(abbreviated '''I-24''') is an
Interstate Highway in the eastern
United States . It runs (diagonally) from
Interstate 57 (10 miles south of
Marion ,
Illinois ) to
Chattanooga, Tennessee at
Interstate 75 .
Bolded cities are officially-designated
Control Cities for signs.
One of the most notoriously hazardous stretches of Interstate highway in the United States is approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of Chattanooga on I-24 in
Monteagle, Tennessee , where the highway goes over the
Cumberland Plateau . Compared to grades elsewhere, Monteagle's 4 to 6% grade does not come close to the steepest highway roads (
Interstate 40 between Nashville and Knoxville features 5% grades in each direction), but the
Slope is protracted over a distance of several miles. While all motorists need to exercise caution, truckers are particularly vexed by Monteagle, and many have died going through this area. The east bound lanes feature several
Runaway Truck Ramp s where a truck with no brakes can exit into a long pit full of loose gravel to safely stop. This dangerous stretch of highway inspired
Johnny Cash to write a song about
Monteagle Mountain .
Another interesting tidbit about the Monteagle grade is that it sports the widest "median" of any Interstate highway. There's more than a mile between the eastbound and westbound lanes at one point. The eastbound lanes descend the mountain on one side of a ridge, while the westbound lanes ascend on the other side of the ridge.
in Chattanooga.]]
- I-24 has a very small (four mile) section southwest of Chattanooga that dips south into Georgia to meet I-59. This section uses Mile Markers indicating the elapsed distance in Georgia, but maintains the Tennessee exit numbering and resumes the Tennessee mileage markings (with the indicated mileage including the four mile stretch in Georgia) upon returning north of the border approaching Chattanooga. The Georgia segment is also officially .
- A spur into Chattanooga , formerly called I-124 (now part of US Highway 27), is designated a secret route. There are no official spurs from I-24.
- I-24 makes up a highway between St. Louis, Missouri and Atlanta, Georgia . It links up through links with I-64 and I-57 across Illinois and I-75 in Georgia.
- Long-range plans have I-24 being extended from its current terminus at Interstate 57 into the St. Louis metropolitan area.
- When completed, the southern extension of I-69 will cross I-24 in Eddyville, Kentucky , and will exit near Calvert City, Kentucky .
- When completed, the western extension of I-66 will cross I-24 in Eddyville, Kentucky , and exit near Paducah, Kentucky
- 2005 Rand McNally "The Road Atlas 2005" - newest feature- interstate mileage by state
- 1
