MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Monday morning, a plan involving $15 billion to improve infrastructure in the state of Tennessee and introduce the first potential "Choice Lanes" was officially proposed by The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), and it includes a plan to replace Memphis' "Old" Mississippi River bridge on I-55.
On Dec. 18, 2023, TDOT said the project, a collaborative effort with the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), will replace the 75-year-old I-55 Mississippi River bridge, saying they're improving upon the old design with improved safety, resiliency and earthquake resistance.
Bobby White, the Greater Memphis Chamber’s chief government relations officer, said there has been a need for added capacity over the Mississippi River for over 20 years. He believes rebuilding the I-55 bridge is a good place to start.
“I just drove across that I-55 bridge earlier today,” White said. “It was a stark reminder of the need for replacing that bridge.”
The current bridge serves more than 64,000 cars and trucks per day, and TDOT said the new bridge design will be able to carry even more vehicles per day. ARDOT is pushing for at least six lanes.
“You have some thinner lanes, you don’t have much wiggle room for traffic,” White said. “If there’s a shutdown of one lane, you’re going to have a major problem.”
Nichole Lawrence, TDOT’s Region 4 community relations officer, estimates the total cost to be close to $1 billion.
Lawrence revealed that the Arkansas and Tennessee Departments of Transportation are pinning their hopes on a joint application for a grant from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, aiming to secure funding, around $500 million, for half of the ambitious project.
The remaining half would be split between Arkansas and Tennessee, according to Lawrence, meaning the project will cost the state of Tennessee $250 million.
Construction will begin in 2026. In addition to the grant, Lawrence said the next step is getting approval on the environmental impact study for construction.
This is all part of a $15 billion infrastructure plan, including $3 billion provided from the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA) that was passed in April.
The TMA is said to create a new strategy and invest $3.3 billion to accommodate Tennessee’s record growth, address traffic congestion and meet transportation needs across rural and urban communities, according to Gov. Bill Lee's office. TDOT said there are 93 "site specific capacity-type projects" included in the plan and that 46 of these are already funded (whether fully or in part) by that $3 billion.
TDOT's new plan is also made up of their annual work program budget, which is reportedly about $1.2 billion each year for the next 10 years.
TDOT said their goal with the announced plan is to "better communicate with citizens and communities of the long-term investment strategy for infrastructure in Tennessee."
"This plan focuses efforts on what can be effectively delivered by TDOT within available revenue, further opening the communication with local communities on what is feasible," said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. "We know the outstanding need for infrastructure projects across Tennessee is at least over $30 billion, however, this long-term plan is a solid step toward providing a safer and more reliable transportation network for generations to come.”
How infrastructure projects across Tennessee will be chosen by TDOT is said to be managed by a "new data-driven prioritization process" that they said will "allow for a more objective review."
The plan is also said to be reevaluated annually by TDOT to consider the changing needs of Tennesseans, the economy and infrastructure. It reportedly permits a long-term investment strategy to inform TDOT's annual budget proposal to the Tennessee General Assembly for consideration.
TDOT said that 55 percent of the $15 billion is set for construction projects "reflected on the 10-year project plan list." They said a remaining 45 percent of these funds are for programs that TDOT allocates annually "based on need," such as resurfacing and bridge repair.
TDOT said they will allocate about $6 billion in state and federal funds over the next 10 years in partnership with airports, transit agencies, counties, cities, and other entities to address multimodal access, mobility and safety.
“As families and businesses continue moving to Tennessee in record numbers, our transportation assets must be ready to serve our citizens and visitors," said Governor Bill Lee. "I am proud of TDOT for their leadership in creating this 10-year project plan to guide investments in rural and urban communities that will modernize our transportation systems."
The 10-year fiscally constrained project plan also reportedly includes the state's first potential "Choice Lanes," that TDOT said will "establish options for motorists in urban areas to experience more reliable travel times through frequently congested corridors."
These lanes are said by TDOT to "leverage Public-Private Partnerships authorized by the TMA, freeing up state funds to support projects in rural Tennessee."
They said they will be recommending the first of these lanes to be built on I-24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro. TDOT said other potential future locations include I-65 between Nashville and I-840, Moccasin Bend in Chattanooga and I-40 from the I-40/I-75 junction to State Route 158 west of downtown Knoxville.
More information from TDOT about these lanes and the 10-year plan can be found here.