Segment 7

Segment Description
Follows the US-51 corridor from Interstate 155 near Dyersburg, Tennessee to the southern terminus of the Purchase Parkway near Fulton, Kentucky. A large portion of US-51 within Segment 7 already exists as a freeway that is at or near Interstate highway standards; some spot improvements may be required to the freeway portions before the entire segment can be signed as I-69. Construction will focus on bypassing a 22-mile section of US-51 that is currently a 4-lane surface road, starting south of Troy, Tennessee, and ending north of Union City, Tennessee. The alignment approved by the Federal Highway Administration in 2004 has I-69 following the US-51 freeway from the eastern end of I-155 north of Dyersburg. It is planned to leave the current US-51 south of Troy, bypassing the town to the east before crossing over US-51 south of Union city, and then bypassing that city to the north and west before rejoining US-51 north of Union City, then following the US-51 freeway to the Kentucky state line where it will connect with the Purchase Parkway.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has divided the Troy/Union City Bypass into five smaller sections, numbered from south to north. Sections 1 and 2 make up the Troy Bypass, while the Union City Bypass consists of Sections 3, 4, and 5. Section 1 starts at US-51 south of Troy, and ends near Rives Road. Section 2 proceeds north from Rives Road to US-51 between Troy and Union City. Section 3 continues north from US-51 to TN-5/22 west of Union City. Section 4 starts at TN-5/22 and proceeds north, then turns east to terminate at TN-21 north of Union City, and Section 5 continues from this point to US-51 northeast of Union City.

However, in April 2006, new plans have surfaced. The new plan calls for US-51 to be bypassed in certain areas. The new alignment runs to the west and east of the existing highway, which has drawn controversy from environmental groups, particularly from the state's Sierra Club chapter. They said it could threaten the Hatchie River, a state-designated scenic river and may have more harm to the environment compared to the original, among other comments. In Dyersburg, for example, the proposed modification calls for the highway to be run west of the city and would truncate Interstate 155. A supplemental EIS process will be needed to confirm these changes.

Status
Construction on Section 4 between TN-5/22 and TN-21 northwest of Union City began in April 2010, and is scheduled for completion in October 2012. Ford Construction Company of Dyersburg, Tennessee, was awarded the $30 million construction contract for this section.

Land acquisition and utility relocations are underway on the remaining four sections. TDOT is also working to secure required federal and state permits and funding for construction of these sections.