Interstate 24

Interstate 24 (abbreviated I-24) is an interstate highway in the eastern United States. It runs (diagonally) from Interstate 57 (10 miles south of Marion, Illinois) to Chattanooga, Tennessee at Interstate 75.

Route description

Interstate 24 travels through the following states:

Illinois

In the state of Illinois, Interstate 24 is a remote, four-lane freeway that travels through hilly rural southern Illinois and the Shawnee National Forest. Although 37 miles in length, there are only five mainline exits; of those five, four have services. Interstate 24 crosses into Kentucky via the aptly-named Interstate 24 Bridge from Metropolis, Illinois to Paducah, Kentucky.

Kentucky

In the state of Kentucky, Interstate 24 runs from Paducah, Kentucky to the Tennessee border just northwest of Clarksville.

Tennessee

In the state of Tennessee, Interstate 24 runs from Clarksville to Chattanooga by way of Nashville, Tennessee. Just west of Chattanooga I-24 drops into Georgia for 4 miles (6 km).

One of the most notoriously hazardous stretches of Interstate highway in the United States is approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of Chattanooga on I-24 in Monteagle, Tennessee, where the highway goes over the Cumberland Plateau. Compared to grades elsewhere, Monteagle's 4 to 6% grade does not come close to the steepest highway roads (Interstate 40 between Nashville and Knoxville features 5% grades in each direction), but the slope is protracted over a distance of several miles. While all motorists need to exercise caution, truckers are particularly vexed by Monteagle, and many have died going through this area. The east bound lanes feature several runaway truck ramps where a truck with no brakes can exit into a long pit full of loose gravel to safely stop. This dangerous stretch of highway inspired Johnny Cash to write a song about Monteagle Mountain.

Another interesting tidbit about the Monteagle grade is that it sports the widest "median" of any Interstate highway. There's more than a mile between the eastbound and westbound lanes at one point. The eastbound lanes descend the mountain on one side of a ridge, while the westbound lanes ascend on the other side of the ridge.

Georgia

In the state of Georgia, Interstate 24 runs for 4 miles (6 km), running along the southern flank of Raccoon Mountain before turning back north to the Tennessee River and around the northern flank of Lookout Mountain.

Length


Miles	km	state
38.73	62.33	Illinois
93.37	150.26	Kentucky
180.16	289.94	Tennessee
4.10	6.60	Georgia

316.36	509.13	Total

Major cities

Bolded cities are officially-designated control cities for signs.

St. Louis, Missouri (via Interstate 57 and Interstate 64)
Paducah, Kentucky
Clarksville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Intersections with other interstates

Future Interstate 69 in Eddyville, Kentucky
Future Interstate 66 in Paducah, Kentucky

Spur routes

Notes

I-24 has a very small (four mile) section southwest of Chattanooga that dips south into Georgia to meet I-59. This section uses mile markers indicating the elapsed distance in Georgia, but maintains the Tennessee exit numbering and resumes the Tennessee mileage markings (with the indicated mileage including the four mile stretch in Georgia) upon returning north of the border approaching Chattanooga. The Georgia segment is also officially State Route 409.
A spur into Chattanooga, formerly called I-124 (now part of US Highway 27), is designated a secret route. There are no official spurs from I-24.
I-24 makes up a highway between St. Louis, Missouri and Atlanta, Georgia. It links up through links with I-64 and I-57 across Illinois and I-75 in Georgia.
Long-range plans have I-24 being extended from its current terminus at Interstate 57 into the St. Louis metropolitan area.
When completed, the southern extension of I-69 will cross I-24 in Eddyville, Kentucky, and will exit near Calvert City, Kentucky.
When completed, the western extension of I-66 will cross I-24 in Eddyville, Kentucky, and exit near Paducah, Kentucky

External links

Illinois Highway Ends: Interstate 24
Highways: Interstate 24 - contains detailed route description

References

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Interstate 24