Interstate 22 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Interstate 22
Corridor X
I-22 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MDOT and ALDOT
Length	202.22 mi (325.44 km)
Existed	2012 (2012)–present
Major junctions
West end	I-269 / US 78 / MS 304 near Byhalia, MS
	US 45 in Tupelo, MS US 43 / US 278 / SR 171 in Hamilton, AL US 78 / SR 5 in Graysville, AL
East end	I-65 near Birmingham, AL
Location
States:	Mississippi, Alabama
Counties:	MS: DeSoto, Marshall, Benton, Union, Pontotoc, Lee, Itawamba AL: Marion, Walker, Jefferson
Highway system
Main route of the Interstate Highway System Main • Auxiliary • Business ← MS 21 MS MS 22 → ← SR 21 AL SR 22 →

Interstate 22 (or I-22) is an important highway in the United States. It stretches about 202 miles (325 km) through Mississippi and Alabama. This highway connects I-269 near Byhalia, Mississippi, to I-65 near Birmingham, Alabama.

I-22 is also known as Corridor X. It is part of a bigger plan called the Appalachian Development Highway System. The highway was officially named I-22 in 2012. It mostly follows the path of an older road, U.S. Route 78 (US 78). I-22 helps connect many small towns like Fulton, Tupelo, New Albany, Holly Springs, Jasper, Winfield, and Hamilton.

This highway was built to make travel easier between cities in the southeastern US and the central parts of the country. It helps link major cities like Memphis and Birmingham.

Exploring Interstate 22: A Road Trip Guide

I-22 connects Birmingham and the areas around Memphis. It fills an important gap in the Interstate Highway System. This highway also makes it easier to travel between Atlanta and Oklahoma City.

The highway starts at a big road junction with I-269 near Byhalia, Mississippi. This is about 25 miles (40 km) from downtown Memphis. I-22 then travels southeast through northern Mississippi and Alabama. It ends at another junction with I-65. This is about 5 miles (8 km) north of downtown Birmingham.

Journey Through Mississippi on I-22

I-22 starts in DeSoto County, west of Byhalia. Here, it joins with US 78. This part of the highway has four lanes. The exit numbers along I-22 in Mississippi are based on the mileage of US 78.

The highway travels southeast into Marshall County. It runs next to Mississippi Highway 178 (MS 178), which helps people reach smaller towns. I-22 passes by Holly Springs, the main town of Marshall County. You can get to Holly Springs from exits 26 and 30.

Next, I-22 goes through the beautiful Holly Springs National Forest. It then enters Benton County. Many small towns here can be reached from the highway. In Union County, I-22 passes near New Albany. Several exits (60, 61, 63, and 64) lead directly into this city.

Near Sherman in Pontotoc County, I-22 briefly shares its path with MS 9. Further on, I-22 enters Lee County. It goes north of Tupelo, a well-known city. Five exits (81, 82, 85, 86, and 87) connect to Tupelo. One of these exits (85) leads to the Natchez Trace Parkway. Another (86) connects to US 45.

The freeway then turns eastward and crosses into Itawamba County. It passes over the Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway. Exit 104 leads to Fulton, the county seat. Here, MS 25 also joins I-22 for a short distance. After exit 108, MS 25 turns north. I-22 then continues east-southeast. Its last exit in Mississippi (113) is for MS 23 near Tremont. After this, I-22 crosses into Alabama.

Driving Through Alabama on I-22

I-22 enters northwestern Alabama as a four-lane freeway. It is still joined with US 78. The highway travels east-southeast through Marion County. Its first exit (3) is near Bexar.

The next four exits (7, 11, 14, and 16) serve Hamilton, the county seat. The highway curves around the southwest side of the city. Exit 16 connects to US 43 and US 278.

I-22 then passes south of Brilliant. You can reach Brilliant from exits 26 and 30. Exit 34 serves Glen Allen. After this, I-22 crosses into Walker County. Exit 39 serves Eldridge and Natural Bridge.

Carbon Hill is served by exits 46 and 52. I-22 then widens to six lanes near Jasper, the county seat. Jasper is served by four exits (57, 61, 63, and 65). The highway narrows to four lanes at exit 57 but expands back to six lanes at exit 63. The next three exits (70, 72, and 78) serve towns like Cordova, Parrish, and Dora.

I-22 then enters Jefferson County. Exit 81 serves West Jefferson. At exit 85, I-22 separates from US 78. US 78 becomes a local road for Graysville and the northwestern suburbs of Birmingham. Between exits 85 and 87, there is a planned spot for an interchange with I-222. This future highway would connect I-22 to the proposed I-422.

