Southbound (Kentucky to the split with Interstate 40)
Interstate 75 South
Interstate 75 continues south from the Merchant Drive diamond interchange to junction Interstate 275 south (Exit 107A) and Interstate 640 east-U.S. 25W north. Interstate 640 represents a bypass of central Knoxville between Marble City and North Knoxville. U.S. 25W follows Interstate 640 east to Interstate 40 Exit 394. Photo taken 05/01/05.
Interstate 75 southbound at the Inskip Road overpass near the Exit 107 merge onto Interstate 640 westbound. Ahead is the northern terminus of Interstate 275, a 2.98 mile freeway linking Interstate 75 and the Knoxville Bypass with Interstate 40 and downtown Knoxville (pop. 173,890). Photo taken 08/23/03.
Interstate 75 follows a one-lane ramp at the Exit 107 interchange with Interstate 275 & 640. Depicted here is the Tillary Road overpass where Interstate 75 enters the Knoxville Bypass. Interstate 275 southbound begins, carrying Interstate 75 motorists toward the Interstate 640 eastbound cloverleaf ramp (Interstate 275 - Exit 3). Photo taken 05/01/05.
There are not many instances within the Interstate system left where a mainline Interstate is relegated to just one lane of travel. Interstate 75 at Interstate 640 represents one of these substandard connections. The situation results from the original alignment of Interstate 75 southward along Interstate 275 to Interstate 40. Interstate 75 saw relocation to Interstate 640 as a way to help remove some of the through traffic from Interstate 40 near downtown Knoxville. Thus Interstate 75 sees just one lane for southbound instead of two with the creation of Interstate 275. Photo taken 08/23/03.
