Tennessee State Route 357
State Route 357 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Parkway | ||||
 TN 357 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by TDOT | ||||
| Length | 2.55 mi[1] (4.10 km) | |||
| Existed | July 1, 1983[2]–present | |||
| History | Completed in 1975 | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  SR 75 in Blountville | |||
| North end |  I-81 in Kingsport city limits | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Tennessee | |||
| Counties | Sullivan | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
State Route 357 (SR 357) is a 2.7-mile-long (4.3 km), four-lane state highway that serves as a connector route from Interstate 81 (I-81) to the Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Sullivan County, Tennessee in the United States.
Route description[edit]
SR 357 begins at a partial interchange with SR 75 in Blountville, where the road continues east for a short distance, as Airport Parkway, into the main entrance of the Tri-Cities Regional Airport. It then goes west for a short distance before it turns north just before an interchange with Centenary Road. SR 357 then passes by a rock quarry before curving around a small ridge to have an interchange with Shipley Ferry Road. It then curves back around before ending at I-81 (Exit 263), where the road continues as narrow local road. The route's northern terminus is technically in the Kingsport city limits, through it is far outside the metro area. The entire route is in Sullivan County and is a 4-lane divided highway for its entire length.
History[edit]
During the planning phase of the Interstate Highway System, the route that became I-81 was placed north and east of the airport. In 1957, the Johnson City Planning Commission unsuccessfully lobbied to move the routing a few miles south to run closer to the airport, as well as Johnson City.[3] For this reason, a connector road between the airport and I-81 was planned.
The connector road, which was initially known as Tri-Cities Airport Road on the Tri-Cities Airport Connector, was constructed in conjunction with I-81. The contract for the route was awarded on May 4, 1971, and construction was underway three months later.[4][5][6] The project was initially slated for completion in August 1973,[6] but that month, the contractor ceased work on the project in order to focus on completing Interstate Highways in the state. This action was blamed on fuel shortages that were presumably part of the global energy crisis that year. However, the delay was also speculated to be due to an emphasis on completing Interstate Highways in East Tennessee, including I-81, which were also delayed by the energy crisis.[7] Construction reportedly resumed a few months later, and by February 1974, the route was expected to be complete by the fall of that year.[8] The project experienced additional delays, however. The road was opened to traffic on a limited basis by February 1975,[9] and was completed four months later.[10]
The connector road was constructed as a partnership between the state and county government, and then turned over to local control once construction was complete, with the exceptions of each termini.[11] On July 1, 1983, the state assumed control of the route as part of a statewide takeover of approximately 3,300 miles (5,300 km) of city and county maintained roads, which also included a renumbering of a number of existing state routes. At this time, the road was designated SR 357.[2][12]
Junction list[edit]
The entire route is in Sullivan County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blountville | 0.00 | 0.00 | SR 75 – Blountville, Bristol, Gray | Interchange; road continues straight to Tri-Cities Regional Airport | |
| Kingsport | 1.48 | 2.38 | Centenary Road | Interchange via Two-way access road | |
| 2.02 | 3.25 | Shipley Ferry Road | Interchange via Two-way access road | ||
| 2.55 | 4.10 | I-81 – Bristol, Kingsport, Knoxville | I-81 exit 63; northern terminus; road continues north as Airport Parkway | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References[edit]
- ^ a b Bureau of Transportation Statistics (June 13, 2022). "National Highway Planning Network" (Map). National Transportation Atlas Database. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ a b "The Road To 100 Years" (PDF). Tennessee Road Builder. Vol. 17, no. 5. September 2014. p. 22. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
- ^ Smith, Paul (July 21, 1957). "Planning Group Unanimously Approves Alternate To Proposed Highway Route". Johnson City Press-Chronicle. pp. 1-A, 6-A. Retrieved December 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Four roads in bid letting". Johnson City Press-Chronicle. May 4, 1971. p. 10. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Airport Road Work Project Is Under Way". Kingsport Times. August 7, 1971. p. 10. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "I-81 Bridge Work May Be Completed By Fall". Kingsport Times-News. July 18, 1973. p. 1-B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Contractor Pulls Out, Airport Road Delayed". Kingsport News. August 24, 1973. p. 1-A. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Oleson, Lee (February 20, 1974). "Airport Plan-Still Not Ready". Kingsport Times. p. 1-B. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Garrett, Curwood (February 23, 1975). "Major Runway Lighting Project Planned For Tri-City Airport". Bristol Herald Courier. p. 6H. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "I-81 Traffic Switch; Airport Access Complete". Kingsport Times-News. June 8, 1975. p. 11A. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Binkley, Ellis (May 12, 1972). "State May Install Signal At By-Pass, Stone Drive". Kingsport Times. p. 13. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Basconi, Mary Alice (October 14, 1984). "Road-sign plan under way in area". Johnson City Press-Chronicle. p. 4. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.