I-22 passes through Coalburg before ending at I-65. This is about 5 miles (8 km) north of downtown Birmingham. There are also plans for a future connection to US 31 (future exit 95C).

History of Interstate 22

The idea for a highway connecting Memphis and Birmingham was first discussed in the 1950s. However, it took more than 20 years for plans to move forward. Political leaders, like Congressman Tom Bevill, began pushing for Corridor X in the 1970s. Later, Congressman Robert Aderholt helped complete the project.

Early studies for I-22 considered extending the highway all the way to downtown Memphis. These plans included ending at I-240 and I-69. Other ideas, like using I-269 or Crump Boulevard, were also explored but did not happen.

The part of I-22 east of Fulton, Mississippi, was approved by Congress in 1978. It was called "Corridor X" and was part of the Appalachian Development Highway System. Parts of I-22 have been under construction ever since. Corridor X was also named a "High Priority Corridor" in federal laws in 1995 and later. The project changed many times over the years.

In 2004, Corridor X was officially named "Future I-22". This designation became official on April 18, 2005. In Alabama and Mississippi, blue signs saying "FUTURE/I-22/CORRIDOR" were put up on that day.

The first major completed section of the route opened on November 22, 2005. This section was between the Mississippi state line and Jasper. The exits on the Jasper Bypass were first numbered using kilometers. This was because it seemed the US might switch to the metric system. However, the decision was made to keep using miles, so the exits were renumbered.

More sections of I-22 opened in the following years. A 6-mile (10 km) part between Graysville and Brookside opened in June 2007. Another 20-mile (32 km) section between Jasper and Graysville opened in November 2007. A 1.8-mile (2.9 km) section near Fultondale opened in December 2009.

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) worked on connecting I-22 with I-65 and US 31. This included widening Coalburg Road. The project to widen Coalburg Road was almost finished by May 2015. Signs were put up to guide truckers.

ALDOT planned to award contracts for the final part of I-22 in August 2009. This included the large interchange with I-65 and US 31. Funding delays pushed these plans to 2010. On March 19, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a law that extended federal highway funding. This allowed ALDOT to move forward with the construction. On June 16, 2010, ALDOT announced that Archer Western Contractors won the project for $168.6 million. This was the most expensive highway project in Jefferson County at the time. It was also the highest-priced contract awarded by ALDOT in 2010.

On November 12, 2012, ALDOT's request to establish I-22 was approved. This officially created I-22. In April 2013, the first actual I-22 signs were put up in Marion County, Alabama. These signs extended through Walker County into the outskirts of Birmingham.

ALDOT reported in August 2014 that the interchange with I-65 would be completed by October 2015. The interchange to I-65 opened to traffic on June 20, 2016. The connector to US 31 remained under construction for a while longer.

Mississippi officials announced on May 5, 2015, that they began the process to officially name their part of the highway as I-22. The route was officially signed in Mississippi in a ceremony on October 23, 2015.

Future Highway Connections

Interstate 222: A Future Connector

Interstate 222 (I-222) is a planned future highway. It will connect I-22 to the proposed I-422 near Birmingham, Alabama. This connector will not have any exits other than its start and end points. It was proposed because building a direct interchange between I-22 and I-422 was difficult due to environmental reasons. The plan for I-222 was approved on May 18, 2012. Construction for this new route has not been scheduled.

Interstate 422: Birmingham's Northern Bypass

I-422 is a planned highway that will serve as a bypass around the northern part of Birmingham. It will connect I-20/I-59 from the southwest to I-59 in the northeast. I-422 will also connect with I-22 through I-222 in Brookside.

The idea for I-422 was first suggested in May 2009. It was approved on May 18, 2012. Construction on a small 1.34-mile (2.16 km) section began shortly after. This section was between SR 79 and SR 75. However, the project faced delays due to funding and local concerns.

More funding for I-422 was provided in Spring 2023. This funding covered the construction of about 10 miles (16 km) of I-422. This section is between SR 79 and US 31. Construction on this four-lane part of the interstate was expected to begin in Spring 2023. Its completion date was initially set for 2028, but it was later delayed to 2032. A complaint was filed about the construction resuming. Although ALDOT expected to start work again in November 2023, no new information was made public for several months. Work finally resumed on the first phase between SR 75 and SR 79 in late-June 2024. This phase is expected to be completed in 2027.

Images for kids

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  The start of I-22 at I-269 in Byhalia, Mississippi.

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  I-22 and US 78 traveling east near Potts Camp, Mississippi.

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  Signs for Corridor X in Marion County, Alabama, before it became I-22.

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  The eastern end of I-22 at I-65 in Birmingham, Alabama, as it looked in 2016.