Interstate 22

Interstate 22 (I-22) is a 202.5-mile-long (325.9 km) Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama, connecting I-269 near Byhalia, Mississippi to I-65 near Birmingham, Alabama. I-22 is also Corridor X of the Appalachian Development Highway System. Designated in 2012, I-22 follows the route of the older U.S. Route 78. The freeway mainly spans rural areas and passes numerous small towns along its route, including Jasper, Winfield, and Hamilton, Alabama; and Fulton, Tupelo, New Albany, and Holly Springs, Mississippi.

Interstate 22
Corridor X
I-22 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDOT and ALDOT
Length	202.5 mi[1] (325.9 km)
Existed	2012 (2012)[2]–present
Major junctions
West end	I-269 / US 78 / MS 304 near Byhalia, MS
	US 45 in Tupelo, MS SR 4 at the MS/AL Line US 43 / US 278 / SR 171 in Hamilton, AL US 78 / SR 5 in Graysville, AL
East end	I-65 near Birmingham, AL
Location
States	Mississippi, Alabama
Counties	MS: DeSoto, Marshall, Benton, Union, Pontotoc, Lee, Itawamba AL: Marion, Walker, Jefferson
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business Future Mississippi State Highway System Interstate US State Alabama Highways Interstate US State ← MS 21 MS MS 22 → ← SR 21 AL SR 22 →

I-22 was upgraded to Interstate Highway standards to close a gap in the Interstate Highway System, allowing for more direct connections between cities in the southeast with cities in the central part of the country. I-22 indirectly connects I-240, I-40, I-55, and I-69 in the Memphis metropolitan area via US 78 and I-269 with I-65 and I-20/I-59 in Birmingham.

Route description

Western terminus at I-269 in Byhalia, MS

I-22 serves as a connection between Birmingham and suburban Memphis, filling in a gap in the Interstate Highway System. It begins at an interchange with I-269 at Byhalia, Mississippi approximately 25 miles (40 km) from downtown Memphis and travels southeast across northern Mississippi and Alabama, before ending at an interchange with I-65 approximately five miles (8.0 km) north of downtown Birmingham, Alabama. While I-22 itself does not continue past I-269 to Memphis, some believe that an I-22 spur route may be named along the existing US 78 from I-269 northwest to the Tennessee state line.

Mississippi

Eastbound I-22 in Potts Camp

I-22 begins at an interchange with I-269 at Byhalia in northwestern Mississippi and continues across rural areas, connecting towns such as Fulton, Tupelo, New Albany, and Holly Springs.

Alabama

Corridor X ADHS shields in Marion County

I-22 continues across rural areas in northwestern Alabama, and connects the towns of Jasper, Winfield, and Hamilton before ending at an interchange with I-65 approximately five miles (8.0 km) north of downtown Birmingham.

History

The concept of a Memphis-to-Birmingham expressway was discussed as early as the 1950s, but did not move beyond talk for more than 20 years.[3]

When studies for I-22 began, the highway was proposed to continue west to downtown Memphis, Tennessee and end at Interstate 240 and Interstate 69. Several other proposals were also considered. One took I-22 along I-269 to I-55/I-69 and another took it along Crump Boulevard to end at Interstate 55, but those plans never materialized.

The part of I-22 just east of Fulton, Mississippi, was approved by Congress as "Corridor X" in 1978, as a part of the Appalachian Development Highway System, and parts of I-22 have been under construction ever since.[4] Corridor X was also designated as "High Priority Corridor 10" in the Federal National Highway System Designation Act of 1995, and as "High Priority Corridor 45" in later legislation.[5] Over the many years of development, the project changed multiple times.

