Interstate 22
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
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 opened November 14, 2007, leaving 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 | Alabama State Highway 118 East - Jasper | ||
| 61 | Alabama State Highway 69 - Jasper, Tuscaloosa | Old exit 96 | ||
| 63 | SR 269 - Jasper, Parrish | Old exit 101 | ||
| 65 | Industrial Parkway Road | Old exit 104 | ||
| 78 | Walker County Road 81 - Dora/Sumiton | |||
| Jefferson | 81 | Snowville Brent Road - West Jefferson | ||
| Graysville | 85 | U.S. Highway 78 - Graysville/Adamsville | ||
| 87 | CR 112 - Graysville | |||
| Forestdale | 89 | Jefferson County Road 65 - Graysville/Adamsville | ||
| 91 | Jefferson County Road 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/
- Kent, Dawn and Kent Faulk (November 18, 2007) "Corridor X (or future I-22) will bring big changes to parts of Alabama." Birmingham News.