an interchange with SR 30, a major east–west corridor in East Tennessee. Running through northern McMinn County, the Interstate passes near several unincorporated communities and has interchanges with several secondary state highways. Around milemarker 58, I-75 enters Monroe County and, a few miles later, passes near the town of Sweetwater, containing an interchange with SR 68, another major primary state highway. A few miles later, I-75 crosses into Loudon County. At exit 72 is an interchange with SR 72, which connects to Loudon, and, a few miles later, the highway crosses the Tennessee River on the Mitchell W. Stout Memorial Bridges. I-75 then enters a predominantly commercial and residential area and has an interchange with US 321 and SR 95 in Lenoir City. These routes also connect to Oak Ridge and Maryville. Curving slightly to the west and then again to the east, I-75 reaches an interchange with I-40 westbound about three miles (4.8 km) later, where it begins a concurrency with I-40, and the combined routes widen to six lanes. Less than one mile (1.6 km) later, about 20 miles (32 km) west southwest of Knoxville, the concurrent routes cross into Knox County.

Knoxville

[edit]
See also: Interstate 40 in Tennessee § East Tennessee
I-75 north, along its concurrency with I-40 east in Knoxville

Running approximately east-northeast, the two Interstates pass through the western suburbs of Knoxville, including Farragut and West Knoxville. Along this concurrency, exits are numbered according to I-40 mileage. At exit 374 is an interchange with SR 131 (Lovell Road), where the highway widens to eight lanes, and, less than two miles (3.2 km) later is a four-way interchange with the Pellissippi Parkway (SR 162 westbound, I-140 eastbound), which connects to Oak Ridge to the west and Maryville to the east. At exit 380 is an interchange with US 11/US 70 (Kingston Pike), which connects to the West Hills neighborhood and West Town Mall. This section is the most heavily traveled section of highway in Tennessee, with an annual average daily traffic (AADT) volume of more than 210,000 vehicles. About five miles (8.0 km) later, at an interchange with the western terminus of I-640, the northern bypass around Downtown Knoxville, I-75 splits north off of I-40 and onto a concurrency with I-640. Along this concurrency, exits are numbered according to I-640 mileage. Heading north, the Interstates come to an interchange with SR 62 (Western Avenue) about one mile (1.6 km) later. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later is a complicated interchange with I-275 southbound, the former route of I-75, and US 25W, where I-75 splits off and turns northwest.[2]

Clinch River Valley and Cumberland Mountains

[edit]

Leaving Knoxville, I-75 runs north northwest, crossing several paralleling ridges of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians. The terrain for the next 20 miles (32 km) of I-75 north of Knoxville is characterized mostly by a slight downhill grade. At exit 112 in Powell, I-75 once again has an interchange with SR 131, and the Interstate narrows from six to four lanes. Entering a rural area, I-75 runs along a creek valley for the next several miles that bisects several ridges in a crooked and hazardous segment marked by several S-curves. Maintaining its north-northwesterly direction, I-75 crosses into Anderson County. Beyond this section, the Cumberland Mountains become visible in the distance. At exit 122, the Interstate has an interchange with SR 61 near Clinton. I-75 then descends sharply into a valley, crossing the Clinch River a few miles later. About four miles (6.4 km) later, near the community of Rocky Top, I-75 has interchanges with US 441 and US 25W, beginning a concurrency with the latter. The Interstate then crosses into Campbell County.

