Editing Interstate 40 (section)

==Route description==
{{lengths table|length_ref=
<ref name="log" />}}
|-
|[[Interstate 40 in California|CA]] || {{convert|154.61|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 40 in Arizona|AZ]] || {{convert|359.48|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 40 in New Mexico|NM]] || {{convert|373.51|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 40 in Texas|TX]] || {{convert|177.10|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 40 in Oklahoma|OK]] || {{convert|331.73|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 40 in Arkansas|AR]] || {{convert|284.69|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 40 in Tennessee|TN]] || {{convert|455.28|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 40 in North Carolina|NC]] || {{convert|420.21|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
|Total || {{convert|2,556.61|mi|km|disp=table}}
|}
I-40 is the third-longest freeway in the United States, spanning {{convert|2556.61|mi|km}} across the southern half of the country. The longest stretch of the highway is in Tennessee, and the shortest is in California. The busiest stretch of I-40 is in Knoxville, concurrent with [[Interstate 75 in Tennessee|I-75]], which has an [[annual average daily traffic]] volume of more than 210,000 vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |author1 = Tennessee Department of Transportation |title = Transportation Data Management System |url = https://tdot.public.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Tdot&mod=TCDS |website = ms2soft.com |publisher = MS2 |access-date = November 27, 2021 }}</ref> The lowest traffic volumes are found on rural stretches in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, where the freeway carries fewer than 15,000 vehicles per day.<ref>{{cite report |author = Tamara P. Haas |date = October 10, 2017 |title = Traffic Counts New Mexico Interstates |url = https://www.nmlegis.gov/handouts/TIRS%20101017%20Item%201%20B%20-%20Interstate%20Traffic%20data-map.pdf |publisher = New Mexico Department of Transportation |access-date = January 7, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1 = Texas Department of Transportation |title = TPP District Traffic Web Viewer |url = https://txdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=06fea0307dda42c1976194bf5a98b3a1 |website = ArcGIS |publisher = Esri |access-date = January 7, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1 = Oklahoma Department of Transportation |title = AADT Traffic Counts |url = https://okdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=a33b6aaa19674493bf42de11b250ef1b |website = ArcGIS |publisher = Esri |access-date = January 7, 2023 }}</ref>

===California===
[[File:Start of Interstate 40.jpg|thumb|A sign at the start of I-40 in Barstow, California, showing the distance to the freeway's eastern terminus in Wilmington, North Carolina. This sign has been stolen several times.]]
{{Main|Interstate 40 in California}}
I-40 in California crosses through the lightly populated northern part of the [[Inland Empire]] region of the state. Its western end is in [[Barstow, California]]. Known as the Needles Freeway, it heads east from Barstow across the [[Mojave Desert]] in [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino County]] to [[Needles, California|Needles]], before it crosses the [[Colorado River]] into [[Arizona]] southwest of [[Kingman, Arizona|Kingman]]. I-40 covers {{convert|155|mi|km}} in California. Some signs show the [[control city]] for I-40 westbound to be [[Los Angeles]], where drivers would follow [[Interstate 15 in California|I-15]] south from its western terminus in Barstow. The highway is four lanes for the entirety of its length in the state.

A sign in California showing the distance to [[Wilmington, North Carolina]], has been stolen several times.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20091112/News/605066511/WM |title = I-40 Barstow, Calif., sign gone for good |work = StarNewsOnline.com |date = November 12, 2009 |access-date = October 20, 2020 |archive-date = October 1, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201001132230/https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20091112/News/605066511/WM/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Arizona===
[[File:I-40 west near Flagstaff.jpg|thumb|I-40 westbound heading toward Flagstaff]]
{{Main|Interstate 40 in Arizona}}
I-40 is a main route to the South Rim of the [[Grand Canyon]], with the exits leading into [[Grand Canyon National Park]] in [[Williams, Arizona|Williams]] and Flagstaff. I-40 covers {{convert|359|mi|km}} in Arizona. Just west of exit&nbsp;190, west of Flagstaff, is its highest elevation along I-40 in the US, as the road crosses just over {{convert|7330|ft|m}} at the Arizona Divide near milepost 190. I-40 also passes through the [[Navajo Nation]], the largest Indian reservation in the US. Like California's segment, the highway is four lanes for the entirety of its length in the state.

