Interstate 240 Tennessee

Interstate 240 Tennessee
Midtown Memphis, TN ↔ Memphis, TN•19.27 miles

Overview

I-240 at Crump Boulevard - Memphis, TN
Interstate 240 south of the U.S. 51-64-70-72-79 (Crump Boulevard) overpass at Midtown Memphis. 06/01/10

Interstate 240 in Tennessee runs along the southern two thirds of the 31.9 mile long Memphis beltway. The northern third is designated as Interstate 40. The western leg of I-240 from Downtown to Southside, Memphis doubles as Interstate 69, through the route is not marked. The remainder of the urban loop provides a bypass between I-55/69 near Whitehaven and I-40 between East Memphis and Bartlett. I-240 in conjunction with SR 385 (Bill Morris Parkway), is also a commuter route for residents of Germantown, Hickory Hill and Parkway Village.

Mileage by State

Tennessee19.27 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

When the eastern terminus interchange of Interstate 240 opened in 1964, I-40 was to continue west along Sam Cooper Boulevard, while I-240 was to serve as the bypass loop of the city.1 Litigation involving the construction of Interstate 40 across Overton City Park in 1971 resulted in the cancellation of the route across the Med District, Evergreen and Midtown. The freeway east from Highland Heights to Berclair and I-40 was completed prior to the Supreme Court decision in favor of the Citizens to Preserve Overton Park law suit.2

Interstate 40 was subsequently rerouted to overlap with I-240 along the northern Memphis beltline between Uptown and Raleigh. I-240 was eventually dropped from the concurrency as approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on June 28, 1982. The former I-40/240 overlap was one of handful in the Interstate Highway System where a two digit route overlapped with its branch route. Others included I-40/440 around Raleigh, North Carolina (dropped by 2009), I-95/495 around Washington, D.C. and I-94/694 to the northwest of St. Paul, Minnesota.

The southwestern section of I-240 between I-40 near Downtown and I-55 by Alcy-Dunn was previously designated as Interstate 255. This changed on November 10, 1973, when the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved the renumbering of I-255 as a northwestern extension of I-240.

Construction at the west end of I-240 included the removal of unused ramps intended for the Interstate 40 alignment to Sam Cooper Boulevard. Started in June 2003, the $53 million project rebuilding the I-40/240 exchange at Midtown, Memphis wrapped up by mid December 2006. Work added a lane in each direction to both I-40 and I-240 and doubled capacity of the ramp connections. 19 bridges were removed in the project and seven were replaced.4 The I-40 mainline was realigned to curve northeast through the exchange with four overall lanes while I-240 shifted to the outside roadways northward to the parclo interchange with SR 14 (Jackson Avenue).

Memphis, TN - 1964
Interstate 240 was completed from I-55/255 east to I-40/240 by Brennan in east Memphis by 1964. The Interstate 255 leg of the Memphis beltway was opened north to the cloverleaf interchange with South Parkway East.
I-40/240 Memphis, TN - 1972
This 1972 map shows the interchange built for I-40/240/255 near Midtown, Memphis. The freeway east of Claybrook Street was never built, leaving ramps at the nearby exchange unused until their demolition in 2003.
Memphis Inset – 1976 Tennessee Official Highway Map
Construction continued through 1976 on the northern arc of the Memphis beltway between Chelsea Avenue at Vollintine and U.S. 64-70-79 (Summer Avenue) at Raleigh.
I-40/240 interchange - Memphis, TN
Looking at the former ghost ramps at the interchange joining I-40/240 near Midtown, Memphis. This view looked southwest from the ramp built for unconstructed I-40 west to I-240 south. The loop ramp below carried motorists from I-240 north to I-40 west while the adjacent overpass represented the eastbound mainline of Interstate 40. This exchange was rebuilt between 2003 and 2006 into a high-speed directional T interchange. Photo by Zach (07/18/03).
I-40/240 interchange reconstruction - Memphis, TN
Looking east from White Station Road at the steel frame work for the flyover carrying I-40 west to I-240 during Phase I construction. Photo by Don Johnson (06/02).
Summer Avenue at I-40/240 - Memphis, TN
This view looks at Phase I construction of I-40/240 above Summer Avenue (U.S. 64-70-79). A new overpass was constructed for I-40 eastbound in the foreground. Westbound travelers remained on the 1964-overpass in the background. Photo by Don Johnson (06/02).

The I-40/I-240 Phase II Interchange Project was previously scheduled between January 2004 and December 2006. Funding delays pushed work back to 2013, when construction of the east and westbound flyover bridges commenced. The new ramps, which carry the Interstate 40 mainline above I-240 and Sam Cooper Boulevard, were completed by Fall 2015. Replacement of the I-40 bridges across the Wolf River and associated widening rounded out project work by Summer 2017.

Interstate 69 was extended northward from Hernando, Mississippi to Midtown, Memphis on May 6, 2008. The route overlaps with I-55 north to Interstate 240, along side I-240 north to Interstate 40, and on I-40 to a three-wye interchange (Exit 2A) with SR 300 near Frayser. Signs erected within the Volunteer State only reference the route as a Future corridor.

