NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has announced a significant plan to replace the I-55 Bridge over the Mississippi River. This project, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the State of Arkansas, stands as the largest transportation investment in Tennessee’s history.
Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Transportation informed Congress of a nearly $400 million federal investment allocated to cover half the cost of replacing the I-55 Bridge, also known as America’s River Crossing. This funding aims to enhance regional and national connectivity and safety.
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“This unprecedented investment in Memphis marks the single-largest transportation investment in Tennessee state history and will be transformative for our infrastructure,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “The new I-55 Bridge will not only enhance safety and efficiency but also improve multimodal connectivity and strengthen our economic vitality by facilitating smoother freight movement and improving accessibility in our region. I thank our partners in the federal government and Arkansas, including Federal Highway Administrator Bhatt, Governor Sanders and her team, Deputy Governor Eley and our TDOT team, and the Memphis community for their commitment to this project.”
In addition to the $400 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) have each committed up to $250 million. These contributions, supported through the Transportation Modernization Act, reflect a collaborative effort to meet the region’s infrastructure needs.
The existing I-55 Bridge, a crucial link for national commerce, will undergo a comprehensive overhaul. The replacement aims to add capacity, improve safety standards, ensure route resiliency, and maintain operational efficiency. The new structure will meet modern seismic codes, essential given its location on the New Madrid fault line.
By 2050, the new I-55 Bridge is expected to accommodate approximately 64,000 vehicles daily, up from the current 48,000 vehicles. This increase will benefit residents, workers, and businesses across Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi, improving one of the nation’s most traversed freight corridors. The project aims to reduce traffic congestion, lower accident rates, and optimize traffic flow, thereby enhancing local and regional transportation networks.
“This historic project is four times larger than anything we have previously built. This partnership between states and the federal government underscores our bipartisan commitment to delivering innovative infrastructure solutions that support growth and economic prosperity,” said Deputy Governor and Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Butch Eley. “This landmark investment would not have happened without the bold leadership of Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, and their historic allocation of a $3 billion General Fund investment which allowed TDOT to leverage federal and peer-state funding. This investment would also not have happened without the extraordinary support from our Tennessee Congressional delegation.”
An event in Memphis will provide more information about the project, with details to be announced soon.
Source: Read Original Release
River Trace Safety and Closure Update
The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) is actively monitoring River Trace for safety issues, collaborating with Geotech Consultants for a thorough geologic analysis to determine necessary remediation methods, and keeping the community informed of developments.