===New Mexico===
{{Main|Interstate 40 in New Mexico}}
I-40 covers {{convert|374|mi|km}} in New Mexico. As in other states it parallels or overrides the post 1937 Route 66 route through the state. Notable cities along I-40 include [[Gallup, New Mexico|Gallup]], [[Grants, New Mexico|Grants]], [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]], [[Santa Rosa, New Mexico|Santa Rosa]], and [[Tucumcari, New Mexico|Tucumcari]]. I-40 also travels through several [[Indian reservation]]s in the western half of the state. It reaches its highest point in the state of {{convert|7275|ft|m}} at the Continental Divide (Campbell Pass) in western New Mexico between Gallup and Grants. The last place that I-40 tops {{convert|7000|ft|m}} is at the head of Tijeras Canyon east of Albuquerque at approximately {{convert|7040|ft|m}}.

Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas are the five states where I-40 has a speed limit of {{convert|75|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} instead of the {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} limit in California, Tennessee, and North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://tulsaworld.com/news/speed-limit-on-much-of-i-40-i-35-raised-to-75-mph/article_f9e3cc58-cc3f-5f09-82cb-db170a67ffc8.html |title = Speed limit on much of I-40, I-35 raised to 75 MPH |date = August 4, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.5newsonline.com/article/traffic/speed-limit-on-i-40-in-the-river-valley-increases-to-75-mph/527-fa7bfbf5-125d-4bfc-91f1-6bf26370938e |title = Speed limit on I-40 in the River Valley increases to 75 MPH |date = August 6, 2020 }}</ref>

===Texas===
[[File:Grade intersection on I-40.jpg|thumb|right|An at-grade intersection on I-40 in Texas, 2003]]
{{Main|Interstate 40 in Texas}}
In the west [[Texas panhandle]] area, there are several ranch roads connected directly to the Interstate. The only major city in Texas that is directly served by I-40 is [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]], which connects with [[Interstate 27|I-27]] that runs south toward [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]]. I-40 also connects to [[U.S. Route 287 in Texas|US&nbsp;287]] that runs southeast to Dallas–Fort Worth and [[U.S. Route 87 in Texas|US&nbsp;87]]/US&nbsp;287 north to Dumas and then on into Oklahoma.  I-40 has only one welcome center in the state, which is located in Amarillo at the exit for [[Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport]], serving both sides of the Interstate.

[[File:15.07 downtown okc.jpg|thumb|I-40 in Downtown Oklahoma City]]
===Oklahoma===
{{Main|Interstate 40 in Oklahoma}}
I-40 goes through the heart of the state, passing through many Oklahoma cities and towns, including [[Erick, Oklahoma|Erick]], [[Sayre, Oklahoma|Sayre]], [[Elk City, Oklahoma|Elk City]], [[Clinton, Oklahoma|Clinton]], [[Weatherford, Oklahoma|Weatherford]], [[El Reno, Oklahoma|El Reno]], [[Yukon, Oklahoma|Yukon]], [[Oklahoma City]], [[Del City, Oklahoma|Del City]], [[Midwest City, Oklahoma|Midwest City]], [[Shawnee, Oklahoma|Shawnee]], [[Okemah, Oklahoma|Okemah]], [[Henryetta, Oklahoma|Henryetta]], [[Checotah, Oklahoma|Checotah]], [[Sallisaw, Oklahoma|Sallisaw]], and [[Roland, Oklahoma|Roland]]. I-40 covers {{convert|331|mi|km}} in Oklahoma.

