Interstate 269 Mississippi / Tennessee

I-269 Mississippi
I-269 Tennessee

Overview

Interstate 269 is the outer beltway for Memphis, Tennessee. Beginning in Hernando, Mississippi, I-269 extends eastward from the exchange joining I-55 with the western leg of I-69 to Tunica. Traveling east along side Mississippi Highway 304, the beltway meets Interstate 22 and U.S. 78 at the town of Byhalia on the Marshall County line.

Turning north, Interstate 269 crosses into Tennessee ahead of U.S. 72 and the town of Collierville before overtaking SR 385 at Bill Morris Parkway. I-269 superseded SR 385 northward to Interstate 40 in the town of Arlington. The remainder of the SR 385 beltway west to U.S. 51 at Millington is a part of future I-269, as the connection with Interstate 69 north from Memphis is incomplete.

Interstate 269 was first signed along the 2.6 mile long segment between MS 302 and the Tennessee state line south of Collierville. The route north from there to Interstate 40, a distance of 19.176 miles, was approved as I-269 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on May 24, 2016.29

The freeway was completed west from MS 302 to I-22 / U.S. 78 and MS 305 on December 5, 2017.30 The remainder west to I-55/69 opened to motorists following a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 26, 2018.31

History

Tennessee State Route 385 preexisted Interstate 269 along the Memphis beltway system between Collierville and Millington. The south leg of SR 385 along Bill Morris Parkway between Interstate 240 and Collierville is built to Interstate standards but is not part of or planned for inclusion into the Interstate Highway System.

For a time prior to the I-269 designation, the beltway route was considered for the alignment of Interstate 69. However, city of Memphis officials preferred I-69 to pass directly through the city, so the bypass was eventually renumbered. The beltway was also briefly referred to as Interstate 669 on misc.transport.road, but without a verified citation.

Bill Morris Parkway

Conceived in 19692 and originally named the Nonconnah Parkway, for the creek which it parallels, Bill Morris Parkway constitutes a suburban freeway branching southeast from Interstate 240 in Memphis to U.S. 72 in Collierville. The contract for the first portion of Nonconnah Parkway was awarded on August 3, 1990 at a cost of $44.7 million.1. This focused on building the westernmost 4.4 miles of roadway, from I-240 to Ridgeway Road in East Memphis. Work on the second phase was delayed as local officials shifted the proposed route southward from Winchester Road to a parallel alignment along Nonconnah Creek. Cost increases associated with land acquisition were cited as the rational for relocating the future roadway.2

State officials signed off on the new SR 385 alignment for phase two by July 1991.3 Work commenced on the $45.1 million segment in June 1992, which extended the freeway east of Kirby Parkway at Riverdale. Phase three started in December 1992, with a one mile stretch east to Winchester.4 Ensuing construction proceeded with the award of an $11.3 million contract for 3.4 miles of freeway between Hacks Cross Road and Bailey Station.5

Route Information

  • North End – Arlington, TN

  • South End – Hernando, MS

  • Mileage – 45.13

Mileage

Mississippi – 25.93

  • Cities – Hernando, Byhalia

  • Junctions – I-55 I-69 I-22

Tennessee – 19.20 (35.76)*

  • Cities – Arlington, Collierville, Millington

  • Junctions – I-40

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
35.76 miles – TDOT GIS Data (19.178 miles for I-269 and 16.58 miles for SR 358)

I-269 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Traffic Volume 2019 AADT
Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Transportation Data Management System 2021 AADT

I-269 - Marshall County, MS
Looking south at Interstate 269 from the Wingo Road overpass in Marshall County, Mississippi. Photo by Trevor B. (10/19/15).

