Interstate 840 Tennessee

History

Western Terminus

Eastern Terminus

Proposed Routing

Originally tapped to be a full 187-mile beltway of the metropolitan Nashville area, Tennessee 840 (Future Interstate 840) connects Interstate 40 near Pomona to Interstate 40 near Lebanon. The beltway is touted as a possible answer to regional traffic needs so that the existing Nashville freeways may better support local traffic. Similar to the planned outer beltway of Houston and the Northern Arc of Atlanta, Tennessee 840 will provide a complete bypass of the metropolitan areas, providing a through route for the movement of goods and services. Critics of the beltway worry that the new freeway will open up unprecedented lands for commercial and residential development.

Status

As of November 2004, the bypass is largely completed on the south side of the Nashville metropolitan area between Pomona and Lebanon, with the exception of the section between Tennessee 100 and Interstate 65. Work on this section began with a 6.1-mile project between Tennessee 100 and Tennessee 46 (Pinewood Road) in June 2007. A second contract involving the building of the next 7.9 miles of freeway between Tennessee 6 (Columbia Pike) to Leipers Creek Road was let in December 2008. Work on the entire 20.9 miles of unconstructed roadway should be completed by 2012. Details and a map of the final alignment are found at TDOT's State Route 840 South.

Interstate designation is not planned for the time being, but it is possible upon completion of the southern half of the project. The reasoning for the state designation is based upon the fact that funding has come from Tennessee state sources such as gas and diesel taxes, license plate renewal fees, and other highway user fees.¹

The northern half of the beltway is still on paper only, as no construction is in progress at the moment. It was announced by the Tennessee Department of Transportation on October 31, 2003, that Tennessee 840 north of Interstate 40 was indefinitely placed on hold. Lawsuits and complaints from homeowners and environmental groups along the planned corridor and the overall need for this element of the beltway are cited as reasons for the halting of the project.²

History

The origins of Tennessee 840 began in 1975 with the recommendation for a beltway of Nashville included in the 1975-79 Tennessee Highway System Plan.² By 1986, the concept became official upon the proposal of Governor Lamar Alexander for the route and the subsequent approval by the state legislature. The route was included in the Tennessee Better Roads Program. From there planning commenced in 1988 culminating to actual construction by 1991. Newspaper reports referred to the beltway as Interstate 840 rather than Tennessee 840.

In November 1991, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) requested that the proposed Interstate 840 be added to the Interstate Highway System. This request was submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in accordance with the provisions of 23 USC § 139(b). In January 1992, however, TDOT withdrew this request, and FHWA returned the Agreement for Interstate Highway Construction in the State of Tennessee without signing it. Interstate 840 then became "SR 840S."³

The first leg of Tennessee 840 to open to traffic is the 23.8-mile link between Interstate 24 and Interstate 65 south of Nashville. This segment opened in four stages:

• From Stewart's Ferry Pike to Interstate 40 near Gladeville - open August 1995
• From Interstate 24 in Murfreesboro northeast to Stewart's Ferry Pike - open November 1996
• From U.S. 31A and U.S. 41A near Triune in Williamson County to Interstate 24 - open November 2000
• From Interstate 65 south of Franklin to U.S. 31A/41A - open October 2001

The total length of Tennessee 840 expanded to 47 miles at this point.^{1 3}

In 1993, the General Assembly indicated that TDOT may consider the northern component of the beltway. The department of transportation followed with the release of an environmental impact statement in 1995. By 2003, due to the overall anticipated high costs both economically and socially with the corridor, it was recommended that TDOT withdraw plans to begin work on the northern half of Tennessee 840. Instead attention should be redirected to the expansion of the existing roadway network north of the city. Thus further study of the northern half of the route has been discontinued.²

The final 31-mile portion of the southern half of Tennessee 840, situated between Interstate 40 near Burns to Interstate 65 is partially open between Interstate 40 and Tennessee 100 near Fairview, a distance of about nine miles. This westernmost portion opened to traffic December 5, 2002. Upon completion the southern loop will encompass a total of 78 miles at a cost of $490 million.¹

	Western Terminus - Interstate 40 - east of Pomona, Tennessee Currently no photos are available. If you have one to share, feel free to email us. Eastern Terminus - Interstate 40 - west of Lebanon, Tenessee Perspective from Tennessee 840 east Exit 76A/B sign bridge on what will eventually be the ramp from Tennessee 840 to Interstate 40. Naturally, all traffic is defaulted to this ramp, however the interchange is set up for future extension north of Interstate 40, although that will not come to fruition anytime soon. Photo taken by Dan Garnell (05/02/02). Perspective from Interstate 40 west Exit 235 guide sign for Tennessee 840 westbound on Interstate 40 west. 23 miles to the southwest, Tennessee 840 will intercept Interstate 24. 16 miles to the west Interstate 40 will enter the city limits of the Tennessee capital city. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (03/18/01).

Sources:

1. State Route 840. Tennessee Department of Transportation.
2. "TDOT Announces Decision on State Route 840 North." Tennessee Department of Transportation, October 31, 2003.
3. Tennessee Department of Transportation 15 Project Case Study: Project Assessment Final Report State Route 840 South, by the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee (Dr. Stephen Richards, Team Leader; Dr. David Middendorf; Dr. Fred Wegmann; Dr. Gregory Reed; Dr. Tom Urbanik; Dr. Mary English; Dr. Arun Chatterjee; Dr. John Tidwell) in August 2003 - page 11.

Page Updated May 15, 2009.