In [[Downtown Oklahoma City]], I-40 was rerouted {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} south of its former alignment and a 10-lane (five in each direction) facility replaced the former [[Oklahoma City Crosstown Expressway|I-40 Crosstown Bridge]]; the former I-40 alignment will be replaced with an urban boulevard currently designated as Oklahoma City Boulevard.

===Arkansas===
[[File:Hernando de Soto Bridge Memphis.jpg|thumb|The [[Hernando de Soto Bridge]], where I-40 crosses the [[Mississippi River]] into [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]]]
{{Main|Interstate 40 in Arkansas}}
I-40 enters the west-central part of the state and runs for {{convert|285|mi|km}} in Arkansas. The route passes through [[Van Buren, Arkansas|Van Buren]], where it intersects the southbound [[Interstate 540 (Arkansas)|I-540]]/[[U.S. Route 71 in Arkansas|US&nbsp;71]] to [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]].<ref name="cra">{{Cite map |location = Little Rock |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |title = General Highway Map, Crawford County, Arkansas |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/CrawfordCounty.pdf |author = Planning and Research Division |format = PDF |year = 2011 |scale = 1:62,500 |access-date = November 15, 2011 |archive-date = February 26, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120226223917/http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/counties/county%20PDFs/CrawfordCounty.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> The route continues east to [[Alma, Arkansas|Alma]] to intersect [[Interstate 49 (Arkansas)|I-49]] north to [[Fayetteville, Arkansas]]. Running through the [[The Ozarks|Ozark Mountains]], I-40 serves [[Ozark, Arkansas|Ozark]], [[Clarksville, Arkansas|Clarksville]], [[Russellville, Arkansas|Russellville]], [[Morrilton, Arkansas|Morrilton]], and [[Conway, Arkansas|Conway]]. The route turns south after Conway and enters [[North Little Rock, Arkansas|North Little Rock]], which brings high volume interchanges with [[I-430]], [[Interstate 30 in Arkansas|I-30]]/[[U.S. Route 65 in Arkansas|US&nbsp;65]]/[[U.S. Route 67 in Arkansas|US&nbsp;67]]/[[U.S. Route 167 in Arkansas|US&nbsp;167]], and [[Interstate 440 (Arkansas)|I-440]]/[[Arkansas Highway 440|Highway&nbsp;440]] (AR&nbsp;440).<ref name="pul">{{Cite map |location = Little Rock |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |title = General Highway Map, Pulaski County, Arkansas |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/PulaskiCounty.pdf |author = Planning and Research Division |format = PDF |year = 2009 |scale = 1:62,500 |access-date = November 15, 2011 |archive-date = July 7, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707162427/http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/PulaskiCounty.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> The Interstate continues east through [[Lonoke, Arkansas|Lonoke]], [[Brinkley, Arkansas|Brinkley]], and [[West Memphis, Arkansas|West Memphis]] on the eastside. I-40 briefly overlaps [[Interstate 55 in Arkansas|I-55]] in West Memphis before it crosses the [[Mississippi River]] on the [[Hernando de Soto Bridge]] and enters [[Memphis, Tennessee]].<ref name="cri">{{Cite map |location = Little Rock |publisher = Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |title = General Highway Map, Crittenden County, Arkansas |url = http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/CrittendenCounty.pdf |author = Planning and Research Division |format = PDF |year = 2009 |scale = 1:62,500 |access-date = November 15, 2011 |archive-date = February 26, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120226223642/http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/counties/county%20PDFs/CrittendenCounty.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Tennessee===
{{Main|Interstate 40 in Tennessee}}
[[File:I-40 near Nashville Int'l Airport.jpg|thumb|I-40 in [[Nashville]]]]
The State of Tennessee has the longest segment of I-40 at {{convert|455|mi|km}}. The Interstate goes through all of the three [[Grand Divisions of Tennessee]] and its three largest cities: [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], and [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]]. [[Jackson, Tennessee|Jackson]], [[Lebanon, Tennessee|Lebanon]], [[Cookeville, Tennessee|Cookeville]], [[Crossville, Tennessee|Crossville]], and [[Newport, Tennessee|Newport]] are other notable cities through which I-40 passes. Before leaving the state, I-40 enters the [[Great Smoky Mountains]] toward [[North Carolina]].

