Interstate 69

History

Southern Terminus

Northern Terminus

Routing

On October 3, 2006, the first segment of new Interstate 69 opened to traffic between a point near U.S. 61 north of Tunica at the county line and Interstate 55 north of Hernando. As of November 2006, Interstate 69 technically doesn't connect to U.S. 61 or Mississippi 3. It travels down Mississippi 713 to the Tunica-DeSoto County Line. Traffic between I-69 and US 61 has to use either Mississippi 304 or the 4-lane part of Mississippi 713. Mississippi 713 includes old Mississippi 304 from Mississippi 3 to U.S. 61.¹

On May 6, 2008, the Interstate 69 designation was extended north on shared alignments with Interstate 55 and Interstate 240 through downtown Memphis, Tennessee to Tennessee 300, after approval by AASHTO. Cosigning with Interstate 55 through to the Tennessee state line is in place. North from there, Future corridor signs take the place of conventional highway markers.

For the main Interstate 69 page, click here.

	Southern Terminus - DeSoto-Tunica County Line near Tunica, Mississippi Perspective from Interstate 69 south Southbound Interstate 69 and westbound Mississippi 304 meet Mississippi 301 at this interchange. It is the final exit before Mississippi 304 and Mississippi 713 split. Interstate 69 remains cosigned with Mississippi 304. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Shortly after the Mississippi 301 interchange, Interstate 69 and Mississippi 304 split. Mississippi 304 continues due west to merge with U.S. 61, while Mississippi 713 turns southwest toward Tunica. (At the time this photo was taken, Mississippi 713 was still closed, hence the construction barricades.) Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Now traveling southwest on Interstate 69 and Mississippi 713, the concrete freeway continues toward Tunica. Upon crossing the DeSoto-Tunica County Line, southbound Interstate 69 temporarily comes to an end. The freeway divides into Mississippi 304 west to U.S. 61 and Mississippi 713 southwest to Tunica. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). The newly poured concrete of the future Interstate 69 means that the freeway will be opened southwest to Tunica very soon. This view looks southbound from Green River Road. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Perspective from Interstate 69 north A "begin" Interstate 69 sign is posted on northbound (eastbound) Interstate 69 after crossing the Tunica-DeSoto County Line. The freeway continues east from this point to Interstate 55. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). This view of Interstate 69 north shows the merge between Mississippi 713 north and Mississippi 304 east. Note the roadside sign which states "Jct. East Mississippi 304." This view is from the Green River Road overpass. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). A reassurance shield for Interstate 69 north and Mississippi 304 east is posted after the Mississippi 713 merge. The next exit is Junction Mississippi 301. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Shortly after the merge, northbound Interstate 69 and eastbound Mississippi 304 meet Mississippi 301 at this interchange. The freeway continues almost due east toward Interstate 55 near Hernando. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Perspective from Mississippi 304 west Back on westbound Mississippi 304, this view shows the Mississippi 304 freeway as it passes under the Interstate 69/Mississippi 713 freeway. This short freeway spur connects Interstate 69 with U.S. 61 north of Tunica. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). The final exit on westbound Mississippi 304 is the junction with U.S. 61 north of Tunica. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Westbound Mississippi 304 meets U.S. 61 at this interchange, offering a connection from southbound Interstate 69. Mississippi 304 ends here. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Perspective from U.s. 61 north Now traveling north on U.S. 61, the junction with Mississippi 304 east is signed as "To Interstate 69 north." Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Northbound U.S. 61 meets Mississippi 304 at this interchange. Follow Mississippi 304 east to Interstate 69 (at the merge with Mississippi 713). Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Perspective from U.S. 61 south Now traveling south on U.S. 61, the junction with Mississippi 304 east is signed as "To Interstate 69 north." Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Southbound U.S. 61 meets Mississippi 304 at this interchange. Follow Mississippi 304 east to Interstate 69 (at the merge with Mississippi 713). Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Perspective from Mississippi 304 east This is the first shield for Mississippi 304 after the U.S. 61 interchange. It is also signed as "To Interstate 69 north." The next interchange will be the merge with Mississippi 713. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Northern Terminus (from 10/03/06 through 05/06/08) - Interstate 55 - Hernando, Mississippi Perspective from Interstate 69 north Northbound (eastbound) Interstate 69 temporarily ends at the junction with Interstate 55 south of Memphis near Hernando. The first ramp connects eastbound Interstate 69 with southbound Interstate 55, while the second ramp connects with northbound Interstate 55. As of mid-2007, the control city for southbound Interstate 55 was changed from Hernando to Jackson.2 Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Continuing through the nearly complete cloverleaf interchange, the second and final ramp connects Interstate 69 north with Interstate 55 north. Plans call for the freeway to continue east, with connections to future Interstate 269 and future Interstate 22 (Corridor X). Interstate 69, meanwhile, is currently planned to turn north onto Interstate 55 toward Memphis. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Perspective from Interstate 55 north Northbound Interstate 55 approaches its junction with Interstate 69 and Mississippi 304 at Exit 283 (one mile). Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). The interchange between Interstate 55 and Interstate 69 will be a modified cloverleaf upon completion, and it is located on top of what used to be Green T Lake Road. The local road was modified west of Interstate 55 and is now replaced with the high-speed freeway route. The ramp transitions onto southbound Interstate 69 and westbound Mississippi 304, with provisions for connections to the east. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Now on the collector-distributor lanes of northbound Interstate 55, this ramp connects to Interstate 69 south and Mississippi 304 west. Old Mississippi 304, which is located south of here in Hernando, apparently has two separate alignments (freeway and old alignment). It is not clear what will happen to the old alignment. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Perspective from Interstate 69 south and Mississippi 304 west This is the first reassurance shield assembly for southbound Interstate 69 and westbound Mississippi 304 after the Interstate 55 interchange. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06). Northern Terminus (as of 05/06/08) - Tennessee 300 - Memphis, Tennessee At this time, no photos are available of this terminus. Scenes Pertaining to Interstate 69 in Mississippi Northbound Mississippi 301 meets Interstate 69 and Mississippi 304 at this diamond interchange. Note the use of the state name in the trailblazer Interstate 69 shields. Photo taken by Robert Lee (10/08/06).

Sources:

1. Road to Riches: DeSoto, region expected to reap major benefits of highway by Wayne Risher, October 2, 2006, Memphis Commercial-Appeal
2. Philip R. "I-269 broken link / I-565 info and question / I-69 MS info." Personal Email, 1/18/08.

Page Updated July 29, 2008.