Interstate 55
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I-155 | I-255
From:  MS Line at Memphis (Shelby County)
To:  AR Line at Memphis (Shelby County)
Total Length:  12 miles
Nationally I-55 runs from I-10 at LaPlace, LA to US 41 in Chicago, IL, about 941 miles
ROUTE LOG
MS STATE LINE: 0 - 0
EXIT 2 (old exit 1) - TN 175: 1.8 - 1.8
EXIT 5A (old exit 2) - Brooks Rd: 3.1 - 4.9
EXIT 5B (old exit 3) - US 51,TN 3: 0.1 - 0.2 - 5.1
EXIT 6AB - I-69 NB, I-240 (exit 25): 0.6 - 5.7
EXIT 7 (old exit 4) - US 61, TN 14: 1.8 - 7.5
EXIT 8 (old exit 5) - Horn Lake Rd: 0.3 - 7.8
EXIT 9 (old exit 6) - Mallory Ave: 1.0 - 8.8
EXIT 10 (old exit 7) - South Pkwy: 1.5 - 10.3
EXIT 11 (old exit 8) - McLemore Ave: 0.6 - 10.9
EXIT 12AB (old exit 9) - US 61 SB, US 64 EB, US 70 EB, US 78 EB, US 79 NB, TN 1: 0.7 - 11.6
AR STATE LINE: 0.6 - 12.2
 Creation:  First appeared in 1939 as part of the long-term national planning leading to the Interstate system.  Was numbered as I-55 in August, 1957.
Adjustments: The first segment of I-55 to open actually predates final approval of the Interstate system itself. The Memphis-Arkansas Bridge was completed in 1949, and became the designated route of I-55 across the Mississippi River at Memphis.
In 1961, I-55 opened from Mississippi to US 51
In 1962, I-55 was opened from US 51 to I-240/255.
In 1966, I-55 was opened from I-240/255 to South pkwy.
In 1967, I-55 was opened from South Pkwy to the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge

1961 Rand McN

I-55 open
1961 Rand McN
1967 Esso
I-55 open to US 61
1967 Esso
1972 Official

I-55 completed
1972 Official

Improvements: Upon designation, I-55 was 4-laned from the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge and Crump Blvd; 6-laned from Crump Blvd to I-240/255 (except 4-lanes through the Mallory Dr interchange); 4-laned from I-240/255 to Mississippi
In 2001, I-55 was 8-laned from I-240 to Winchester Rd, with the leftmost lane being HOV-2
In 2002, I-55 was 8-laned from Winchester Rd to Mississippi, with the leftmost lane being HOV-2
In 2012, I-55 was 6-laned through the Mallory Dr interchange
New Exits Added: Metal Museum Dr (mid 1960s)...this exit was permanently closed in 2023
Comment: I-55 has the distinction of being one of the few Interstate routes where one has to exit in order to stay on the route. At Exit 12AB, at Crump Blvd (US 61/64/70/78/79) and Riverside Dr, I-55 through traffic must exit in order to stay on I-55. The northbound I-55 ramp is especially harrowing, as this is a 20 MPH loop ramp with a short merge. TDOT is nearing completion of a complete rebuild to rectify this.

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Page last modified 27 July 2024