Connecting I-22 to I 20/59 (Birmingham, Jacksonville: homes, construction, costs)

[steveklein]

I know this is probably a pie in the sky idea, but has anyone ever discussed connecting I-22 (or some sort of toll road/limited access road) all the way to I20/59 at the Highway 79 exit? The area it would cut through would not displace that many homes and businesses (given how close to the city center it is) and it could actually spur development in the area. It seems to me it would have a huge impact on reducing traffic through Malfunction Junction and the busiest part of I20/59 through downtown. It would give Atlanta<--->Memphis/Little Rock/OKC traffic a way to bypass downtown. Would this really be that expensive of a road to build? It would only need one major interchange at 20/59/Tallapoosa (an an extension to what they are building at Highway 31)? It would accomplish some of what the northern beltline wants to accomplish at a fraction of the cost.

What were the reasons behind not extending I-22 here (or to Red Mtn Expressway) when it was planned in the first place?

[raj kapoor]

Originally Posted by steveklein

I know this is probably a pie in the sky idea, but has anyone ever discussed connecting I-22 (or some sort of toll road/limited access road) all the way to I20/59 at the Highway 79 exit? The area it would cut through would not displace that many homes and businesses (given how close to the city center it is) and it could actually spur development in the area. It seems to me it would have a huge impact on reducing traffic through Malfunction Junction and the busiest part of I20/59 through downtown. It would give Atlanta<--->Memphis/Little Rock/OKC traffic a way to bypass downtown. Would this really be that expensive of a road to build? It would only need one major interchange at 20/59/Tallapoosa (an an extension to what they are building at Highway 31)? It would accomplish some of what the northern beltline wants to accomplish at a fraction of the cost.

What were the reasons behind not extending I-22 here (or to Red Mtn Expressway) when it was planned in the first place?

Never planned, just studied as a future possibility that most likely wouldn't work after being studied.

[Tourian]

AFAIK it was talked about, but the Airport didn't want construction like that going on too close to the airport. Also, the land needed through North Birmingham is contaminated and they would have had to disturb some superfund sites that would make costs and cleanup and environmental concerns skyrocket.

If it were up to me 22 would connect to 20/59 at Tallapoosa, like you say, and then either be cosigned with an existing interstate or cut through town and eventually follow a path similar to 280 and all the way down to Columbus, GA and ultimately Jacksonville, FL.