I-40 Sign: Consturction Next 1,975 miles, Prepare to Stop

[LesStallings]

OK, that sign does not exist but would not be too much out of place if it did.



I've completed three round trips from Nashville to Las Vegas and back (12,000 miles total) and have spent 18 days on I-40. I'm amazed at the amount of construction in progress and the amount of construction needed. Every major city I pass has projects underway and some of the stretches between have really rough sections of road.



The truck and trailer have done well, including the contents of the trailer. The only problems to date are two nails in trailer tires resulting in slow leaks that I have discovered during fuel stops.



Lesson Learned: Always check your rig during stops. It is easier and much safer to change tires in a truck stop than along side of the interstate!



I've got one more round trip to go, but that won't be for several months. I'll miss the peace and quiet of being on the road but won't miss the rough roads!

 

[Tom W]

When I was in Alaska several years ago and headed to Valdez I just finished a stretch of 59 miles of construction and went 1/4 mile and got another 65miles of construction ahead. Wonderful trip anyway, Valdez was great.

 

[Joe G.]

I have been on I40 a few times. Same experience. US93 in Idaho is a mess. There is one stretch where there was a sign saying "53 miles of rough road ahead" when I went through there a couple of years ago. They were not kidding! It broke a spring leaf on the trailer.

 

[ndurbin]

Glad to hear your trips have been going well w/o to many troubles.



Nathan

 

[JRMora]

I live a mile or so from I-40. Here in Albuquerque we have scheduled road work on I-40 at least through May 2006. By then I am sure we'll have more projects lined up.

 

[LesStallings]

I live a mile or so from I-40. Here in Albuquerque we have scheduled road work on I-40 at least through May 2006. By then I am sure we'll have more projects lined up.

I actually appreciate the construction on the west side of Albuquerque because the east side is so bad!!



Also, the eastbound lane is better than the westbound lane on either side. One thing I've learned on my six legs of I-40 is the technique of driving around the "rough road ahead" sections.



"No officer, I'm not drunk, I'm just avoiding the bumps!"

 

[Got Smoke?]

I'm sorry you have to witness our poor excuse for road conditions in the state of TN. #@$%!

 

[HeavyHauler]

I'm sorry you have to witness our poor excuse for road conditions in the state of TN. #@$%!

The Tennessee roads are probably the highlight of his trip, with the exception of the construction around Briley Parkway on the westbound side. Tennessee always ranks in the Top 5 best roads in the nation in Overdrive Magazine's driver survey.



The construction here annoys me as well, but after returning from Kentucky last weekend, it makes me proud to see that Tennessee takes pride in having good highways and a sound infrastructure. Go drive around in Arkansas or Kentucky for an hour or so and then tell me who's interstates are in better shape.

 

[WBusa]

Go drive around in Arkansas or Kentucky for an hour or so and then tell me who's interstates are in better shape.

Hey, don't forget about us out here in western Pennsylvania! The turnpike, and I-79, are a lot like driving on the moon... we're not talkin potholes, we're talkin craters. Its always fun to count the PennDOT guys propping up shovels by the side of the road. "Turn left at the big guy with the beer gut and the orange vest. "

 

[LesStallings]

Between Memphis and Nashville I-40 is very good. It could use another lane, but good.



As a nation, we certainly got behind on maintenance and repairs of our interstates. Trucking became the major transport mechanism, but highways were left as is.



If I'm going to drive on the craters of the moon, I want a big truck and not a mini-Cooper. I hit one crater that I though was going to take off my left front wheel. After the bump... the big Dodge just kept going down the highway like nothing had happened.

 

[MFenstermaker]

Les - We live in CA and travel to Lake Havasu City via the I-40 every other week from the I-15 to the AZ 95 turnoff to LHC. The road is pretty damn good except at some of the bridges where retrofitting is being done. Even the section near Goffs road and the rest area where it narrows to one lane will be finished soon and then only the stretch just before the Colorado River bridge at Topok will be rough. I'd say overall it's pretty good for that 130 or so mile commute of mine from Barstow to AZ95.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Most of Tennessee I-40 is good. There are lot's of rough entry and exits from bridges on I-40 though. Some will wake you up! All the major cities - Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville have major I-40 construction going on. Take the 640 north by-pass in Knoxville, the south bypass in Nashville, and the south 240 Bypass in Memphis and you will miss a lot of construction.



Just got back from Bristol, TN.



There are less than 30 miles of Arkansas I-40 that have not been rebuilt. A few miles west of West Memphis, a few miles west of Russellville, a few miles west of Brinkley, and a few miles through Little Rock under construction now. Barrels are being placed for construction to begin on the West Memphis, Brinkley, and Russellville sections.



Other than that, smooth sailing all the way through.



There is lot's of truck traffic though.

 

[HeavyHauler]

... and the south 240 Bypass in Memphis and you will miss a lot of construction.

I live in Memphis 9 months out of the year and I certainly wouldn't recommend taking 240 toward Jackson, MS if you heading west on I-40. That takes you way out of the way and the construction that you miss on the west side is not enough to worry about. You also take a risk of getting turned around or ending up on I-55 if you don't know what you're doing. It's more aggravating travel east from the river to east Memphis on I-40.



Memphis has been screwed up for about 30 years - or ever since they stopped the construction of I-40 directly through Memphis, hence the abbreviated Sam Cooper Boulevard now in it's intended place. They're just now getting around to making the transition to I-40W something that makes a little more sense.

There are less than 30 miles of Arkansas I-40 that have not been rebuilt. A few miles west of West Memphis, a few miles east of Russellville, and a few miles through Little Rock under construction now. Barrels are being placed for construction to begin on the West Memphis and Russellville sections.

Arkansas's changed a lot over the last couple of years then. I traveled all the way through I-40 and then to the north regularly a few summers ago and to say there was room for improvement is an understatement. I'm glad to hear that they're taking some initiative. I-55 crossing the river is absolutely ridiculous and then on north of West Memphis.