Interstate 22 is proposed for the new U.S. 78/Corridor X freeway (High Priority Corridor 10) between Memphis, Tennessee, and Birmingham, Alabama, via U.S. 78 once it is complete as a freeway in 2012. The route will begin at either Interstate 55/69, future Interstate 269, or Interstate 240 to the south or southeast of Memphis. Interstate 22 will extend over the U.S. 78 corridor, terminating at Interstate 65 north of Birmingham. The final section in Alabama to open is the link between Forestdale and Interstate 65 north of downtown Birmingham, slated to open in 2010. Most of the route in Mississippi is already constructed, with the exception of the connection to Interstate 55 via future Interstate 269.
Future Interstate 22 signs such as this one were placed in Mississippi along the U.S. 78 route in 2004. Similar signs were placed in Jasper, Alabama, in April 2005.6 Photo taken by Jeremy Hamm, 01/01/05.
According to Bill Minor, Mississippi DOT Northern District transportation commissioner, signs will go up as soon as possible labeling U.S. 78 as future Interstate 22 ... and to that end, Future Interstate 22 markers were placed along Mississippi's U.S. 78 in November 2004. On April 18, 2005, signs marking the new route were erected in Jasper, Alabama. Completion of the route is expected in 2012, with the major section from Graysville to the Mississippi State Line open by December 2006.5
Future Aspirations - Numbering
Interstate 22 was officially written into law by H.R. 2673, Section 111(2)(B) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004. On 1/23/2004, it became Public Law No: 108-199. Interstate 22, along with Interstates 66, 69, 73, 74, and 99, is part of a growing pantheon of Interstate routes whose designation was written into law. So once all of Corridor X is constructed, it will become Interstate 22. Some background on this follows.
In the article, "Wicker: Interstate status for 78 near: Congressman hopes U.S. 78 will become I-22 soon" (03/04/02) from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal of Tupelo, Interstate 22 became publicized as a potential number for the first time by a politician.
The Interstate 22 designation was to have been written into law as part of the federal Fiscal Year 2003 Transportation Appropriations Bill, but the Senate did not ratify a measure included in the bill to do this in February 2003. According to the Birmingham News article, "Corridor X transition to Interstate 22 stalled" by Ryan Mahoney (03/07/03), the goal was to install "Future Interstate 22" signs along U.S. 78/Corridor X prior to the completion of the route to attract businesses to locate along the route. This process only delays the inevitable.
Proposed federal legislation has designated Corridor X as Interstate 22. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville stated that a U.S. House committee has approved language in a bill that will designate the corridor as Interstate 22. The designation encourages the prospects for industrial recruiting along the freeway and opens the door to potential new highway funds as well. On July 24, 2003, Aderholt inserted language in the House Transportation and Treasury Appropriation bill for fiscal 2004 that applies the Interstate 22 designation. "The interstate occurs when the road is connected on either end to an existing interstate." Additionally it was stated that this bill language will allow for portions that are already completed to Interstate standards to receive official signs proclaiming that they are apart of Future Interstate 22.1 The Interstate 22 designation is now also in the Senate version of the appropriation bill. If it remains in both versions of the bill, it is likely to be included in the final version, and thus likely to be official. Then Future Interstate 22 shields and guide signs can be placed along the Memphis to Birmingham freeway.2
On September 9, 2003, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Transportation-Treasury Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004, paving the way for the Interstate 22 designation along U.S. 78. Congressman Roger Wicker, R-Tupelo stated, "We actually already have gotten beyond the bigger hurdle, the committee vote," with regards to getting Interstate 22 official. The vote now goes to the Senate, where Mississippi Republican senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott are already said to support the measure.3 In November 2003, a House-Senate conference committee approved the Interstate 22 designation for U.S. 78. The 2004 appropriations bill for transportation contains language indicating that once the Corridor X freeway extends to Interstate 65, U.S. 78 can be designated Interstate 22. This ruling clears the way for the installation of "Future Interstate 22" signs along the corridor.4
Future Aspirations - Construction Progress
Since 2001 future Interstate 22 travels from the Mississippi/Tennessee state line near Memphis south-southeastward to Alabama 129 near Winfield (Exit 30). Additionally the Jasper bypass, Future Interstate 22 between Exits 52 and 65 was also in use. Construction on the 6.5-mile segment between Carbon Hill and Eldridge began in 2001. On November 22, 2005, the Carbon Hill segment opened between Exit 34 (Alabama 233) and Exit 52. 13 miles of freeway opened between Walker County 81 (Exit 78) and Cherry Avenue (Exit 91) from near Dora to Forestdale by June 9, 2007. This section of highway was opened to local traffic only with a truck restriction to prevent commercial vehicles from using neighborhood streets to connect with the freeway.8 An additional 13 miles of new freeway opened between Jasper (Industrial Parkway [Exit 65]) and Exit 91 on November 14, 2007, bringing future Interstate 22 to within five miles of completion.9 See the press release on the $300-million extension here.
