Interstate 22
Interstate 22 (abbreviated I-22), when completed, will follow the U.S. Highway 78 corridor along a 176 mile (283 km) route from Memphis, Tennessee to Birmingham, Alabama. The limited access freeway will connect Interstate 55 and Interstate 40 in the northwest to Interstate 65 and Interstate 20 in the southeast, passing through the cities of Holly Springs, New Albany, and Tupelo, Mississippi, and Hamilton and Jasper, Alabama.
The part of I-22 east of Fulton, Mississippi was approved in 1978 as Corridor X, part of the Appalachian Development Highway System. Parts of the highway have been under construction ever since, with the final portions in northwest Alabama remaining to be completed. Funding for those sections has been a priority for U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who serves as Chairman of the Senate Transportation Subcommittee. In 2004 Corridor X was designated as Future Interstate 22 by Public Law No: 108-199, and the designation was made official on April 18, 2005. In Alabama, green signs reading "FUTURE/I-22/CORRIDOR" at left and an I-22 shield with "FUTURE" instead of "INTERSTATE" at right were unveiled on that date.
A 94-mile stretch from Graysville, Alabama to the Mississippi state line is scheduled to open in 2007; the westernmost 65 miles (105 km) in Alabama (to Bevill Industrial Parkway southeast of Jasper) opened to traffic in a series of stages through November 22, 2005. An additional 13 miles, from Walker County Highway 81 to Cherry Avenue near the city limits of Birmingham, including the interchange with U. S. Highway 78, were opened in June 2007. Another 13 mile stretch from Walker County 81 toward Jasper is slated for completion by Thanksgiving, which would leave only the connection with I-65 to complete.
The highway will officially become Interstate 22 once that interchange with I-65 is completed, perhaps by 2010. When done, I-22 will pass under I-65 and end at Highway 31. The interchange with I-65 is expected to cost $145 million, making it the most expensive single interchange in the state. The work will be done in four separate projects, keeping two to three lanes open each way on I-65 at all times. Bids for the interchange will be taken in the summer of 2007.
Design work for an additional segment of I-22 to U. S. Highway 31 is underway, with the feasibility of extending the highway to I-20/59 east of Birmingham being studied.
Alabama exit list
# | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|
3 | Marion County Road 33 | |
7 | Weston; Hamilton (Alabama State Route 74) | |
11 | Alabama State Route 17 - Hamilton; Sulligent | |
14 | Marion County Road 35 - Hamilton | |
16 | U.S. Highway 43; U.S. Highway 278 - Hamilton; Guin (Alabama State Route 171) | |
22 | Marion County Road 45 | |
26 | Alabama State Route 44 - Brilliant; Guin | |
30 | Alabama State Route 129 | |
34 | Alabama State Route 233 - Natural Bridge; Glen Allen | |
39 | Alabama State Route 13 - Natural Bridge; Eldridge | |
46 | Walker County Road 11 - Carbon Hill; Nauvoo | |
52 | Alabama State Route 118 | |
(unsigned) | ||
Alabama State Route 118 east - Jasper | ||
61 | Alabama State Route 69 - Jasper; Tuscaloosa | old exit 96 |
63 | Alabama State Route 269 - Jasper; Parrish | old exit 101 |
65 | Industrial Parkway Road (U.S. Highway 78 east; Alabama State Route 4 east) | eastbound exit and westbound entrance; old exit 104 |
References
- "Interstate 22." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 24 May 2006, 11:10 UTC [1]. Accessed 8 Aug 2006.
- MacDonald, Ginny (November 26, 2006) "Roads chief wants I-22 done by 2010." Birmingham News.
- MacDonald, Ginny (June 2, 2007) "13 miles of Corridor X to open." Birmingham News.
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