Interstate 440

I-440 Arkansas (link)

9.96 miles [1]; from I-30 to I-40 in Little Rock.

Northbelt extends I-440, but not as an interstate

On January 30, 2003, a five-mile section of the Northbelt freeway, opened between I-40 and US 67/167 northeast of Little Rock. The $63 million, six-lane freeway acts as an extension of I-440 across I-40, but is called state highway 440. [9]

As of late 2006, a 13-mile section from US 67/167 back to I-40 at I-430 remains to be built. The section through Sherwood is still under discussion, but proponents hope to have a Record of Decision from the FHWA by spring 2007. [11]

Another issue is funding -- none is available for the Northbelt. Some highway officials are calling for the future segment to be a toll road. (The planned Bella Vista Bypass, an extension of I-540, will be the state's first toll road.) [11]

The idea of a northern belt for Little Rock dates back to 1941. [4]

I-440 North Carolina (link)

16.40 miles [1]. Interstate 440 and a portion of I-40 form the 25-mile Raleigh Beltline. This was given the I-440 designation in June 9, 1991, replacing a somewhat confusing system of six different numeric designations. Even the portion of the Beltline overlapping I-40 was included, giving I-440 an initial length of 25.05 miles. [5]

However, motorists were still getting lost. In 1996 NCDOT posted signs with the new Beltline directional strategy: Inner Beltline (clockwise) and Outer (counterclockwise). This wins points for consistency but loses on clarity; the creation of a separate Outer Beltway (I-540) only muddied the Inner/Outer issue.

In August 2002, NCDOT announced a new convention, which it plans to implement at some point (though nothing has been funded or scheduled). I-440 will be defined along the northern alignment only (between I-40 exits 293 to exit 301), and the overlap with I-40 will be removed. As the remainder will be a mostly horizontal route, I-440 will be signed East and West. [8] The FHWA route log, where I-440 and I-40 do not overlap, already reflects this change.

Thanks to Steve Moerland for pointing out an error and clarification in the I-440 changes. [10]

I-440 (numbered as another interstate) Oklahoma (link)

Old number for what is now I-44 between I-240 and OK 66.

I-440 Tennessee (link)

7.64 miles [1]; I-40 to I-24 in Nashville. Proposed for decades, Interstate 440 opened between I-24 and I-65 in 1986, and between I-65 and I-40 in 1987. It's the most expensive road Tennessee had built to that point because of the high profile neighborhoods the road cut through and separated, and the large stack interchange at I-65. Afternoon drivers can delight to the sight of prison labor diligently planting new shrubs and bushes and wildflowers along high concrete soundwalls. [7]

I-440 is already obsolete: only 4 and 6 lanes wide, it suffers nasty backups eastbound between I-65 and I-24 during afternoon rush hours Widening it will most likely require a complete rebuild of several bridges at the I-440/I-24 interchange. [7]

You've heard of the Merritt and Bronx River Parkways; well, the 440 has a parkway name as well. On every entrance ramp stands a sign reading "Entering Four Forty Parkway". One of the compromises that helped mollify the opposition enough to get the route built was a ban on tractor trailers, which would have technically made the road a parkway. At some point near the opening of the freeway, TDOT decided it would be safer for traffic to let the trucks use I-440 to bypass Downtown Nashville and its "Truckers Curve" (I-40 westbound flyover ramp at the former I-265 junction). The "Four Forty Parkway" signs still remain, but locals simply call it I-440. [7]

Majoring in highway law? (It's a growing field.) Refer to Nashvillians Against I-440 v. Lewis, 524 F. Supp. 962 (M.D. Tenn. 1981).

Sources

Route Log and Finder List - Interstate Highways, FHWA, Oct. 31, 2002.
"Proposed Northbelt Freeway." Metroplan (Little Rock, Ark.) http://www.metroplan.org/nbelt.html (28 Oct 2002)
AASHTO SCOH. Report to the Special Committee on Route Numbering to the Executive Committee. June 10, 1991.
Riddle, William S. (Tennessee)
"Beltline drivers will get new directions." News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), Aug. 27, 2002 (thanks to John Lansford)
"State Highway 440, aka The North Belt Freeway." KARK-TV (Little Rock, Ark.), Jan. 31, 2003.
Moerland, Steve. "question on I-440 entry." Email to Kurumi, July 17, 2003.
"North Belt could get approval next spring." Arkansas Leader, Sept. 2, 2006. (Thanks to Erik Slotboom)