In 2004, Corridor X was designated as Future I-22 by Public Law Number 108-199,[6] and the designation was made official on April 18, 2005.[7] In Alabama and Mississippi, blue signs reading "FUTURE/I-22/CORRIDOR" at left and an I-22 shield with "FUTURE" instead of "INTERSTATE" at the right were unveiled on April 18, 2005.[7]

The first major completed section of the route between the Mississippi state line and Jasper was opened to traffic on November 22, 2005.[8] Exits on the Jasper Bypass portion of I-22 were originally numbered using a kilometer-based sequence because at the time this stretch was opened it appeared that all highways in the U.S. were going to be measured using the metric system. The final decision was made to remain using miles, and they have been renumbered according to the highway's mileposts. A six-mile (9.7 km) segment between Graysville and Brookside was opened in June 2007,[9] and another 20-mile (32 km) section of Future I-22 between Jasper and Graysville was opened in November 2007.[10] A 1.8-mile (2.9 km) segment between Cherry Avenue in Forestdale to a point about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) short of I-65 near Fultondale, including an interchange with Coalburg Road, was opened in December 2009.[11] Next came the connection of I-22 with I-65 and US 31.[11] The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) widened Coalburg Road from its interchange with I-22 southward to Daniel Payne Drive (which leads to I-65) to allow heavy trucks to use it; this project was nearly complete as of May 2015.[12] Signs are now in place on Daniel Payne Drive (westbound) informing truckers that access to I-22 is not allowed from Daniel Payne Drive.

ALDOT was to award contracts in August 2009 for the construction of the final segment of I-22, including its large interchange with I-65 and US 31, with the construction to begin shortly afterwards. Funding delays postponed these into 2010, however. On March 19, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the HIRE (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment) Act into law, which included an extension of federal highway funding through the end of 2010. This extension gave the ALDOT the opportunity to proceed with its plans for the construction of final segment of I-22 in Alabama. The opening of the bids for this project began on May 21, 2010. ALDOT announced on June 16, 2010, that the project has been awarded to the company Archer Western Contractors for $168.6 million.[13] The project is the most expensive highway project ever undertaken in Jefferson County, and it is the highest-priced contract awarded by the ALDOT as of 2010.[14]

On November 12, 2012, ALDOT's application for establishing I-22 was conditionally approved by AASHTO at a special committee, pending for MDOT to submit their own application for I-22 and FHWA approval. This therefore officially established the existence of I-22.[15]

In April 2013, the first actual Interstate 22 shields were deployed in Marion County, Alabama, immediately east of the Mississippi state line. Such signs will extend east at least through Walker County into the outskirts of Birmingham.[16] On August 21, 2014, ALDOT reported that I-22's interchange with I-65 would not be completed until October 2015.[17] The interchange's connections via exit 95 to I-65 and the continuation over I-65 as exit 95C at US 31 remained under construction. In March 2016, the intersection with I-65 and continuation to US 31 was still under construction. New lanes north and southbound were opened on I-65 passing through the interchange and construction and painting operations were carried out on the I-22 entrance and exit ramps.[18] The interchange to I-65 opened to traffic on June 20, 2016, while the connector to US 31 remained under construction.[19]

Mississippi officials announced May 5, 2015 that the state officially began the process to designate its portion as I-22. The two requirements to be able to apply for this designation were to upgrade the route to interstate standards and to connect to an existing interstate within 25 years; this was completed when I-269 was opened in December 2017. The I-65 interchange was opened in October 2015.[20] The route was officially signed in Mississippi in a ceremony on October 23, 2015.[21]

