Interstate 840 (Tennessee)
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Good article Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox road Interstate 840 (I-840), formerly State Route 840 (SR 840), is a freeway that serves as an outer bypass route around Nashville, Tennessee. Built by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), it is also designated as Tennessee National Guard Parkway.<ref name="enjoytheride">Template:Cite book</ref> At Template:Convert long, it is the tenth-longest auxiliary Interstate Highway in the nation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The route serves the cities of Lebanon, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Dickson, all suburbs of Nashville.<ref name="google"/><ref name="TNMap"/>
First proposed by former Governor Lamar Alexander as part of a system of Bicentennial Parkways, I-840 was constructed between 1991 and 2012. The highway was originally planned as an Interstate Highway but was constructed entirely with state funds and initially designated as a state route for this reason.<ref name="enjoytheride"/> In 2015, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved TDOT's request to redesignate SR 840 as I-840 as part of its integration into the Interstate Highway System. On August 12, 2016, TDOT announced that the route had officially been redesignated as I-840 and that resigning work would begin.<ref name="tdot20160812"/>
Route descriptionEdit
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I-840 begins at an interchange with I-40 in Dickson County southeast of Dickson and Burns. It initially runs southeast through a rural area, passing through a mix of farmland and woodlands characterized by a terrain made up of rolling hills, the eastbound lanes briefly gaining a truck climbing lane. The highway crosses into Hickman County about Template:Convert later. The route remains in Hickman County for less than Template:Convert before crossing into Williamson County and reaching an interchange with SR 100 about Template:Convert later. I-840 continues through a predominantly rural area over the next Template:Convert, alternating between farmland and woodlands before transitioning into a region characterized by dense woodlands, rolling hills with moderate grades, and several streams and creeks. About Template:Convert beyond this point, I-840 reaches SR 46 at an interchange near the community of Leiper's Fork. About Template:Convert later, I-840 crosses the Natchez Trace Parkway and gradually turns east, continuing through similar terrain. After about Template:Convert, I-840 passes through flat terrain consisting primarily of farmland and woodlands over the next approximately Template:Convert before briefly entering a suburban area south of Franklin and coming to an interchange with U.S. Route 31 (US 31, Columbia Pike). About Template:Convert beyond this point is an interchange with US 431 (Lewisburg Pike). Less than Template:Convert later, I-840 comes to an interchange with I-65 that resembles a combination interchange, containing two loop ramps and two underpass ramps that cross I-840 combined.<ref name="google">Template:Google maps</ref><ref name="TNMap">Template:Cite map</ref>
After this interchange, I-840 crosses a steep hill and continues through terrain consisting of several rolling hills, some with relatively steep grades, and crosses the Harpeth River about Template:Convert later. Template:Convert later, I-840 comes to an interchange with U.S. Route 31 Alternate (US 31A) and US 41A near the community of Triune. About Template:Convert later, I-840 crosses SR 96 at the top of a large hill and begins a steep downgrade; the westbound lanes utilize a truck climbing lane over a short distance to ascend the hill from the east. It then crosses into Rutherford County, entering a more flat terrain and another suburban area, and, about Template:Convert later, I-840 comes to an interchange with I-24 northwest of Murfreesboro. This interchange is almost a complete cloverleaf, containing three loop ramps and one flyover. The route then turns northeast, traveling through a relatively flat region with little elevation change and interchanges with US 41 and US 70S in a combination interchange about Template:Convert later. About Template:Convert later, I-840 crosses the west fork of the Stones River, gradually turning northwest. About Template:Convert later, the highway turns sharply northeast and crosses the east fork of the Stones River about Template:Convert beyond this point. About Template:Convert later, I-840 shifts north and, another Template:Convert later, crosses the Fall Creek impoundment of J. Percy Priest Lake. A short distance later is an interchange with the western terminus of SR 452 (Bill France Boulevard). I-840 then crosses into Wilson County less than Template:Convert later and has an interchange with SR 109 about Template:Convert beyond this point. The route then turns northeast and, about Template:Convert later, reaches its eastern terminus with I-40 west of Lebanon.<ref name="google"/><ref name="TNMap"/>
HistoryEdit
Planning and constructionEdit
The route that is now I-840 had its origins in the 1975 Tennessee Highway System Plan issued by TDOT for the next four years, which first identified the need for an outer beltway around Nashville by 1995.<ref name=FHWA>Template:Cite book</ref> The I-840 project was initiated in 1986 with the passage of the Better Roads Program by the Tennessee General Assembly.<ref name=86plan>Template:Cite book</ref> This program, which had been proposed and spearheaded by then-governor Lamar Alexander, increased the state's gasoline and diesel taxes to fund six new freeway projects and a backlog of 15 projects that had been labeled as top priorities, as well as other projects.<ref name=tdothistory>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> I-840 was the largest of these six freeway projects, dubbed "Bicentennial Parkways", and was initially expected to cost $351 million (equivalent to $Template:Formatprice in Template:Inflation/yearTemplate:Inflation/fn).<ref name=86plan/> While initially referred to as I-840 in the state plan,<ref name=86plan/> the highway was constructed entirely with state transportation funds and was officially designated as a state route.<ref name="citypaper20121105">Template:Cite news</ref> The 1986–1987 state budget contained the initial funding for the project.<ref name="enjoytheride"/> Planning work began in 1988, and the alignment for the first section was announced in December of that year.<ref name="enjoytheride"/> Survey and design work began in 1989,<ref name="840brief">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the alignment for the remainder of the route was announced in January 1990.<ref name="enjoytheride"/> Planners considered using SR 396, a short controlled-access connector between US 31 and I-65 in Spring Hill, for part of I-840, but ultimately chose a location about Template:Convert to the north.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The first contract for construction was awarded on August 2, 1991,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and work progressed in stages.<ref name="enjoytheride"/>
