Interstate 69 (I-69) is a proposed Interstate Highway that will pass through the western part of the US state of
Tennessee
Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
, serving the cities of
Union City,
Dyersburg, and
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Mem ...
. Currently, a section of already-existing freeway in Memphis has been approved for the I-69 designation (although it has not been signed as such) while another segment near Union City opened on February 21, 2024, under the temporary designation of Tennessee State Route 690. However, state officials have stated that they will not commit to finishing the interstate in their state until they receive more federal funding.
Route description

From
Fulton, Kentucky
Fulton is a home rule-class city in Fulton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,357 at the 2020 census, down from 2,445 at the 2010 census. It was once known as the "Banana Capital of the World", because 70% of imported ban ...
, I-69 is planned to continue to the southwest, replacing and bypassing existing
U.S. Route 51, serving
Union City,
Dyersburg (where it will intersect
I-155
Interstate 155 is the designation for two Interstate Highways in the United States, both of which are related to Interstate 55:
* Interstate 155 (Illinois), a spur to Peoria
* Interstate 155 (Missouri–Tennessee), a spur to Dyersburg, Tennessee
{ ...
),
Ripley,
Covington,
Millington, and
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Mem ...
. It will pass near
Discovery Park in Union City.
On January 18, 2008, the
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program a ...
(FHWA) authorized the states of Mississippi and Tennessee to extend I-69 from the
I-40
Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west transcontinental Interstate Highway in the southeastern and southwestern portions of the United States. At a length of , it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and ...
/
State Route 300 (SR 300) interchange in north Memphis to the
I-55
Interstate 55 (I-55) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. The ...
/I-69 interchange in
Hernando, Mississippi
Hernando is the county seat of DeSoto County, on the northwestern border of Mississippi, United States. The population was 17,138 according to the 2020 census records. It is located on the south side of the Memphis, Tennessee metro area. U.S ...
; Tennessee has signed the extension of the route, although Mississippi has.
Planned extension
I-69 in Tennessee has been divided into three segments of independent utility (SIUs).
Tennessee considered legislation that would allow I-69 to be built as a toll road, thereby accelerating its design and construction timetable by several years should such legislation be approved.
Tennessee's toll road legislation came as
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...
withdrew $171 million (equivalent to $ in ) allocated for Tennessee highway projects, including funds for I-69, in 2007. This federal highway allotment was diverted to fund military operations in
Iraq
Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
under
U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007.
SIU 7
This SIU begins at the
Kentucky
Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...
–Tennessee border in
Fulton and closely follows US 51 to
Dyersburg. The stretch between Dyersburg and
Troy
Troy (/; ; ) or Ilion (; ) was an ancient city located in present-day Hisarlik, Turkey. It is best known as the setting for the Greek mythology, Greek myth of the Trojan War. The archaeological site is open to the public as a tourist destina ...
is at Interstate Highway standards—opening with the completion of
I-155
Interstate 155 is the designation for two Interstate Highways in the United States, both of which are related to Interstate 55:
* Interstate 155 (Illinois), a spur to Peoria
* Interstate 155 (Missouri–Tennessee), a spur to Dyersburg, Tennessee
{ ...
west of Dyersburg. An additional stretch north of Union City to within of the Kentucky border is also a freeway. Thus, the vast majority of the work on SIU 7 will involve bypassing the portion of US 51 between Troy and Union City (where it is currently a four-lane surface arterial with at-grade intersections) and redesigning the US 51/
US 45 interchange in
South Fulton. The redesign is projected to start construction in 2028.
This stretch has been divided into five smaller sections. The first two sections make up the Troy Bypass, while the northern three sections represent the Union City Bypass. Tennessee State Route 690 will be the temporary designation for the Union City bypass until I-69 is completed between the Purchase Parkway and I-155.
The first construction contract was set for SIU 7 on October 30, 2009, covering Section 4 (middle leg of the Union City Bypass). The winning bid for constructing the section between
SR 21 and
SR 5 northwest of Union City was awarded to Ford Construction Company of Dyersburg for $33 million (equivalent to $ in ). Construction on this section of the Union City Bypass began in the spring of 2010 and was completed in the summer of 2012. However, it remained closed to traffic until adjacent sections were completed. , land acquisition and utility relocations were underway in all five sections from Troy to Union City. The
Tennessee Department of Transportation
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is the department of transportation for the State of Tennessee, with multimodal responsibilities in roadways, aviation, public transit, waterways, and railroads. It was established in 1915 as the ...