Exit list

State	County	Location	mi[22][1]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Mississippi	DeSoto	​	0.0	0.0	—	US 78 west – Memphis	Continuation as US 78; western end of US 78 overlap
		Byhalia	0.0	0.0	12	I-269 / MS 304 – Tunica, Collierville	Memphis Outer Beltway; I-269 exit 16
	Marshall		2.4	3.9	14	MS 309 – Byhalia
		​	6.6	10.6	18	Victoria, East Byhalia
		​	9.8	15.8	21	Red Banks
		Holly Springs	14.4	23.2	26	West Holly Springs, Ashland	Former MS 4/MS 7
			18.5	29.8	30	MS 4 / MS 7 – Holly Springs, Oxford	Access to Senatobia via MS 7
		​	25.5	41.0	37	Lake Center
		Potts Camp	29.6	47.6	41	To MS 349 – Potts Camp
	Benton	Hickory Flat	36.4	58.6	48	MS 178 – Hickory Flat	Access to MS 2 and MS 5
	Union	Myrtle	42.9	69.0	55	Myrtle
		New Albany	48.6	78.2	60	Glenfield	Connector to MS 30 and to a Walmart distribution center
			49.6	79.8	61	MS 30 west – West New Albany, Mississippi, Oxford	Western end of MS 30 overlap
			51.0	82.1	63	Downtown New Albany
			52.0	83.7	64	MS 15 / MS 30 east – Pontotoc, Ripley	Eastern end of MS 30 overlap
			61.2	98.5	73	MS 9 north – Blue Springs	Western end of MS 9 overlap; signed as exits 73A and 73B
	Pontotoc	Sherman	64.8	104.3	76	MS 9 south (MS 178) – Sherman, Pontotoc	Eastern end of MS 9 overlap
	Lee	Tupelo	69.0	111.0	81	MS 178 (McCullough Boulevard) – West Tupelo
			70.3	113.1	82	Coley Road / Barnes Crossing Road
			72.9	117.3	85	Natchez Trace Parkway
			74.3	119.6	86	US 45 (Corridor V west) – Tupelo, Corinth	Western end of Corridor V overlap; signed as exits 86A (south) and 86B (north)
			75.8	122.0	87	Veterans Boulevard	Access to Elvis Presley birthplace
		​	78.1	125.7	90	Auburn Road
		​	82.2	132.3	94	MS 371 – Mantachie, Mooreville
	Itawamba	​	85.3	137.3	97	Fawn Grove Road – Dorsey
		​	88.8	142.9	101	MS 178 / MS 363 – Peppertown, Mantachie
		Fulton	92.9	149.5	104	MS 25 south – Fulton, Amory	Western end of MS 25 overlap, MS 178 resumes eastbound in downtown Fulton
		​	96.6	155.5	108	MS 25 north (Corridor V east) – Belmont, Iuka Corridor X ends	Eastern end of MS 25/Corridor V overlap; western end of Corridor X overlap
		Tremont	101.4	163.2	113	MS 23 – Tremont, Smithville	MS 178 terminates eastbound at intersection with MS 23 just north of Corridor X
			106.0 0.00	170.6 0.00	Mississippi–Alabama state line
Alabama	Marion	​	3.93	6.32	3	CR 33 / SR 4 – Bexar	Western end of SR 4 overlap
		Hamilton	7.80	12.55	7	CR 94 to SR 74 – Weston, Hamilton	Provides access to US 278 east and to SR 19 Red Bay
			11.45	18.43	11	SR 17 – Hamilton, Sulligent, York, Butler, Mobile	Also connects to SR 19
			14.46	23.27	14	CR 35 – Hamilton
			16.91	27.21	16	US 43 / US 278 / SR 171 – Hamilton, Guin
		​	22.52	36.24	22	CR 45
		​	26.24	42.23	26	SR 44 – Brilliant, Guin	Also serves the community of Twin
		Winfield	29.92	48.15	30	SR 129 – Brilliant, Winfield
		​	34.38	55.33	34	SR 233 – Glen Allen, Natural Bridge
	Walker	​	39.62	63.76	39	SR 13 – Natural Bridge, Eldridge	Also access to Fayette and Tuscaloosa via SR 13 south
		Carbon Hill	46.87	75.43	46	CR 11 – Carbon Hill, Nauvoo
		​	51.83	83.41	52	SR 118 – Carbon Hill
		​	53.47	86.05	53	SR 102	Exit not signed
		Jasper	57.40	92.38	57	SR 118 east – Jasper
			60.54	97.43	61	SR 69 – Jasper, Tuscaloosa
			62.75	100.99	63	SR 269 – Jasper, Parrish
			65.26	105.03	65	Industrial Parkway – Jasper
		​	70.03	112.70	70	CR 22 – Cordova, Parrish
		​	71.99	115.86	72	CR 61 – Cordova
		​	78.36	126.11	78	CR 81 – Dora, Sumiton
	Jefferson	West Jefferson	80.75	129.95	81	CR 45 – West Jefferson
		Graysville	85.24	137.18	85	US 78 east / SR 5 (SR 4 east) – Birmingham, Adamsville, Graysville	Eastern end of US 78/SR 4 overlap
					86	I-222 north to I-422	Proposed interchange; proposed southern terminus of I-222
			87.26	140.43	87	CR 112 – Graysville
		Forestdale	88.99	143.22	89	CR 65 (Hillcrest Road) – Adamsville, Graysville
			91.75	147.66	91	CR 105 (Cherry Avenue) – Brookside, Forestdale
		Birmingham	93.60	150.63	93	CR 77 – Coalburg	Directional signs on exit ramp north to Coalburg and south to Birmingham
			96.48	155.27	95	I-65 – Birmingham, Huntsville	I-65 exit 265A; signed as left exit 95A (north) & 95B (south)
					95C	US 31 (SR 3) – Montgomery, Decatur	Under construction; future eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Unopened

