I-26

I-26 History

In the 1960s, Appalachian Highway Corridor "B" was designated to run from Columbus, Ohio, to Asheville, North Carolina. This corridor was scheduled to be improved to four-lane divided highway status along the existing US 23 route with funding provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Over the years most of the original corridor through the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina sections have been dramatically improved.  From Kingsport, TN, to Johnson City, TN, the road was built to Interstate highway standards. During the mid-1980s, the road was given an additional designation as Interstate 181. Under the sponsorship of the Lamar Alexander administration in Tennessee, additional sections were built between Johnson City and Erwin. Sufficient funding was obtained under the Ned McWherter administration to complete the four-lane freeway in Tennessee to the North Carolina state line.  North Carolina completed the "I-26 missing link" that finished the route between Sams Gap and Mars Hill in August 2003. 

Tennessee: Johnson City to North Carolina State Line 

This 31-mile section was completed in 1995. Initial segments were opened in the mid-1980s. The final 16-mile portion was finished and dedicated on July 6, 1995, and cost $170 million to build. The mountainous terrain (the crossing at the state line (at Sams Gap) is 3760' in elevation) involved moving 25,000,000 cubic yards of dirt and rock and building of 18 bridges.  Tennessee has officially designated the route as the "Appalachian Scenic Highway" and also the "James H. Quillen Parkway" to honor its legendary longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the region.  In 1996, this highway received national recognition with an "Award of Excellence" in rural highway design from the Federal Highway Administration.   Extra efforts were taken to mitigate environmental concerns along the U.S. 23 corridor in Unicoi County which was one of the "largest and most environmentally sensitive projects ever undertaken by TDOT".  This highway became part of the I-26 system in 2003 but also retained its U.S highway route number (U.S. 23).  Views from the scenic overlooks in Unicoi County demonstrate that I-26 is undoubtedly one of the most visually impressive interstate highways in the nation.

I-26 Through Johnson City 

At present, the I-26 route through Johnson City is composed mostly of two lanes in each direction. With anticipated growth in traffic due to completion of the North Carolina portion of I-26, traffic volumes will increase significantly over time through the City. The Johnson City MTPO has recommended in its 20-Year Long Range Plan a widening of the roadway to three lanes in each direction in Johnson City. In addition, a project to improve the route's interchange in North Johnson City with the State of Franklin Bypass (SR 381) has been completed. Plans also are being considered for implementation of an Incident Management System along I-26 as part of the Johnson City Med-Tech ITS Project. 

North Carolina: Tennessee State Line to Asheville 

As in Tennessee, portions of this 35-mile route were built to or close to Interstate standards earlier and required only minor modifications for inclusion as part of I-26. However, major upgrading of several sections was required, with at-grade intersections replaced by grade-separated interchanges and limited access designs. The portion of the route between the US 19W-23 split north of Mars Hill and the Tennessee State Line was built entirely on new location. 

North Carolina I-26 Features...

Updated interstate construction information from Tenn. Dept. of Transportation.
Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways Route Finder from the Federal Highway Administration.

 

Tribute to Eddie Williams, Jr.
"Father of I-26 in Tennessee"

Site Created by: Johnson City Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization and was prepared in cooperation
with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and TN Department of Transportation
Copyright ©2012 JCMTPO All Rights Reserved.