(TDOT) awarded a construction contract for Section 3 (southern leg of the Union City Bypass) in March 2016 and planned to let a second contract for Section 5 (northern leg of the Union City Bypass) in December 2016. Work began on Section 3 in June 2016.
There is no current timetable for letting contracts to construct the Troy Bypass (Sections 1 and 2). However, TDOT Commissioner John Schroer estimated in February 2013 that it would take around 10 years to gradually complete work on SIU 7 due to lack of funding.
This situation (and the next one below) regarding funding was solved on May 23, 2017, with the signing of the IMPROVE (Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy) Act. The legislation raised taxes and fees for drivers and others: $0.06 for regular fuel, $0.10 for diesel fuel, and $0.08 for liquefied and compressed natural gases (a total of $355 million). The state would get $250 million, counties $70 million, and cities $35 million. Most vehicle owners saw their registration fees go up by $5; private and commercial owners had their fees go up by $10, with ride-sharing exempt; and heavy truck operators would pay $20 more. Electric vehicle owners in Tennessee (about 2,500) would pay an additional $100 in registration and renewal fees (since they do not pay fuel taxes); hybrid-electric car owners are exempt from the extra charges. The new money would fund parts of I-69 in the state. The Union City sections (3, 4, and 5) of this segment begin construction in 2017. Paving on the three segments begin in July 2021 and the segment opened to traffic on February 21, 2024 as SR 690.
While TDOT has acquired the right-of-way and is finalizing design for the Troy portion (1 and 2), a timeline for construction has not yet been established.
SIU 8
SIU 8 proceeds south from Dyersburg, paralleling US 51 to a planned interchange with
SR 385 (
I-269
Interstate 269 (I-269) is a partal beltway around the city of Memphis, Tennessee, and its adjacent suburban areas in southwestern Tennessee and northern Mississippi, completed in October 2018. I-269 was planned and built to serve as an oute ...
) in
Millington. To facilitate work on the draft
environmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement (EIS), under United States environmental law, is a document required by the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An E ...
(EIS) for this segment,
TDOT
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is the department of transportation for the State of Tennessee, with multimodal responsibilities in roadways, aviation, public transit, waterways, and railroads. It was established in 1915 as th ...
has divided SIU 8 into three smaller segments. In April 2006, TDOT has announced the preferred routing for the northern and southern subsections, favoring an alignment to the west of US 51. Meanwhile, studies are still ongoing for the central section, which include alignments both east and west of the existing US 51. Once TDOT identifies the preferred alignment for the central segment, it is expected that a supplemental draft EIS will be necessary before the final EIS can be prepared.
The routing of I-69 has been criticized by the state
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is an American environmental organization with chapters in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. The club was founded in 1892, in San Francisco, by preservationist John Muir. A product of the Pro ...
chapter for not making use of the existing
right-of-way
A right of way (also right-of-way) is a specific route that people, animals, vehicles, watercraft, or utility lines travel, or the legal status that gives them the right to do so. Rights-of-way in the physical sense include controlled-access h ...
for US 51 via
Tennessee Hatchie River Bridge and for potentially impacting the
Hatchie River
The Hatchie River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 3, 2011 river in northern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee. It is of considerable geographic, culture, cu ...
, a state-designated scenic river.
TDOT has suspended work indefinitely on segment 8 due to a lack of funding. TDOT has further stated that it does not intend to resume work on the Dyersburg–Millington section until Congress commits federal funding to complete environmental studies, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. However, the revived completion of segment 7 of I-69 in northwestern Tennessee connecting to I-155 and I-55 will provide an unbroken freeway route from that region to Memphis. It will bypass the uncompleted segment 8 by following the west side of the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
before crossing the river into Memphis and linking to partly finished segment 9. TDOT officials determined "there would be value" in finishing just enough of I-69 to link it to I-55, a major north–south route that runs through Memphis.
SIU 9
South of Millington, I-69 will intersect the
I-269
Interstate 269 (I-269) is a partal beltway around the city of Memphis, Tennessee, and its adjacent suburban areas in southwestern Tennessee and northern Mississippi, completed in October 2018. I-269 was planned and built to serve as an oute ...