View from I-75 on top of Jellico Mountain near the Kentucky border

For approximately the last 30 miles (48 km) in Tennessee, I-75 begins a series of three major ascents up the Cumberland Mountains. Although this stretch of highway is considered to be scenic, it is one of the most hazardous stretches, which is characterized by steep ascents (northbound) and steep downhill grades (southbound). About two miles (3.2 km) north of Rocky Top, I-75 begins its first major ascent for a few miles before leveling out, and, when the highway approaches the community of Caryville, US 25W splits off and I-75 runs concurrently with SR 63. The Interstate then begins a second ascent, which is steeper than the first ascent, adding a truck climbing lane going northbound. About five miles (8.0 km) later, the highway levels out onto a plateau and the truck lane terminates. Less than one mile (1.6 km) later, SR 63 departs near the unincorporated community of Pioneer. Traveling through a further sparsely populated rural area marked by dense woodlands, I-75 remains relatively flat for the next few miles before beginning its final major ascent, this time ascending Jellico Mountain, which in turn is part of the Pine Mountain subrange, and adding a truck climbing lane for the final time. I-75 curves sharply to the northeast, and, about one mile (1.6 km) later, it reaches the peak of Jellico Mountain, where the truck lane ends for the final time. I-75 remains at the peak of Jellico Mountain for approximately the next eight miles (13 km) on a segment marked by rolling hills, before beginning the transition into the Cumberland Plateau region. About four miles (6.4 km) later, it enters the city of Jellico where it has an interchange with US 25W. For the next mile (1.6 km) or so, it has a slight uphill grade before entering the hilly terrain of Cumberland Plateau in Kentucky.

History

[edit]

Early history

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The first two segments that became I-75 in Tennessee were located in Knoxville and Chattanooga, and were constructed prior to the passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956.[3][4] The segment in Knoxville, which was concurrent with I-40, was approximately 0.6 miles (0.97 km) of a one-mile-long (1.6 km) freeway downtown, completed in two phases on November 14, 1952, and December 10, 1955, that was initially known as the Magnolia Avenue Expressway.[5][6] The segment of this route that became I-75 was located between Unaka Street and a cloverleaf interchange that became the split between I-75 (now I-275) and I-40.[4] The segment in Chattanooga was an approximately 3.2-mile (5.1 km) relocated segment of US 11 and US 64 between approximately 0.75 miles (1.21 km) north of the present interchange with those routes and SR 317 (Bonny Oaks Drive) and the interchange with US 11/US 64 (Lee Highway) in Ooltewah. This route, which was initially known as the Summit Bypass, opened to traffic on July 23, 1954, and was constructed as a bypass around a one-lane railroad tunnel in Collegedale that had been the site of many traffic accidents.[7]

Construction of the first original section of I-75 in Tennessee began in late 1956 with short extension of the Summit Bypass.[3] Additional segments in Chattanooga and Knoxville were under construction by 1958. The interchange with I-24 and the segment extending south to the Georgia state line were let to contract on July 26, 1959,[8] and dedicated on May 31, 1961.[9][10] The concurrent segment with I-40 between the split near Lenoir City and Downtown Knoxville opened to traffic on December 2, 1961.[11] On December 7, 1962, the short stretch between I-24 and SR 320 opened.[12] The route was completed through Chattanooga on July 17, 1963, with the completion of the 6.6-mile (10.6 km) segment between SR 320 and the Summit Bypass north of US 11/US 64 (Bonny Oaks Drive).[13] The short segment between US 321/SR 95 in Lenoir City and the split with I-40 was completed on December 1, 1963.[14] The last segment of what was then I-75 in Knoxville to open was the 1.8-mile (2.9 km) segment concurrent with I-40 between Liberty Street and Unaka Street on December 4, 1964.[15] The section between Ooltewah and SR 60 in Cleveland opened on October 18, 1966.[16] Like much of the Interstate Highway System in rural Tennessee, priority was generally given to completing rural segments in Middle and West Tennessee over East Tennessee, but the last approximately 35-mile (56 km) segment of I-75 in Tennessee, located mostly in Campbell County, was constructed much earlier than most of the rural segments in Tennessee, reportedly due to the influence of then-Representative and later Senator Howard Baker, who was from that area.[17] By 1963, the one-mile (1.6 km) section between US 25W in Jellico and the Kentucky state line was open to traffic.[18] The concurrent segment with US 25W, located between Rocky Top (then Lake City) and Caryville, was completed in October 1964. Portions of this segment predated the Interstate System.

