Interstate 275 (I-275) is an Interstate Highway in Tennessee that serves Knoxville by connecting the downtown with I-75/I-640/US Route 25W (US 25W). Measuring in length,

History

The freeway that is now I-275 was first planned in the 1940s as part of a series of freeways for the city of Knoxville and was known initially as the North–South Expressway. The route was integrated into the Interstate System as part of I-75, and the southern terminus was the end of a concurrency with I-40 and I-75. Work on most of the route began in March 1958, and the first section, located between I-40 and Baxter Avenue, opened on October 28, 1960, after several delays. The final section, located between Oldham Avenue and Heiskell Avenue, opened on January 24, 1962. A dedication ceremony for this section took place on February 9, 1962.

On December 6, 1979, TDOT submitted an application to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), requesting relocation of I-75 onto the then-underconstruction western leg of I-640 and renumbering of the route between I-40 and I-640/I-75 as I-275. The application cited the shorter distance and fewer number of interchanges that through traffic on I-75 would be required to traverse. The change was also intended to divert through traffic away from traffic generated by the 1982 World's Fair. AASHTO approved this redesignation on June 22, 1980. and the western leg of I-640 was opened to traffic six days later.

Between December 1, 2006, and January 26, 2008, the existing cloverleaf exits (1A–B, 1C–D, 2A–B) were replaced with traditional diamond interchanges to add a continuous third lane in each direction. This was done to handle increased traffic flow for the shutdown of I-40 in Downtown Knoxville that took place on May 1, 2008. I-275 was the designated detour route for I-75 northbound traffic during the I-40 shutdown to avoid traffic congestion at the I-75/I-640/I-275/US 25W junction as the ramp for I-75 northbound from I-640 eastbound is only one lane.

Exit list

Notes

References

  • Interstate 275 (Tennessee) at AARoads.com