Memphis Outer Beltway, then continue southwest, roughly parallel to US 51, then abruptly turn east near
General DeWitt Spain Airport to connect with
I-40
Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west transcontinental Interstate Highway in the southeastern and southwestern portions of the United States. At a length of , it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and ...
at the existing
SR 300 interchange in the
Frayser neighborhood. I-69 follows I-40 for about to the I-40/
I-240 Midtown Interchange, where I-69 continues south along the
Midtown portion of I-240 (mileposts 25–31) to the I-240/
I-55
Interstate 55 (I-55) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. The ...
interchange in
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a town and civil parish in the Cumberland (unitary authority), Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. It is a port on the north-west coast, and lies outside the Lake District National parks of England and Wales, National Park. ...
. From that interchange, I-69 continues south, merged with I-55 for approximately , crossing the
Mississippi
Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...
state line. The
Mississippi Department of Transportation
The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the U.S. state of Mississippi. In addition to highways, the department also has a limited role in s ...
(MDOT) has been working on widening I-55/I-69 between Hernando and the Tennessee state line, adding travel lanes in each direction, reconstructing bridges, and improving
traffic flow
In transportation engineering, traffic flow is the study of interactions between travellers (including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and their vehicles) and infrastructure (including highways, signage, and traffic control devices), with the ai ...
at interchanges. Meanwhile, TDOT is reconstructing I-55 and I-240 from the Mississippi line to Memphis. With much of the route already built and at Interstate standards through Memphis, the FHWA authorized TDOT to sign I-69 over I-55, I-240, and I-40 on January 18, 2008; however, TDOT has done so. However, it is still signed as an "I-69 FUTURE CORRIDOR".
Similar to segment 8, TDOT has suspended work indefinitely on the unbuilt section between SR 300 and the proposed interchange with I-269 near Millington due to a lack of funding. TDOT has further stated that it does not intend to resume work on this section until Congress commits federal funding to complete environmental studies, right-of-way acquisition and construction.
Exit list
This exit lists includes exits from existing I-55, I-240, I-40, SR 300, I-155, and US 51. The I-69 designation has only been approved on the southern . I-69 is not currently signed along this route.
Related routes
Interstate 169
The first auxiliary route,
I-169, between
Martin Martin may refer to:
Places Antarctica
* Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land
* Port Martin, Adelie Land
* Point Martin, South Orkney Islands
Europe
* Martin, Croatia, a village
* Martin, Slovakia, a city
* Martín del Río, Aragón, Spain
* M ...
and
Union City, will be a spur route that is currently designated as
SR 22.
Interstate 269
The second route,
I-269
Interstate 269 (I-269) is a partal beltway around the city of Memphis, Tennessee, and its adjacent suburban areas in southwestern Tennessee and northern Mississippi, completed in October 2018. I-269 was planned and built to serve as an oute ...
, is a
beltway
A ring road (also known as circular road, beltline, beltway, circumferential (high)way, loop or orbital) is a road or a series of connected roads encircling a town, city or country. The most common purpose of a ring road is to assist in reducin ...
around
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Mem ...
. I-269 is designated from the Mississippi state line to I-40 as of 2025.
The northern segment of
SR 385 is expected to be redesignated as I-269 in the future, from I-40 to I-69.
State Route 690
State Route 690 is the designation given to highways currently open that are not yet part of I-69, but will be in the future. The first of these opened on February 21, 2024 around
Union City. Planning began on the bypass on October 30, 2009, and construction commenced in early 2010. The central portion of the bypass was completed in the middle of 2012 without mainline paving, however the segments connecting both ends to US 51 on both sides of Union City remained incomplete, until construction on those segments began in 2016, and was completed in early 2024.
Construction will commence on the interchange in 2028 on US 51/US 45E in South Fulton, Tennessee.The SR 690 designation is expected to be replaced by the I-69 designation in the future, connecting with the segment of
Interstate 69 in Kentucky
Interstate 69 (I-69) in the U.S. state of Kentucky is a Interstate Highway running from the Tennessee state line in the southwest at Fulton to Henderson in the northeast, just south of the Ohio River. The route incorporates much of th ...
.
;Exit list
Notes
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Interstate 69 In Tennessee
Tennessee
69
Transportation in Memphis, Tennessee
Transportation in Shelby County, Tennessee