Work on the 25.8-mile (41.5 km) section between US 25W/SR 63 in Caryville and US 25W in Jellico started in 1963, and the section was dedicated and opened to traffic on October 22, 1968.[19][20] Construction of this section proved to be one of the most laborious and expensive highway projects in the state at the time, due to the massive amounts of earth and rock which had to be blasted and moved.[21] The 0.7-mile (1.1 km) segment in Rocky Top, located between US 441 and US 25W, opened on September 1, 1970.[22] In December 1970, the 4.9-mile (7.9 km) segment between US 25W/I-640 and SR 131 (an approximately 0.3-mile [0.48 km] portion of which is now I-275) opened.[23] The section between SR 60 and SR 308 in Bradley County began construction in 1968 but was stalled shortly thereafter.[24] Construction resumed in 1972, and the segment was opened to traffic on January 23, 1973.[25] The section between US 25W north of Knoxville and SR 61 in Clinton broke ground in segments, beginning in August 1968,[26] and was opened to traffic on August 1, 1972.[27] The approximately six-mile (9.7 km) segment between SR 61 in Clinton and US 441 in Rocky Top was dedicated and opened on August 31, 1973, completing the route between Knoxville and Detroit.[28] The section of the highway between SR 308 near Charleston and SR 30 in Athens opened on December 24, 1973, and was completed the following Spring.[29] The last section of I-75 in Tennessee, approximately 32 miles (51 km) between SR 30 in Athens and US 321/SR 95 in Lenoir City, opened to traffic on December 20, 1974, in a ceremony officiated by then-Governor Winfield Dunn.[30] The last sections of I-40 and I-81 in Tennessee were opened on this same day.[31]

I-75 originally continued into Downtown Knoxville then turned to the north at Malfunction Junction, following what is now signed as I-275. When the western section of I-640 was completed in 1980, I-75 was moved to overlap the it to divert through traffic away from downtown in preparation for the 1982 World's Fair. This concurrency is somewhat unusual in that the exit numbers, and milemarkers follow the auxiliary route I-640 instead of I-75 mileage.

Fog hazards

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See also: 1990 Interstate 75 fog disaster

An approximately 10-mile (16 km) section of I-75 in northern Bradley and southern McMinn counties, including the bridge over the Hiwassee River, is prone to hazards from dense fog in the morning, which can severely obscure the visibility of drivers. This segment is located near several heavy industries including the Resolute Forest Products paper mill, formerly Bowater, which operates settling ponds along the Interstate. This segment has been the site of several serious multivehicle accidents, the first of which occurred on March 9, 1974, less than three months after the section opened to traffic, and before it had been declared complete.[32] This accident involved 18 vehicles, killing three and injuring 10.[32] A total of six multivehicle accidents occurred along this stretch in the 1970s.[32] The worst, which took place on November 5, 1978, involved 62 vehicles and injured 46, and took place on the Hiwassee River Bridge.[33] After a multivehicle accident on April 15, 1979, that involved 18 vehicles, killed three, and injured 14, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) identified the stretch as prone to fog hazards and agreed to install warning signs with flashing lights, which would activate if fog was detected. After this, no serious fog related accidents occurred for more than 11 years.[34]

On December 11, 1990, a 99-vehicle accident occurred in this same area, causing 12 deaths and 56 injuries.[35][36] Extensive investigations followed, and several lawsuits were filed against Bowater, alleging that they had contributed to the fog with their water vapor emissions,[36] and the state of Tennessee, alleging that TDOT had failed to install adequate warning systems along this stretch of I-75.[32] The existing fog warning lights were reportedly not working the day of the accident.[34] After settling with the family members of accident victims and survivors in court, TDOT instituted several safety measures along this stretch of highway, including re-striping the roadway with extra markings to make it more visible and installing a computerized fog detection system, which contains a warning system with flashing lights, electronic signs, variable speed limits, and electronic controlled swing gates which block access to the Interstate from six entrance ramps in and near this stretch in the event of dense fog.[32] Between mileposts 31 and 39, the highway is designated as a fog advisory zone.[37] The $4.5-million (equivalent to $8.57 million in 2023[38]) system began operation in December 1993, and, in 2006, a $6.6-million (equivalent to $9.6 million in 2023[38]) upgrade was completed which installed video cameras.[32] Bowater also agreed to limit the use of their settling pond closest to the Interstate.[32] The accident was profiled in a 1997 episode of the show Forensic Files.[34]

Geological difficulties

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The entire section of I-75 in Tennessee north of Knoxville has been subject to many geological difficulties, particularly the last 30 miles (48 km) through the Cumberland Mountains.