Auxiliary routes

Interstate 222

Interstate 222
Location	Birmingham, Ala.
Length	2.26 mi (3.64 km)

Interstate 222 (I-222) is a future Auxiliary Interstate Highway to be a connector between I-22/US 78 and the proposed I-422 near Birmingham, Alabama. There will be no exits other than its termini. The highway has been proposed because an interchange directly between I-22 and I-422 cannot be built because of environmental issues. AASHTO approved the designation on May 18, 2012.[23] Construction on this new route has not been scheduled at this time.

Interstate 422

Main article: Interstate 422

I-422 is a future northwestern bypass of Birmingham, connecting between I-20/I-59, from the southwest, and I-59, in the northeast. It will also be connected with I-22 via I-222, in Brookside, located northwest of Birmingham. It was first proposed in May 2009 by U.S. Congressman Spencer Bachus; on May 18, 2012, it was approved by AASHTO.[23][24]

See also

•  United States portal
•  Mississippi portal
•  U.S. Roads portal

References

1. "Milepost maps". Alabama Department of Transportation. July 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
2. Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (November 16, 2012). "SCOH Report from Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering Annual Meeting" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
3. "Lynchpin I-22 Nears Completion". Business Alabama. October 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
4. McMurray, Jeffery (December 22, 2003). "Shelby's Clout Has Helped Put Corridor X on the Brink of Completion". Associated Press State and Local Wire.
5. "Future I-22". Interstate-guide.com. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
6. MacDonald, Ginny (January 28, 2004). "Corridor X Gets Official Seal as I-22". The Birmingham News.
7. MacDonald, Ginny (April 15, 2005). "Corridor X Becomes I-22: Signs Bearing Name to Be Unveiled Monday in Jasper by Officials". The Birmingham News. p. 1C.
8. Faulk, Kent (November 23, 2005). "Corridor X Section Opens in West Alabama". The Birmingham News. p. 4C.
9. MacDonald, Ginny (June 2, 2007). "13 Miles of Corridor X to Open: End of Long Road in Sight for I-22". The Birmingham News. p. 1A.
10. MacDonald, Ginny (October 31, 2007). "26 Miles of Corridor X to Open Nov. 14: Stretch Offers Straight Shot from Forestdale to Memphis". The Birmingham News. p. 1A.
11. Staff Reporters (December 10, 2009). "Corridor X Opens New Section: Interchange Lags". The Birmingham News. p. 2A.
12. "Coalburg Road Looks Nice and Smooth, but Not Done ... Yet". AL.com. May 10, 2015.
13. Gray, Jeremy (June 16, 2010). "Construction Contract Awarded for Final Link of Corridor X". The Birmingham News. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
14. Gray, Jeremy (July 26, 2010). "Birmingham I-65/Corridor X Project Set to Launch August 1". The Birmingham News. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
15. Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (November 16, 2012). "SCOH Report from Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering Annual Meeting" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
16. "Interstate 22 Signs Going Up". Daily Mountain Eagle. Jasper, AL. April 4, 2013.
17. "Interstate 22 Progress: I-65 Interchange with Corridor X Won't Be Completed Until at Least 2015". Birmingham Business Journal. August 22, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
18. Songer, Joe (March 7, 2016). "I-22 Interchange Construction Continues at I-65 near Fultondale". AL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
19. Yeager, Andrew (June 20, 2016). "Interstate 22 Interchange Opens Completing Link to Memphis". Birmingham, AL: WBHM. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
20. "Interstate 22 Designation Moving Nearer". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
21. "Mississippi Ceremony Will Designate US 78 as I-22". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
22. Google (September 23, 2014). "Interstate 22" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
23. Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (May 19, 2012). "Report to SCOH" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
24. MacDonald, Ginny (May 26, 2009). "Corridor X/ I-65 Interchange Construction Could Begin This Year". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2009.

External links

Template:Attached KML/Interstate 22

KML is from Wikidata

• Interstate Guide Profile for Interstate 22