Controversies also involved the path of the easternmost segment of SR 385. The fourth phase of Nonconnah Parkway was resisted by residents in Collierville who disapproved of a freeway backing up to their homes. State officials shifted the route northward from along side Shelby Drive to instead straddle the south side of Nonconnah Creek. Increasing the costs by 12%, the 4.8 mile long freeway between Bailey Station and Quinn Roads included the condemnation of ten homes.6 Work ultimately was broken into smaller portions, with construction beginning in June 1997.7

Additional delays pushed back the Fall 1993 completion date of the western leg of Nonconnah Parkway when the original contractor walked away in December 1992 and defaulted on the job in June 1993.8 A new contractor opened the eastbound lanes on December 23, 1993, with the westbound lanes completed by January 15, 1994.9 Delayed due to bad weather, another 2.9 miles of SR 385 were completed as phase two opened to traffic following a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 22, 1995.10

A subsequent ribbon cutting ceremony took place on December 29, 1997 at the Riverdale Road interchange, where SR 385 ended from the west. Completion of this segment opened Nonconnah Parkway east to Bailey Station. The total cost for the 6.7 mile long stretch was $91 million.11

The next change for Nonconnah Parkway took place on February 26, 1997, when the state legislature approved renaming the freeway as Bill Morris Parkway. Morris served as Shelby County Sheriff and was the mayor of Shelby County for 16 years.12

Final work on Bill Morris Parkway added two miles between Bailey Station Road and Byhalia Road in Collierville by mid October 1999.13 An additional two miles were completed on November 21, 2000. This rounded out the parkway east to U.S. 72, leaving the connection with the planned Collierville-Arlington Parkway leading north to I-40.14

Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway

Tennessee State Route 385 north from Collierville to Arlington started with a $23 million contract awarded in December 2002 for a 2.7 mile long section from the end of Bill Morris Parkway at U.S. 72 to SR 57 (Poplar Avenue). This work ran simultaneously with construction of the four mile, $18.98 million portion leading south from Interstate 40 to Collierville Arlington Road, south of U.S. 64 at Eads.15

The 7.7 mile long gap between these two segments included a 3,200 foot long bridge over the Wolf River. Costing $12 million, changes to the bridge design extended the Wolf River span by more than four times over what was initially planned. The changes were necessary to bridge environmentally sensitive wetlands associated with the waterway.16

The extension of Bill Morris Parkway to SR 57 at Piperton opened to traffic on August 23, 2007.17 Following quickly was the opening on September 4, 2007 of the Eads to Arlington portion, extending SR 385 south 2.48 miles from I-40 to U.S. 64.18

Succeeding construction south from U.S. 64 to Macon Road (SR 193) cost $14 million and was completed on June 15, 2009. This left a 3.6 mile stretch of SR 385 from Macon Road to Raleigh-LaGrange Drive and 3.7 miles of roadway to build from there to SR 57.19

Work of the final $74 million phase of SR 385, between SR 57 and SR 193 (Macon Road), ran from 2009 to November 22, 2013. The road was formally designated as the Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway during the opening ceremony.20

An extension of Interstate 269 into Tennessee was submitted for review at the AASHTO Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering meeting held on May 24, 2016. Ultimately approved, I-269 extended 19.176 miles into Tennessee from the Mississippi border northward to I-40 at Arlington. This replaced SR 385 along the same stretch.29

Paul W. Barret Parkway

The Environmental Impact Statement for Paul W. Barret Parkway, the north leg of SR 385 between Millington and Interstate 40, was approved by the Federal Highway Administration in 1975. The initial stretch to open extended east from U.S. 51 at Millington to Singleton Parkway (SR 204), with construction following to Austin Peay Highway (SR 14).21

State Route 385 (Paul W. Barret Parkway) east from U.S. 51 to U.S. 70 at Arlington was completed on September 25, 1998 at a cost of $66.9-million. Opening of this 12.7 mile long stretch left just 1.6 miles of SR 385 southward to I-40 to build.22 Subsequent delays pushed completion of this $18.8 million segment back until December 1999.22

Mississippi

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) showed Interstate 269 following existing freeway routes in Tennessee (SR 385 and SR 205) but considered several alternate alignments in Mississippi (Central Alignment, B-1; Southern Alignment, B-2; and Northern Alignment, B-3).23 Preliminary citizen reaction indicated that the B-1 alignment for I-269 was preferred.24 The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) eventually concurred and endorsed the Central Alignment on November 31, 2004.25

Construction for Interstate 269 through northern Mississippi presently was partitioned in eight segments. Focusing on grading and bridge work by the eventual interchange between I-22 and I-269, the first broke ground in July 2012. Fall 2012 construction followed west from U.S. 78 to MS 305 and from I-55/69 east to Getwell Road.