The final stretch of Future Interstate 22 in Alabama will link the new freeway to the Interstate system. This connection entails five miles of freeway and a $145-million interchange with Interstate 65. Associated work includes a $73-million widening of Interstate 65 between 41st Avenue North and 16th Street North near the future junction. That work began in 2007 and is followed by additional widening of Interstate 65 from 41st Avenue North to Walker Chapel Road scheduled to commence in 2008. The final configuration will see future Interstate 22 pass underneath Interstate 65 at a stack interchange. Three-lane collector/distributor roadways will facilitate the movements along a four-mile stretch of Interstate 65. Completion of the Interstate 22 and 65 interchange should be completed by 2010.9, two years earlier than a previously suggested Fall 2012 completion date, but one year after officials initially thought.7
Future Interstate 22 will interchange with Interstate 65 approximately one mile north of the 41st Street interchange, and it will provide a direct connection to nearby U.S. 31.6 The completion of this leg of the project is contingent on the level of funding available.2 Presently design work is underway involving the connector to U.S. 31. Further east, a feasibility study is also underway to extend Corridor X to Interstate 20/59 east of downtown Birmingham.8 Alabama began construction of Corridor X/Interstate 22 with initial construction appropriations in 1983; under this schedule, completion of the route would occur nearly 30 years later.
Meanwhile along the Mississippi stretch of Future Interstate 22, much of the route was completed in the mid-1990s as a freeway. Certain portions of the freeway section are not up to Interstate standards. Three years of construction are likely required to bring the existing U.S. 78 freeway in Mississippi up to Interstate standards. Approximately $30 million in roadwork that entails edge draining, fencing, and other work is needed. This work was not a part of the original construction; at that time, planners did not feel the U.S. 78 freeway would eventually be considered for inclusion in the Interstate highway system.2
The western connection of Interstate 22 to the existing Interstate System near Memphis is also being planned. The route may connect to Interstate 55 and Interstate 69 in Mississippi or Tennessee, perhaps via proposed Interstate 269. The ultimate plans, funding, and construction of the Interstate 22 connection into Memphis may take seven to eight years to come to fruition. Future Interstate 22 may connect to the existing Memphis Interstate network via U.S. 78, U.S. 72, Tennessee 385, or Mississippi 304; planning studies are currently underway to determine how Interstate 22 might enter and serve the metropolitan area.2 The latter two routes are part of the proposed Interstate 269 Memphis Bypass. The Future Interstate 22 connection will certainly depend upon the final routing of Interstate 69, which has a proposed corridor through the Memphis area but has not yet been constructed.
Parallel U.S. Routes
Interstate 22 will parallel U.S. 78 for its entire duration.
Although the Tennessee portion of Interstate 22 is rather unclear at the present time, we shall treat the current Interstate 240/U.S. 78 interchange as the de facto western terminus. This guide sign can be found on U.S. 78 for the Interstate 240. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).
Interstate 240 guide signage sees Nashville as the eastern control city for Interstate 40 and Saint Louis for Interstate 55 north via Interstate 240 west. This photo looks at the Interstate 240 ramp partition from U.S. 78 in Memphis. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).