The section of I-40 which runs between Memphis and Nashville is often referred to as the [[Music Highway (Tennessee)|Music Highway]].<ref>Tennessee public acts 2001 Chapter 100, Senate Bill 916 House Bill 616 Signed into law April 18, 2001, http://www.tennessee.gov/sos/acts/102/pub/pc0100.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210201103/http://tennessee.gov/sos/acts/102/pub/pc0100.pdf |date=February 10, 2009 }}</ref> During reconstruction, a short section of I-40 through downtown Knoxville near the central [[Spaghetti Junction#Tennessee|Malfunction Junction]] was completely closed to traffic from May&nbsp;1, 2008, and not reopened until June&nbsp;12, 2009, with all traffic redirected via [[I-640]], the northern bypass route. The redesigned section now has additional lanes in each direction, is less congested, and has fewer accidents.<ref>{{cite web |author = Tennessee Department of Transportation |url = http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/smartfix/jwp/ |title = SmartFix: I-40/James White Parkway/Hall of Fame Drive |publisher = Tennessee Department of Transportation |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101231003123/http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/smartfix/jwp/ |archive-date = December 31, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author = Tennessee Department of Transportation |url = http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/smartfix/jwp/closures.asp |title = SmartFix: I-40/James White Parkway/Hall of Fame Drive |publisher = Tennessee Department of Transportation |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090429213607/http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/smartfix/jwp/closures.asp |archive-date = April 29, 2009 }}</ref>

===North Carolina===
{{Multiple image
|total_width   = 400
|caption_align = center
|image1        = WilmingtonBarstow.JPG
|caption1      = A sign displaying the distance to Barstow near Wilmington. This sign is no longer posted by NCDOT due to the frequency of its theft.<ref>{{cite web |author = Star News Staff Reports |title = I-40 Barstow, Calif., sign gone for good |url = https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20091112/News/605066511/WM |website = StarNews Online |publisher = StarNews |access-date = October 15, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211018200805/https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20091112/News/605066511/WM/ |archive-date = October 18, 2021 }}</ref>
|image2        = Beginning of Interstate 40 (39245153235).jpg
|caption2      = The beginning of I-40 west, near Wilmington
}}
{{Main|Interstate 40 in North Carolina}}

In [[North Carolina]], I-40 travels {{convert|420|mi|km}}. It enters the state as a winding mountain freeway through the [[Great Smoky Mountains]], which frequently closes due to landslides and weather conditions. It enters the state on a mostly north–south alignment, turning to a more east–west alignment upon merging with [[U.S. Route 74 in North Carolina|US&nbsp;74]] at the eastern terminus of the [[Great Smoky Mountains Expressway]]. From there, the highway passes through [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]], [[Hickory, North Carolina|Hickory]], and [[Statesville, North Carolina|Statesville]] before reaching the [[Piedmont Triad]]. Just east of the Triad City of [[Greensboro, North Carolina]], it merges with [[Interstate 85 in North Carolina|I-85]], and the two roads split again just west of the [[Research Triangle]] area, passing through [[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]] and [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]]. From the Triangle to its eastern terminus in [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], it once again takes a more north–south alignment.

A standard distance sign existed near the start of the westbound section of I-40 in Wilmington that indicated the distance to Barstow, California, as {{convert|2554|mi|km}}. In 2009, NCDOT said it would not be replaced after [[street sign theft|frequent thefts]].<ref>{{cite web |title = I-40 Barstow, Calif., sign gone for good |url = https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20091112/News/605066511/WM |website = Star News Online |location = Wilmington, North Carolina |date = November 12, 2009 |access-date = May 10, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210814025001/https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20091112/News/605066511/WM |archive-date = August 14, 2021 }}</ref>
{{clear}}