East End Interstate 40 / Sam Cooper Boulevard ‐ Memphis, TN

Interstate 240 East at Interstate 40 Sam Cooper Boulevard

I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN

I-240 curves northwest from Walnut Grove Road (SR 23) between East Memphis and Shelby Farms Park to Interstate 40. 01/13/19

I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN

Interstate 40 East at Interstate 240 Sam Cooper Boulevard

I-40 meets SR 204 one mile north of I-240 in Memphis, Tennessee

Paralleling the Wolf River, I-40 angles southeast to SR 204 (Covington Pike) at Berclair and I-240 at East Memphis. 12/31/23

I-40 meets SR 204 one mile north of I-240 in Memphis, Tennessee I-40 east converges with I-240 and U.S. 64/70/79 at succeeding exits. I-40 turns east at I-240 and Sam Cooper Blvd in Memphis, Tennessee

Interstate 40 West at Interstate 240 Sam Cooper Boulevard

I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN

Westbound I-40 expands to five lanes from Sycamore View Road (Exit 12) to the exchange with Interstate 240. 09/10/20

I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - Memphis, TN

Sam Cooper Boulevard East at Interstate 40 Interstate 240

Sam Cooper Bl east at I-40/240 - Memphis, TN

Sam Cooper Boulevard heads 1.25 miles east from Perkins Road to Interstate 240. The exit numbering convention along the freeway spur is a remnant from the cancelled route of I-40 through Midtown Memphis. 09/10/20

Sam Cooper Bl east at I-40/240 - Memphis, TN Sam Cooper Bl east at I-40/240 - Memphis, TN Sam Cooper Bl east at I-40/240 - Memphis, TN Sam Cooper Bl east at I-40/240 - Memphis, TN

East End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 240 East at Interstate 40 Sam Cooper Boulevard

I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003

Initial construction to upgrade the exchange joining I-240 with I-40 and Sam Cooper Boulevard. Photo by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).

I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003 I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003 I-240 east at I-40/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003

Interstate 40 West at Interstate 240 Sam Cooper Boulevard

I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003

Interstate 40 west at I-240 and Sam Cooper Boulevard during construction of the I-40/I-240 Phase I Interchange Project. Photo by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).

I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003 I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003 I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003 I-40 west at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003

Interstate 40 East at Interstate 240 Sam Cooper Boulevard

I-40 east at I-240 - 2013

Left Exit 12 C for the continuation of Interstate 40 east departed one mile beyond Exit 12A for U.S. 64/70/79. 04/14/13

I-40 east at I-240 - 2013 I-40 east at I-240 - 2013 I-40 east at I-240 - 2013 I-40 east at I-240 - 2013 I-40 east at I-240/Sam Cooper Bl - 2003

West End Interstate 40 ‐ Midtown Memphis, TN

Interstate 240 North at Interstate 40

I-240 north at I-40 - Memphis, TN

2003-06 reconstruction of the I-40/240 exchange near Downtown Memphis included renumbering Exit 31B as Exit 31. U.S 72 (Union Avenue) meets I-240 one half mile to the south. 01/14/19

I-240 north at I-40 - Memphis, TN I-240 north at I-40 - Memphis, TN I-240 north at I-40 - Memphis, TN I-240 north at I-40/SR 14 - Memphis, TN I-240 north at I-40/SR 14 - Memphis, TN

Interstate 40 East at Interstate 240

I-40 east at I-240 - Memphis, TN

I-40 meets U.S. 51 (Danny Thomas Boulevard) at Uptown Memphis one mile west of Interstate 240. 09/10/20

I-40 east at I-240 - Memphis, TN I-40 east at I-240 - Memphis, TN I-40 east at I-240 - Memphis, TN

Interstate 40 West at Interstate 240

I-40 west at I-240/SR 14 - Memphis, TN

I-40 travels south by the North Memphis district to SR 14 (Jackson Avenue) and Interstate 240 at Midtown. 01/13/19

I-40 west at I-240/SR 14 - Memphis, TN I-40 west at I-240/SR 14 - Memphis, TN I-40 west at I-240/SR 14 - Memphis, TN I-40 west at I-240/SR 14 - Memphis, TN

West End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 240 North at Interstate 40

I-240 north at I-40 - 2003

Prior to reconstruction of the interchange with I-40, I-240 north reduced to two through lanes below Poplar Avenue. Photo by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).

I-240 north at I-40 - 2003 I-240 north at I-40 - 2003 I-240 north at I-40 - 2003

Interstate 40 East at Interstate 240

I-40 east at I-240 - 2003

A section of unused roadway was constructed for the planned continuation of Interstate 40 east from I-240 across Midtown Memphis. Photo by Chris Patriarca (05/03/03).

I-40 east at I-240 - 2003 I-40 east at I-240 - 2003

Interstate 40 West at Interstate 240

I-40 west at I-240/SR 14 - 2003

Exit 1E previously was assigned for the continuation of Interstate 40 west from the Memphis beltway (I-240). Photo by Chris Patriarca (07/18/03).

I-40 west at I-240/SR 14 - 2003 I-40 west at I-240/SR 14 - 2003 I-40 west at I-240 - 2003 I-40 west at I-240 - 2003

References

  1. Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). I-40/I-240 Interchange Reconstruction East Memphis, Shelby County. Retrieved from http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/information-office/HotProjects/Ramp/default.html
  2. Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). Facts About Tennessee's Interstate System 50th Anniversary, 1956-2006. Retrieved from http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/ interstateinfo/Tnfacts.htm
  3. Lawrence, Chris. "Recent MS/TN construction notes." Online posting, misc.transport.road, September 25, 2003.
  4. "Work on I-40-240 ahead of schedule." Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN) October 7, 2005
Updated January 28, 2024