AASHTO Journal, 26 August 2016
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has begun installing new signs on State Route 840, which loops around the southern half of the Nashville area, to designate its 77 miles as Interstate 840.
TDOT said this month that it received approval from the Federal Highway Administration to designate that highway as I-840, after making the request “to encourage more economic growth along the corridor and more traffic diversion around Middle Tennessee’s urban core.”
The state agency said it expects to complete the sign replacement work late this year. The 840 corridor was completed in 2012, providing access to Interstate 40 west and east of Nashville, along with connections to Interstates 24 and 65. It travels through Dickson, Hickman, Rutherford, Williamson, and Wilson Counties.
“The primary purpose of SR 840 when it was initiated in 1986 was to promote economic development by improving access to the many communities located along the route,” TDOT said. “Since then, more than 20 major industrial sites have opened directly adjacent to SR 840.”
Now, it said, “having an interstate designation could encourage more industries to consider locating in Middle Tennessee, which increases employment opportunities for the state. Interstates also provide a level of expectation and confidence for drivers. Motorists can maintain a higher speed and avoid congestion that may be found on state routes.”
TDOT said it expects the interstate designation to encourage passenger and freight traffic moving through the state to take the route, which will help to reduce congestion in Nashville and surrounding areas.