In March 2005, the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 were shut down between milemarkers 141 to 143 due to a rockslide below the roadway that caused the pavement to partially collapse.[39]

In March 2012, the southbound lanes of the Interstate were again closed to traffic between milemarkers 141 and 143 in Campbell County, Tennessee due to a slide beneath the roadway.[40] This was later followed by a second slide in early May 2012[41] that caused a portion of the southbound lanes to completely erode and forced the detour lanes to be closed.

In February 2016, a rock slide closed I-75 near Caryville.[42]

Other incidents

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On March 28, 1994, a runaway barge that had broken loose from its mooring due to flooding struck the I-75 bridge over the Tennessee River, along with the US 11 bridge and a railroad bridge. The collision broke loose a chunk of concrete from a post, but engineers determined that it caused no major structural damage. I-75 had been closed to traffic on this section in preparation for the collision.[43]

On April 1, 2019, part of the bridge on I-75 southbound over the ramp from I-24 westbound to I-75 northbound at the split in Chattanooga collapsed, injuring one person and blocking traffic for hours.[44][45][46] The bridge, built in 1959, is one of the oldest on I-75 in Tennessee, and the interchange is the site of frequent accidents. TDOT's chief engineer said that the collapse was most likely caused by weakening of the bridge's rail that occurred when an illegally oversized load hit the bridge.[47]

Improvements

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Throughout its history, I-75 has seen many reconstruction and widening projects in Tennessee.

TDOT first proposed to widen the concurrent segment with I-40 between the Pellissippi Parkway and I-640 to eight lanes in early 1981, which was subsequently approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on October 9, 1986.[48] However, TDOT initially chose to widen the section between the split with I-40 near Lenoir City and I-640 from four to six lanes, which took place in the earlier to mid-1980s.[49] Between 1990 and 2006, a series of projects widened the segment between SR 131 and I-640 and reconstructed multiple interchanges along this segment.

I-75 was widened from four to six and eight lanes in Chattanooga between the interchange with I-24 and SR 153 in the early 1990s.[citation needed] Between 1998 and 2010, a series of projects reconstructed and widened I-75 between SR 153 and north of US 11/US 64 in Ooltewah. The first of these projects, which began in late 1998 and was completed in 2001, rebuilt the interchange with SR 153, changing the approach of two flyover ramps that connect to I-75 northbound from the left to the right side of the road. This project also modified the interchange with SR 320, removing two cloverleaf loop ramps from I-75 southbound and moving the access to the entrance ramp from I-75 southbound to a point near the interchange with SR 153. The next project, which widened I-75 further between mileposts 6 and 9 and improved the interchange with SR 317, was completed in November 2005.[50] A new interchange was constructed in 2006 to provide access to the Enterprise South Industrial Park, which at that time was in the process of redevelopment.[51] This interchange, which became exit 9, now provides access to the Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant and was not opened until 2010. A segment of SR 317 was later routed onto a concurrency of I-75 between exit 11 and this interchange. Exit 9 was designated as the Bredesen–Ramsey Interchange in 2015 in honor of the efforts of then-Governor Phil Bredesen and county Mayor Claude Ramsey to bring Volkswagen to Chattanooga.[52] The last of these projects, which began on November 8, 2007, widened I-75 from approximately mileposts 10 to 13, just north of the interchange of US 11/US 64, and included reconstruction of this interchange, including the addition of a loop ramp, and improvements on this road.[53] This project was completed on August 12, 2010, four months ahead of schedule.[54][55]

On May 1, 2008, I-75 northbound traffic was rerouted back along its original path in Downtown Knoxville along I-275 as part of SmartFix 40, a major construction project that includes closing a portion of I-40. Traffic was rerouted along I-275 as the ramp from I-640 eastbound/I-75 northbound to I-75 northbound is only one lane which causes traffic delays at peak times.

