Interstate 22

File:600px-I-22.png

Interstate 22 (abbreviated I-22) is an under-construction highway currently known as Corridor X which will connect Birmingham with Memphis, Tennessee. When completed, it will follow the U.S. Highway 78 corridor along a 176 mile (283 km) route. 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; Tupelo, Mississippi; and Hamilton and Jasper, Alabama.

History

Corridor X shields outside Jasper

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 connecting it to I-65 to be completed. Funding for the Alabama sections has been a priority for U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, 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 signs indicated the future interstate were unveiled on that date.

Approximately 78 miles of Interstate 22 is open to traffic in Alabama. The westernmost 65 miles 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. A 20-mile section connecting the ends at Industrial Parkway and Cherry Avenue is scheduled to open November 14, 2007. This will 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. In all, the approved portions of I-22 are expected to cost between $1.3 and $1.4 billion.

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

County	Location	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Marion		3	CR 33
	Hamilton	7	SR 74 - Weston, Hamilton
		11	SR 17 - Hamilton, Sulligent
		14	CR 35
		16	US 43/US 278 - Hamilton, Guin
		22	CR 45
		26	SR 44 - Brilliant, Guin
		30	SR 129 - Brilliant, Winfield
		34	SR 233 - Glen Allen, Natural Bridge
Walker		39	SR 13 - Natural Bridge, Eldridge
	Carbon Hill	46	CR 11 - Carbon Hill, Nauvoo
		52	SR 118 - Carbon Hill
		53	US Alt 78
	Jasper	57	SR 118 East - Jasper
		61	SR 69 - Jasper, Tuscaloosa	Old exit 96
		63	SR 269 - Jasper, Parrish	Old exit 101
		65	Industrial Parkway Road	Old exit 104
	Temporary east end; open to local traffic only beyond
		78	CR 81 - Dora/Sumiton	Westbound traffic must exit and turn north to rejoin U.S. 78
Jefferson		81	CR 45 - West Jefferson
	Graysville	85	U.S. 78 - Graysville/Adamsville
		87	CR 112 - Graysville
	Forestdale	89	CR 65 - Graysville/Adamsville
		91	CR 105 - Brookside	Highway ends; eastbound traffic must turn south to rejoin U.S. 78 at Forestdale

References

• "Interstate 22" (24 May 2006, 11:10 UTC) [1]. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed August 8, 2006.
• MacDonald, Ginny (November 26, 2006). "Roads chief wants I-22 done by 2010." The Birmingham News.
• MacDonald, Ginny (June 2, 2007). "13 miles of Corridor X to open." The Birmingham News.
• MacDonald, Ginny (October 31, 2007). "26 miles of Corridor X to open Nov. 14." The Birmingham News.
• "Interstate 22" (October 31, 2007, 15:44 UTC) [2]. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed October 31, 2007.