Interstate 40

Interstate 40 is one of the United States' largest highways. It connects Wilmington, North Carolina and Barstow, California. The highway runs through eight states, and seven major cities. In total the highway covers 2,554 miles. Interstate 40 was constructed in 1957 as part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Intestate Commerce Program. The goal was to build roads large enough, straight enough, and fast enough to move commercial goods and military personnel. The majority of the highway is two lanes, either direction. When passing through a large city, the highway will usually open up into four on either side. From Arkansas to California Interstate 40 follows the old Beale's Wagon Road. This road was built around 1857 and covers approximately 1,000 miles. In Tennessee, Interstate 40 connects all three major cities. The portion of Interstate 40 that runs through Tennessee is 455 miles long, making it the longest portion of the highway to run through any state. Most of the Tennessee portion of Interstate 40 follows the Old Walton Road. Tennessee is also famous for having difficult terrain that made construction of the highway complicated. In the Cumberland Plateau and Great Smoky Mountain regions, extensive rock blasting had to be preformed, which led to rock slides. Tennessee has arguably the grandest entry, going east, of the entire Interstate 40 route. The Hernando De Soto Bridge, crossing the Mississippi River, brings visitors into the state. The section of the highway between Memphis and Nashville is known as the "Music Highway." The portion of Interstate 40 that goes through Tennessee was one of the first to be completed. The portion of the highway between Nashville and Harriman follows the route of the old Tennessee Central Railroad. The newest portion of the highway was completed in 1980, and runs between Raleigh, North Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina. Interstate 40 is one of the United States' greatest feats of engineering. It has made nationwide travel, and commerce much easier.

Map of Interstate 40

Sign in Barstow, California telling how many miles to Wilmington, North Carolina.

The Hernando De Soto Bridge that connects Tennessee to Arkansas.

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