The first segment of I-269 finished in Mississippi was the five mile extension south from SR 385 to MS 302. It opened following a ribbon cutting ceremony held on October 23, 2015,28 and was signed as Interstate 269 within Marshall County. The remaining portions were forecast for completion in 2018.26 However a 14 mile section opened to traffic from MS 305 at Lewisburg to MS 302 east of Olive Branch following a ribbon cutting ceremony held on December 5, 2017. Officials anticipated that the $76 million roadway will spur economic development along the rural corridor.30

Construction progressed through 2018 on the nine mile link between I-55/69 and MS 305. Officials gathered at the Getwell Road interchange on the morning of October 26, 2018 to celebrate the beltway’s completion in Mississippi. The 27 mile portion of I-269 in the Magnolia State cost $640 million overall, and was $28 million under budget.31

Photo Guides

North End I-40 Tennessee Route 385 – Arlington, Tennessee

I-269 North at I-40 Tennessee Route 385

I-269 north at I-40/SR 385 - Arlington, TN

Interstate 269 converges with I-40 north of the folded diamond interchange (Exit 18) with Donelson Farms Parkway in Arlington. Photo by Peter Johnson (01/26/20).

I-269 north at I-40/SR 385 - Arlington, TN

An auxiliary lane opens along Interstate 269 north from Donelson Farms Parkway to the eastbound ramp (Exit 19A) for I-40 to Jackson and Nashville. 01/13/19

I-269 north at I-40/SR 385 - Arlington, TN

A third of a mile separates the Donelson Farms Parkway overpass from the cloverleaf interchange (Exit 19) joining Interstate 269 with SR 385 west and I-40. Photo by Peter Johnson (01/26/20).

I-269 north at I-40/SR 385 - Arlington, TN

A loop ramp joins I-269 north with Interstate 40 west from Arlington through the east suburbs of Memphis. Photo by Peter Johnson (01/26/20).

I-269 north at SR 385 - Arlington, TN

Tennessee State Route 385 extends the Memphis outer beltway another 16 miles from the north end of I-269 to U.S. 51 at Millington. 01/13/19

Tennessee Route 385 South at I-40 I-269

SR 385 south at I-40/269 - Arlington, TN

SR 385 (Paul Barret Parkway) travels one mile south from the Milton Wilson Drive overpass in Arlington the cloverleaf interchange (Exit 19) with Interstate 40 and I-269 south. 01/13/19

SR 385 south at I-40/269 - Arlington, TN

Interstate 269 replaced State Route 385 south from I-40 at Arlington to Bill Morris Parkway at Collierville. End and begin shields for I-269 were erected just north of I-40 in 2018. 01/13/19

SR 385 south at I-40/269 - Arlington, TN

SR 385 curves southeast across Hall Creek leading into the exchange with Interstate 40. I-40 crosses the Volunteer State from the Hernando Desoto Bridge spanning the Mississippi River to the Great Smoky Mountains. 01/13/19

SR 385 south at I-40/269 - Arlington, TN

Exit 19B leaves I-269/SR 385 southbound for Interstate 40 west to Lakeland, Bartlett and Memphis. 01/13/19

SR 385 south at I-40/269 - Arlington, TN

Leaving the Memphis area, Interstate 40 progresses east from I-269/SR 385 to Gallaway, Brownsville and Jackson. 01/13/19

I-40 East at I-269 Tennessee Route 385

I-40 east at I-269/SR 385 - Arlington, TN

Interstate 40 angles northeast from the city of Lakeland to I-269 south and SR 385 north in Arlington. 01/14/19

I-40 east at I-269/SR 385 - Arlington, TN

A collector distributor lane separates from I-40 east for I-269/SR 385 (Exit 24) and nearby SR 205 (Exit 25) at Cypress Creek Canal. 01/14/19

I-40 east at I-269/SR 385 - Arlington, TN

Interstate 269 (Winfield Dunn Parkway) travels south from I-40/SR 385 at Arlington to Fisherville, Piperton and Collierville. SR 385 arcs westward toward Millington. 01/14/19