In December 2018, a contract was awarded to rebuild the interchange with I-24 in Chattanooga, with preliminary work beginning in May 2019.[56][57] The project consisted of eliminating left-hand entrance and exit ramps from I-75 onto I-24, straightening curves, widening I-75 to six lanes through the interchange, widening two ramps from I-75 to I-24 to three lanes, replacing two overpass bridges, and construction of a collector–distributor facility that carries traffic directly from US 41 and the Tennessee welcome center along I-75 southbound, providing direct access to both I-75 southbound and I-24 westbound. Additional space was also provided to widen the remaining ramps between I-75 and I-24 to three lanes, which will be done in the second phase.[58] The project was completed on August 19, 2021, at a cost of $133.5 million, making it the second-most expensive individual contract in state history at the time.[59] The second phase will widen the adjacent segment of I-24 west of the interchange and lengthen auxiliary lanes on I-75 about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the interchange.[59]

Future

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In the mid-1990s, a freeway, referred to as SR 475 (with the intent of being renamed I-475), was proposed as an outer beltway around Knoxville, running north of the city between I-75/I-40 near Farragut, and I-40 near Sevierville. A number of studies were conducted on the proposed route, but the entire project was canceled on June 25, 2010.[60]

TDOT has approved the widening of several segments of I-75 in Tennessee from four to six lanes, including the approximately nine-mile (14 km) segment between US 11/US 64 in Ooltewah and APD-40 in Cleveland,[61] the 16-mile (26 km) segment between SR 323 near Philadelphia and the interchange with I-40 near Lenoir City, and the five-mile (8.0 km) segment between SR 131 near Powell and SR 170.[62]

Exit list

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The exits north of Knoxville are numbered based on I-75's original path through Downtown Knoxville along I-40 and I-275.

CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
HamiltonEast Ridge0.000.00
 I-75 south (SR 401) – Atlanta		Continuation into Georgia
0.320.511 US 41 (US 76 / SR 8) – East RidgeStarting at this exit, I-75 roughly parallels the route of US 41 until the former route's terminus in Miami, Florida
1.442.322


 I-24 west to I-59 south – Chattanooga, Nashville, Birmingham		Southern end of US 74 concurrency; eastern terminus of I-24; western terminus of US 74; I-24 exits 185A-B; eastern terminus of I-24; collector-distributor ramp from US 41 to I-75 north and I-24 west
Chattanooga3.515.653 SR 320 (East Brainerd Road)Signed as exits 3A (east) and 3B (west) northbound
4.246.824
 SR 153 north – Chattanooga Airport, Chickamauga Dam
5.108.214AHamilton Place BoulevardNorthbound exit only; access to Hamilton Place Mall
5.699.165Shallowford Road
6.5010.46Standifer Gap RoadRemoved c. 1970
7.5312.127


 US 11 south / US 64 west (Old Lee Highway / SR 2 west) / SR 317 west (Bonny Oaks Drive) – Summit, Collegedale		Southern end of US 11/US 64/SR 2 concurrency; signed as exits 7A (SR 317 east) and 7B (SR 317 west) northbound
9.0514.569 SR 317 (Apison Pike) – Ooltewah, Collegedale / Volkswagen DriveServes Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant
11.6618.7611

 US 11 north / US 64 east (SR 2 east) – Ooltewah, Collegedale		Northern end of US 11/US 64/SR 2 concurrency
BradleyCleveland20.5233.0220

 US 64 Byp. east (US 74 east / SR 311) – Cleveland		Northern end of US 74 concurrency
25.0540.3125 SR 60 – Cleveland, Dayton
26.8043.1327Paul Huff Parkway – Cleveland
​32.8352.8333 SR 308 – Charleston
McMinn​36.0958.0836 SR 163 – Calhoun
​42.3168.0942 SR 39 (Riceville Road) – Riceville
Athens48.7978.5249 SR 30 – Decatur, Athens
​52.1783.9652 SR 305 (Mount Verd Road) – Athens
​56.1390.3356 SR 309 – Niota
MonroeSweetwater60.6197.5460 SR 68 – Spring City, Sweetwater
62.78101.0362 SR 322 (Oakland Road) – Sweetwater
Loudon​68.76110.6668 SR 323 – Philadelphia
Loudon72.15116.1172 SR 72 – Loudon
​76.69123.4276 SR 324 (Sugar Limb Road)
Lenoir City81.48131.1381
 US 321 (SR 73) to SR 95 – Oak Ridge, Lenoir City, Maryville
​84.64136.2184B
 I-40 west – Nashville		Southern end of I-40 concurrency; no exit number southbound; I-40 exit 368 westbound
KnoxFarragut85.85138.16369[a]Watt Road
89.63144.25373[a]Campbell Station Road – Farragut
Knoxville91.39147.08374[a] SR 131 (Lovell Road)
92.74149.25376[a]

