Interstate 640 is a bypass of Interstate 40 running north of Knoxville, Tennessee. The route serves as an alternative for traffic going east on Interstate 40 intending to turn northward on Interstate 75, which has greatly relieved congestion in downtown Knoxville.
Route description
I-640 begins at an interchange with I-40 and I-75, where I-75 continues onto I-640. Initially heading northwest, I-640 and I-75 turn northeast, intersecting SR 62 before coming to an interchange with SR 9, US 25W, I-75, and I-275. As the freeway continues, US 25W and SR 9 run concurrently for the rest of its length. I-640 interchanges with SR 33 and US 441, as well as one providing access to the Knoxville Center Mall. The highway then turns south and terminates at I-40.
History
Construction began on the route in October 1977. For many years only about a segment between US 441 and U.S. Highway 25W was open. Then in April 1982, the road was finally completed in anticipation of the traffic which was to be generated by the 1982 World's Fair. Then Governor of Tennessee, now United States SenatorLamar Alexander officially opened the road by walking its entire length dressed in his famous red plaid shirts that he famously wore during his both of his campaigns for Governor of Tennessee. I-75 originally ran concurrent with I-40 to downtown Knoxville, but was moved out of the section between I-40 and I-75 through Sharp's Gap to the approximately 2.5 mile section of I-640 between I-40 and I-75 in 1982. This section is only signed as I-640, and the exits on this section follow I-640 numbering. In May 2008, a complete redesign near I-40 east of downtown added lanes, reconfigured exits, and improved safety closed that section of I-40 for 13 months. The road construction project was officially called Smart Fix 40, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation closed that section of I-40 until June 2009, when it was officially completed 18 days early. During the course of the Smart Fix 40 construction project, the Tennessee Department of Transportation used I-640 as the official detour route for I-40 traffic during the time in which I-40 was closed for the reconfiguration.