I-40 West at I-269 Tennessee Route 385

I-40 west at I-269/SR 385 - Arlington, TN

A collector distributor roadway runs along Interstate 40 westbound through the exchanges with SR 205 and I-269/SR 385. 09/10/20

I-40 west at I-269/SR 385 - Arlington, TN

Exit 24A departs from the cloverleaf interchange joining I-40 west with I-269/SR 385 for Collierville. 09/10/20

South End I-55 I-69 Mississippi 304 – Hernando, Mississippi

I-269 South Mississippi 304 West at I-55 I-69

I-269 south at I-55/69 - Hernando, MS

Paralleling Hurricane Creek, Interstate 269 shifts southward through an S-curve two miles to I-55/69. 01/13/19

I-269 south at I-55/69 - Hernando, MS

This sign one mile from the exchange with I-55/69 was removed during 2020-21 construction of the diamond interchange (Exit 1) at McIngvale Road. 01/13/19

I-269 south at I-55/69 - Hernando, MS

Exit 1B departs from I-269 west for I-55/69 north to Southaven and Memphis, Tennessee. 05/06/22

I-269 south at I-55/69 - Hernando, MS

Interstate 69 takes over for the ending I-269 beyond Exit 1A for I-55 south to Jackson and New Orleans, Louisiana. 01/13/19

I-69 North Mississippi 304 East at I-55 I-269

I-69 north at I-55/269 - Hernando, MS

Interstate 69 arcs eastward three miles from Tulane Road to I-55 and I-269 north in the city of Hernando. 01/13/19

I-69 north at I-55/269 - Hernando, MS

Unlike the cloverleaf with I-22, the exchange at I-55/69 is without collector/distributor roadways along Interstate 269. 01/13/19

I-69 north at I-55/269 - Hernando, MS

I-69 combines with I-55 north from Interstate 269 and MS 304 at Hernando to Memphis, Tennessee. 01/13/19

I-55 North at I-69 I-269 Mississippi 304

I-55 north at I-69/269 - Hernando, MS

Continuing north from Commerce Street in the DeSoto County seat of Hernando, Interstate 55 reaches the cloverleaf interchange (Exit 283) with I-69 south and I-269 north in 0.75 mile. 01/13/19

I-55 north at I-69/269 - Hernando, MS

A collector/distributor roadway partitions from I-55 north at Exit 283. Interstate 69 spurs 13 miles west to the Tunica County line. MS 304 and MS 713 connect the freeway with U.S. 61 north of Tunica. 01/13/19

I-55 north at I-69/269 - Hernando, MS

Exit 283A joins I-55 north with I-269 north and MS 304 east to Olive Branch, Byhalia and Collierville, Tennessee. 01/13/19

I-55 I-69 South at I-269 Mississippi 304

I-55/69 south at I-269 - Hernando, MS

I-55/69 travel one mile south from the exchange with Pleasant Hill Road to Interstate 269/MS 304 in Hernando. 01/13/19

I-55/69 south at I-269 - Hernando, MS

Interstate 69 splits with I-55 south at the c/d roadway (Exit 283) for I-269/MS 304. 01/13/19

I-55/69 south at I-269 - Hernando, MS

Interstate 69 turns west toward U.S. 61 and Tunica from I-55/269. The freeway spur opened to traffic on October 3, 2006. 01/13/19

I-55/69 south at I-269 - Hernando, MS

A loop ramp follows from the c/d roadway on I-55 south for I-269 north and MS 304 leading northeast to Arlington, Tennessee. 01/13/19

Temporary South End Mississippi Highway 302 – Cayce, Mississippi

I-269 South Mississippi 304 West at

I-269 south at MS 302 - 2016

Until 2017, Interstate 269 concluded a short distance south of the Tennessee state line at a partially opened diamond interchange (Exit 23) with Highway 302. Photo by Trevor B. (05/26/16).

I-269 south at MS 302 - 2016

Exit 23 connects I-269 south with Highway 302 west to Olive Branch and east to U.S. 72 for Corinth. Photo by Trevor B. (05/26/16).

I-269 south at MS 302 - 2016

Pylons shunted drivers onto Exit 23 as Interstate 269 temporarily ended. The ensuing section of I-269 opened on December 5, 2017. Photo by Trevor B. (05/26/16).