 I-140 east / SR 162 north – Oak Ridge, Maryville		Signed as exits 376A (north) and 376B (east) on collector/distributor lanes; I-140 exits 1C-D westbound
94.54152.15378[a]Cedar Bluff RoadSigned as exits 378A (south) and 378B (north) southbound; southbound exit 378B also serves Executive Park Drive
95.78–
96.39		154.14–
155.12		379[a]Bridgewater Road, Walker Springs Road, Gallaher View RoadSigned as exits 379 (Bridgewater Road, Walker Springs Road) and 379A (Gallaher View Road) southbound
97.32156.62380[a] US 11 / US 70 (Kingston Pike / SR 1) – West Hills, West Town MallAlso access to Montvue Road
99.33–
99.85		159.86–
160.69		383[a] SR 332 (Northshore Drive/Papermill Drive) / Weisgarber RoadComplete access to Papermill Drive; southbound exit and entrance only for Weisgarber Road; northbound exit and entrance only for SR 332 (Northshore Drive); southbound entrance and exit ramps accessible via collector-distributor slip ramp
101.89163.98385[a]

 I-40 east / I-640 west – Knoxville		Northern end of I-40 concurrency; southern end of I-640 concurrency
103.10165.921[b] SR 62 (Western Avenue)Northbound split into separate unnumbered exits for eastbound and westbound exits on collector/distributor lanes
104.74168.563B[b]
 US 25W north (SR 9 north) / Gap Road – Clinton		Northbound exit only
105.22169.343[b]
 I-640 east (US 25W south / SR 9 south) – Asheville		Northern end of I-640 concurrency; no exit number northbound; no exits from I-75 to US 25W northbound
105.42169.663
 I-275 south – Knoxville		No exit number southbound
106.35171.15108Merchants DriveSouthbound access to northbound US 25W
108.08173.94110Callahan Drive
109.82176.74112 SR 131 (Emory Road) – Powell
​114.65184.51117 SR 170 (Raccoon Valley Road)
Anderson​120.12193.31122 SR 61 – Clinton, Norris
Rocky Top125.97202.73128 US 441 (SR 71) – Rocky Top
126.64203.81129
 US 25W south (SR 9 south / SR 116) – Rocky Top		Southern end of US 25W/SR 9 concurrency
CampbellCaryville132.32212.95134

 US 25W north / SR 63 east (SR 9 north) – Caryville, Jacksboro, LaFollette		Northern end of US 25W/SR 9 concurrency; southern end of SR 63 concurrency
138.70223.22141
 SR 63 west – Huntsville, Oneida		Northern end of SR 63 concurrency
​142.21228.86144Stinking Creek Road
​153.61247.21156Rarity Mountain Road
Jellico158.14254.50160 US 25W (SR 9) – Jellico
159.08256.01
 I-75 north – Lexington		Continuation into Kentucky
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Concurrency uses I-40 exit numbers
  2. ^ a b c Concurrency uses I-640 exit numbers

