Lamar Avenue (State Route 4, US 78)

History and Background

Lamar Avenue is an urban arterial roadway on the National Highway System. It is a nationally and regionally significant multimodal corridor linking interstate highways, airports, maritime ports, and rail. It connects Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, and other major metropolitan cities in the southeast.

Improving mobility and reducing congestion on Lamar Avenue has been a focus of study for over 15 years among both public and private stakeholders. The total cost to complete the proposed improvements is estimated at $258 million, which has created funding challenges that have prevented the project from moving forward. TDOT has worked closely with its federal, state, and local partners to aggressively seek funding assistance, and named the project as one of the highest priorities in the Tennessee Statewide Multimodal Freight Plan (approved February 2016).

In June 2016, TDOT applied for Lamar Avenue project funding through the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-Term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant program, but the project was not selected.

In April 2017, the state passed the Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy (IMPROVE) Act, which helped provide critical funding for the Lamar Avenue project and more than 900 other projects in all 95 Tennessee counties.

In June 2018, TDOT applied for Lamar Avenue project funding through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program and was awarded $71.1 million.

The combined funds from the state’s IMPROVE Act and the federal INFRA grant will completely pay for the remaining phases of the three Lamar Avenue projects.

Due to the significant size of the project, the proposed improvements will be separated into three smaller sections or phases.

·  from Mississippi state line to south of Shelby Drive (1.4 miles)

·  from south of Shelby Drive to near the Raines Road/Perkins Road Interchange (1.9 miles)

·  from near the Raines Road/Perkins Road Interchange to Getwell Road (State Route 176) (1.8 miles)

The proposed improvements include widening Lamar Avenue from four to six lanes and construction of three new interchanges at Holmes Road, Shelby Drive, and Winchester Road, as well as modifications to the existing interchanges at Raines Road/Perkins Road and Getwell Road.

The project will also address pavement deficiencies along the existing lanes of travel. Additionally, improvements will include complementary technology investments to support active traffic management of the corridor to improve travel reliability. TDOT is coordinating with local partners on the addition of greenways along Lamar Avenue when feasible.

Public Involvement and Engagement

A Public Meeting was held on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at Crowne Plaza Memphis East, 2625 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to gather public input for the section of Lamar Avenue from south of Shelby Drive to State Route 176 (Getwell Road) in Shelby County.

Public Meeting Presentation PDF
Public Meeting Handout PDF