East at I-269 Mississippi 304

MS 302 east at I-269 - 2016

Approaching Interstate 269/MS 304 on MS 302 east. Photo by Trevor B. (05/26/16).

MS 302 east at I-269 - 2016

Highway 302 east at the temporary south end of Interstate 269. Photo by Trevor B. (05/26/16).

MS 302 east at I-269 - 2016

The northbound on-ramp for I-269/MS 304 from MS 302 east references the nearby town of Collierville, Tennessee. Photo by Trevor B. (05/26/16).

Sources

  1. “Parkway may Start by Oct. 1.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), September 13, 1990.
  2. “Nonconnah Plan Change is Attributed to Land Cost – State Shifts Route South.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), October 24, 1990.
  3. “DOT Approves New Segment for Parkway – Riverdale, Bailey Station Route Considered Less Costly.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), July 17, 1991.
  4. “Parkway Neighbors Await Traffic – Residents Anticipate Benefit, Bane.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), October 15, 1992.
  5. “Parkway continues to move eastward.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), December 8, 1994.
  6. “Parkway Will Shift Toward Collierville, Take Homes.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), December 24, 1992.
  7. “Work Begins on C’Ville Stretch of Parkway.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), June 5, 1997.
  8. “Nonconnah Finish Pushed Toward Spring.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), September 2, 1993.
  9. “Eastbound leg of Nonconnah opens today.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), December 24, 1993.
  10. “New Nonconnah – Commuters zoom onto parkway.” The Commercial Appeal, December 23, 1995.
  11. “Nonconnah’S oopen Monday to Collierville.” The Commercial Appeal, December 24, 1997.
  12. “Morris Road Zips through Legislature.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), February 27, 1998.
  13. “Nonconnah 2 Miles Closer to I-40 Goal – Collierville Segment Opens to Rush of Engines.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), October 20, 1999.
  14. “Morris Parkway Section to Open.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), November 21, 2000.
  15. “Extension to Fayette of Tenn. 385 Starts.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), June 5, 2003.
  16. “Longer span to spare Wolf River wetlands — But growing bridge adds $12 million to Tenn. 385 project.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), March 28, 2005.
  17. “Access: Fayette County — New stretch of Tenn. 385 puts Piperton on short route .” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), August 22, 2007.
  18. “Tenn. 385 opens up Arlington — New stretch of highway hailed for its access to progress.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), September 5, 2007.
  19. “Three-mile segment of 385 opening — Piperton hopes to benefit from Interstate.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), June 14, 2009.
  20. “Final leg of Highway 385 opens to Mid-South drivers” WMC (Memphis, TN), November 22, 2013.
  21. “Highway Plan to Interrupt Rustic Privacy – Millington-Interstate 40 Link Slices at Rural, Homes, Farms.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), September 5, 1991.
  22. “Paul Barret Parkway Slated for Opening on Friday.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), September 23, 1998.
  23. “New Barret Link to I-40 Expected to be Boon for Suburban Area.” The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), January 4, 2000.
  24. Interstate 69 Memphis Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/information-office/I69/default.htm, page 4 of 215, map of Interstate 69 and Interstate 269 corridors through Memphis
  25. “I-69/269 go with public flow: Citizens, officials in same lane on routes in Memphis area,” by Tom Bailey Jr. and William C. Bayne, Memphis Commercial Appeal, November 7, 2004
  26. “States choose pair of routes for I-69 — Next up: impact statements, funding.” The Commercial Appeal, December 1, 2004.
  27. Desoto County, Mississippi I-269 Corridor Study construction schedule. http://desotodiscovery.com/mm_uploads/I-269_Construction_Schedule_final-8-6-12.pdf
  28. “I-269 Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for October 2.” MDOT, press release, October 19, 2015.
  29. “AASHTO Spring 2016 Route Numbering Applications – Ballot Results.” Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering May 24, 2016.
  30. “Memphis to Byhalia nonstop: I-269 and I-22 now intersect.” Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), December 8, 2017.
  31. “I-269’s completion marked with ribbon cutting in DeSoto County, opening its final stretch.” Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), October 26, 2018.

Page updated May 18, 2022.