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Adderly, Kevin (February 5, 2019). "Table 3: Interstate Routes in Each of the 50 States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  2. ^ Long Range Planning Division Office of Data Visualization (2018). Knox County (PDF) (Map). [c. 1:190,080]. Nashville: Tennessee Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Highway Progress". Chattanooga Daily Times (Photo). November 4, 1956. p. 3. Retrieved November 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Ferguson, Don K. "Ferguson: First Downtown Expressway Spurred Malfunction Junction". Knoxville News-Sentinel. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  5. ^ "Expressway's First Link Completed". The Knoxville Journal. November 30, 1952. p. 7. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Short Ceremony Opens Expressway Link". Knoxville News Sentinel. December 10, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved June 6, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Peters, Mouzon (July 24, 1954). "New Route, Eliminating Underpass, Is Open on U.S. 11 Near Ooltewah". Chattanooga Daily Times. p. 3. Retrieved November 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Report of the State Highway Commissioner of Tennessee for the Biennium Ending June 30, 1960 (Report). Nashville: Tennessee Department of Highways. 1960. p. 80. Retrieved November 12, 2023 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.
  9. ^ "Program Is Set At Spring Creek". The Chattanooga Times. May 30, 1961. p. 3. Retrieved February 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Munck, Hal (June 1, 1961). "Spring Creek Interchange Dedicated by Road Chief". The Chattanooga Times. pp. 3, 14. Retrieved February 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "I-40 Traffic Is Without Incident". Knoxville News-Sentinel. December 3, 1961. OCLC 12008657. Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Gibson, Springer (December 6, 1962). "East Brainerd Freeway Readied". Chattanooga Daily Times. pp. 1, 5. Retrieved February 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Freeway Use 'Multiplies'". Chattanooga Daily Times. July 17, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved December 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Brewer, Dudley (October 12, 1963). "I-75 Link Near Lenoir City Slated To Open December 1". The Knoxville Journal. p. 7. Retrieved August 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "West Expressway Slated To Be Opened Dec. 4". The Knoxville Journal. November 7, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Opens I-75 in Cleveland". Cleveland Daily Banner. October 19, 1966. p. 1.
  17. ^ "Baker, Kefauver Push I-75 Work". Knoxville News Sentinel. June 10, 1963. p. 4. Retrieved December 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Miller, Mike (June 12, 1963). "State Won't Give I-75 Priority over I-65". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 24. Retrieved December 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Yarbrough, Willard (October 23, 1968). "Spectacular I-75 Link Open". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. C-1. Retrieved December 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Interstate Sections Open This Week". The Nashville Tennessean. October 20, 1968. p. 17. Retrieved April 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Yarbrough, Willard (September 8, 1968). "I-75 Stretch To Jellico Opens Nov. 1". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. pp. A-1, A-16. Retrieved December 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Pawlins, Bill (August 21, 1970). "70 Miles Of New Interstate May Be Opened By End Of Year". The Leaf-Chronicle. Clarksville, Tennessee. Associated Press. p. 3. Retrieved August 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "I-24 Section Opened Today". The Daily News-Journal. Murfreesboro, Tennessee. December 9, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved November 12, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Guthrie, Chet (July 23, 2015). "Busy street once site of the Guthrie farm". Cleveland Daily Banner. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  25. ^ Evans, Terry (January 23, 1973). "I-75 To Charleston Is Opened Today". Cleveland Daily Banner. p. 1.
  26. ^ "$7.9 Million Total For 22 Road Jobs". Kingsport Times-News. August 25, 1968. p. 7. Retrieved December 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "14-Mile Anderson I-75 Link To Open". The Tennessean. Nashville. July 27, 1972. p. 48. Retrieved December 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Clippings I-75 Opening Set In Lake City Area". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. August 24, 1973. p. 1. Retrieved December 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Hatcher, Bill (December 27, 1973). "Incomplete I-75 Open". Cleveland Daily Banner. p. 1.