The first section of I-840, located between I-40 in Lebanon and Stewart's Ferry Pike, opened on August 2, 1995.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The segment between Stewart's Ferry Pike and I-24 near Murfreesboro was completed on November 21, 1996.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On November 30, 2000, the section between I-24 and US 31A/US 41A near Triune was opened.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The portion between US 31A/US 41A and US 431 (Lewisburg Pike) near Franklin, including the interchange with I-65, opened on October 18, 2001.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The section between I-40 near Dickson and SR 100 opened on December 5, 2002.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Due to high costs and environmental concerns, the proposed northern half of I-840 was indefinitely placed on hold in 2003.<ref name="enjoytheride"/> The short segment between US 431 and US 31 (Columbia Pike) opened to traffic on September 9, 2005.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Construction of the majority of I-840 was met with very little controversy.<ref name="citypaper20121105"/> As work moved into predominantly rural southwestern Williamson County, however, a group of landowners opposed to the route began a movement to stop its construction in 1997.<ref name=scene>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Between the late 1990s and mid-2000s, these landowners, spearheaded by singer-songwriter Gene Cotton, filed complaints and eventually lawsuits in an effort to have TDOT address both environmental and aesthetic issues, considerably slowing work on the segment between SR 100 and US 31.<ref name="citypaper20121105"/> A number of criticisms were also made about TDOT's handling of the construction of the route, such as an accusation that they chose to construct I-840 as a state route to avoid federally required environmental studies.<ref name=scene/> TDOT awarded the first contract for the segment between SR 100 and SR 46 on June 14, 2002,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but additional litigation forced TDOT to completely cease work on this segment three months later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As a result of these lawsuits, TDOT chose to slightly modify the design and employ new construction methods on the remaining sections the following year.<ref name="enjoytheride"/> These changes included construction of bridges over streams feeding the South Harpeth River instead of culverts; multiple wildlife underpasses; and designation of the remaining sections as a scenic highway, which prohibits billboards and uses brown powder-coated guardrail.<ref name="citypaper20121105"/><ref name="enjoytheride"/> A proposed interchange at Leiper's Creek Road was also canceled.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As part of the redesign, TDOT formed a citizen's resource team, made up of nine local residents who worked with TDOT to select the final designs and alignment of these stretches.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On February 9, 2006, TDOT announced that the realignment of the final segment of I-840 had been chosen and that work on the unfinished sections would proceed.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The first contract for construction of the segment between SR 100 and SR 46 was reawarded on June 1, 2007,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and construction on I-840 resumed the following month.<ref name=guide1>Template:Cite news</ref> This segment opened on October 27, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The contract for the segment between Leiper's Creek Road and US 31 was awarded on December 12, 2008,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and, on February 19, 2010, TDOT awarded the final construction contract for I-840, the segment between SR 46 and Leiper's Creek Road.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> These two segments, the final Template:Convert of I-840, were opened on November 2, 2012.<ref name="enjoytheride"/> The project took 26 years to complete and cost $753.4 million (equivalent to $Template:Formatprice in Template:Inflation/yearTemplate:Inflation/fn).<ref name="citypaper20121105"/>
Northern loopEdit
TDOT was first authorized to begin studies for a northern loop of I-840 north of Nashville and past Dickson, Clarksville, Springfield, and Gallatin by the state legislature in 1993.<ref name="840hold"/> Environmental studies began in 1994 and a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was released in 1995.<ref name=FHWA/> On July 12, 1996, TDOT announced their first proposal for the northern section's alignment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Many residents in the predominantly rural and agricultural areas where the route was to pass were initially opposed.<ref name=FHWA/> An entire circular loop would possibly be about Template:Convert long, with the northern segment ranging from Template:Convert.<ref name=FHWA/> Other important objections against additional extensions of I-840 include the hilly nature of the terrain north of Nashville (the Highland Rim), which would require huge and costly amounts of excavation, soil relocation, and bridge construction.<ref name="840hold"/> In addition, the state was experiencing budget problems at the time, which would have further complicated the funding for such a project.<ref name=guide1/> On October 31, 2003, TDOT placed the northern loop plan on indefinite hold, citing a lack of documented transportation needs and lack of participation from local politicians.<ref name="840hold">Template:Cite press release</ref> The western terminus of I-840 contains a very short unused extension, constructed in anticipation of the northern segment.<ref name=google/>
RedesignationEdit
TDOT first submitted a request to the FHWA to redesignate SR 840 as I-840 in November 1991. This was withdrawn two months later after it was chosen to construct the entire route with state funds.<ref>Template:Cite court</ref>
In 2015, TDOT submitted a request to AASHTO to redesignate SR 840 as I-840. Though the application had an error that required TDOT to refile it, AASHTO conditionally approved it and submitted it to the FHWA for their approval.<ref>Template:AASHTO minutes</ref><ref>Template:Cite letter</ref> The FHWA approved the change on July 22, 2015, and AASHTO finalized their approval on September 25, 2015.<ref>Template:AASHTO minutes</ref> TDOT announced on August 12, 2016, that it would start replacing the signs to change over the designation the week of August 14 and that the project would be completed by the end of the year at a cost of $230,000 (equivalent to $Template:Formatprice in Template:Inflation/yearTemplate:Inflation/fn).<ref name="tdot20160812">Template:Cite press release</ref>
Tennessee National Guard ParkwayEdit
In 2005, the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation designating I-840 as the "Tennessee National Guard Parkway".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since 2007, the state has named bridges on I-840 in honor of members of the Tennessee National Guard killed in the global War on Terror.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Exit listEdit
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See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Sister project Template:Attached KML
- Interstate 840 at Kurumi.com
- Interstate 840 at Interstate-Guide.com