Perspective from Interstate 240 west
Interstate 240 westbound approaching Exit 21/U.S. 78/Lamar Avenue. Tupelo, Mississippi is foregone for Birmingham as the control city for U.S. 78 here in Memphis. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).
Exit 21 for U.S. 78 is served by a westbound collector/distributor roadway. This photo looks at the beginning of the highway as Interstate
240 continues westward to Interstate 55. The historic southern terminus of Interstate 255 occurs on Interstate 240 in four miles. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).
U.S. 78 eastbound cloverleaf ramp as seen from the Interstate 240 westbound mainline. U.S. 78 upgrades to freeway at the Mississippi state line seven miles to the south. Thus far, Interstate 22's path in Tennessee is not set. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).
Perspective from Interstate 240 east
Eastbound Interstate 240 one mile west of Exit 21/U.S. 78. The U.S. route travels another six miles to the northwest to a terminus in downtown Memphis. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).
Within one-half mile of the Interstate 240/U.S. 78 cloverleaf interchange. Interstate 240 continues another nine miles before concluding at Interstate 40. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).
U.S. 78 traffic departs Interstate 240. A collector/distributor roadway system is in place for U.S. 78 via Interstate 240 east. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).
U.S. 78 ramp split from the Interstate 240 eastbound c/d lane at Exit 21. U.S. 78/Future Interstate 22 reaches Tupelo in 99 miles and Birmingham in 228 miles. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).
Two views of the Interstate 55 and 69 interchange construction at Exit 283. Mississippi's Interstate 69 opened to traffic on October 3, 2006. The new freeway ends at a half-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 55 and awaits the completion of new Interstate 269 from the east. Although the Interstate 22 Tennessee portion remains somewhat uncertain, the Interstate 269 freeway from U.S. 78 at Olive Branch to Interstate 55 at Southhaven is planned. This route is not planned as Interstate 22 at the present time, but very well may carry the designation if Tennessee officials cannot drum up enough support for the freeway in Memphis. Photo taken by Zach (07/18/03).
Southbound Interstate 65 reassurance shield at the future location of the eastern terminus of Interstate 22. A multi-level stack interchange is planned for this location between the current U.S. 31 Fultondale trumpet interchange at Exit 266 and 41st Street interchange at Exit 264. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/04/03).
Upcoming exits sign for Exits 264, 263, and 262 on Interstate 65 southbound at the site of the future Interstate 22 interchange. Although the designation is slated to terminate here, a freeway spur to U.S. 31 to the east is also planned. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/04/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 65 south
Milepost 264 on the north side of the Exit 264/41St Street interchange. The next exit is Exit 266 at the U.S. 31 trumpet interchange. For several years Interstate 65 ended at this trumpet with motorists utilizing U.S. 31 north to Exit 281 where Interstate 65 resumed. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/04/03).
Six lanes of Interstate 65 progress northward to Huntsville with the Exit 266 sign bridge in the background. The stack interchange planned here is the most costly junction for all of Corridor X. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/04/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 65 north
"Corridor X dubbed Interstate 22." Mobile Register, July 27, 2003.
"Officials say Corridor X to Jasper will be completed by spring 2005." Daily Mountain Eagle (Jasper), September 6, 2003.
House taps U.S. 78 as future I-22." Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, September 10, 2003.
"I-22 designation close for U.S. 78." Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, November 15, 2003.
"Corridor X becomes I-22." Birmingham News, Friday, April 15, 2005 by Ginny MacDonald.
"I-22 link to border set to open"Birmingham News, Sunday, November 13, 2005 by Ginny MacDonald (article referral by Scott Morris and Chad Long in separate emails dated 11/13/05 and 11/14/05).
"I-22." Personal email from H.C. White dated 12/10/2005.
"13 miles of Corridor X to open." The Birmingham News, June 2, 2007.
"26 miles of Corridor X to open Nov. 14." The Birmingham News, October 31, 2007.