  30. ^ "Two Interstate Links in East Open Friday". The Tennessean. Nashville. December 18, 1974. p. 25. Retrieved April 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Dunn Opens 96 Interstate Miles". The Tennessean. Nashville. Associated Press. December 21, 1974. p. 32. Retrieved April 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g Bregel, Emily (December 5, 2010). "Echoes from the Fog". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  33. ^ "Many Injured in 62-Car Accident". Greenville Daily Advocate. November 6, 1978. p. 2. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  34. ^ a b c "Forensic Files: Killer Fog (Season 2, Episode 3)". IMDB. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  35. ^ National Transportation Safety Board (September 28, 1992). Multiple-vehicle collisions and fire during limited visibility (fog) on Interstate 75 near Calhoun, Tennessee December 11, 1990 (PDF) (Report). Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  36. ^ a b Bergel, Emily (December 5, 2010). "Fog-induced wreck prompted lawsuits". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  37. ^ Sneed, Calvin (December 11, 2015). "'Stumbling Out of the Fog': Memories of the Worst Traffic Accident in Tennessee History". Chattanooga, Tennessee: WTVC-TV. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  38. ^ a b Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  39. ^ "Southbound I-75 Reopens to Traffic in Campbell County" (Press release). Tennessee Department of Transportation. March 11, 2005. Archived from the original on April 9, 2005.
  40. ^ Nagi, Mark (March 9, 2012). "Slide Forces TDOT to Close I-75 South in Campbell County" (Press release). Tennessee Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 12, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  41. ^ "Campbell County fretful after latest I-75 slide". Knoxville News Sentinel. May 9, 2012. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  42. ^ "TDOT awards emergency repair contract for I-75 rock slide". Knoxville, Tennessee: WBIR-TV. February 29, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  43. ^ "WBIR Vault: Runaway barge hits I-75 bridge over Tennessee River in 1994". Knoxville, Tennessee: WBIR-TV. March 11, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  44. ^ Vera, Amir (April 1, 2019). "Concrete bridge railing collapses onto Tennessee interstate, injuring one person". CNN. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  45. ^ "Bridge collapses on I-75 in Chattanooga; roadways still blocked hours later". Atlanta: WSB-TV. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  46. ^ "Part of I-75 bridge collapses onto road in Chattanooga, TN". Newport, Kentucky: WXIX-TV. April 1, 2019. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  47. ^ Pace, Mark (April 3, 2019). "Here's what likely caused the railing to collapse on the I-75 bridge in Chattanooga". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  48. ^ Tennessee Department of Transportation (1986). I-40, I-75 and Interchanges Improvements, Knoxville: Environmental Impact Statement. Nashville: Tennessee Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via Google Books.[page needed]
  49. ^ Tennessee Department of Transportation (1978). I-40 and I-75 Improvements, Knoxville, Knox County: Environmental Impact Statement. Nashville: Tennessee Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 29, 2019 – via Google Books.[page needed]
  50. ^ "TDOT Region 2 Weekly Construction Report". Chattanoogan.com. November 23, 2005. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  51. ^ Flessner, Dave (July 19, 2008). "Chattanooga: Making connections for Volkswagen plant site". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.
  52. ^ "Rep. McCormick To Unveil Road Signs Honoring Phil Bredesen, Claude Ramsey". The Chattanoogan. October 27, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  53. ^ Carroll, Chris (June 27, 2010). "Ooltewah I-75 work lingers, but end is near". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  54. ^ Flynn, Jennifer (August 13, 2010). "I-75 Widening Project in Hamilton County Completed Ahead of Schedule". TDOT News (Press release). Nashville: Tennessee Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  55. ^ Flynn, Jennifer A. (June 29, 2010). "New Loop Ramp Open to Traffic at Exit 11 in Hamilton County". TDOT News (Press release). Nashville: Tennessee Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  56. ^ "TDOT: I-24/I-75 interchange project to begin in 2019, last less than 3 years". Chattanooga, Tennessee: WTVC-TV. December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  57. ^ Benton, Ben (May 6, 2019). "Contractor starts early work, materials deliveries at I-75/I-24 'Split'". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  58. ^ "Interstate 75 Interchange at Interstate 24". tn.gov. Nashville: Tennessee Department of Transportation. 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  59. ^ a b Benton, Ben (August 22, 2021). "Phase 1 of Split project crosses finish line, but bottleneck from I-75 North to I-24 will linger". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  60. ^ "TDOT Selects 'No Build Option' on Knoxville Parkway Project". Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  61. ^ Bowers, Larry C. (July 13, 2017). "Roadway projects include widening of I-75". Cleveland Daily Banner. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  62. ^ Clark, Sandra (May 16, 2019). "Road upgrades ahead for Powell; I-75 fix could cost $95 million". Knox TN Today. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
[edit]

Media related to Interstate 75 in Tennessee at Wikimedia Commons

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Interstate 75
Previous state:
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