| State: | TN |
| Type: | Sec |
| Route: | 357 |
| Alternate Name: | Airport Parkway |
| Map Custom: | yes |
| Map Notes: | TN 357 highlighted in red |
| Length Mi: | 2.55 |
| Established: | July 1, 1983[1] |
| History: | Completed in 1975 |
| Direction B: | North |
| Terminus B: | in Kingsport city limits |
| Direction A: | South |
| Terminus A: | in Blountville |
| Counties: | Sullivan |
| Previous Type: | Sec |
| Previous Route: | 356 |
| Next Type: | Sec |
| Next Route: | 358 |
State Route 357 (SR 357) is a 2.55adj=midNaNadj=mid, north-south state highway in Sullivan County, Tennessee. A four-lane divided highway, the route serves as a connector route from Interstate 81 (I-81) to the Tri-Cities Regional Airport, and is known as Airport Parkway. It was constructed in conjunction with I-81, and was completed in 1975. The state assumed maintenance of the road in 1983, designating it as SR 357.
SR 357 is a four-lane divided highway for its entire length, and is known as Airport Parkway. The route is technically located within the city limits of Kingsport, although it is a long distance from the majority of the city.[2] [3] The highway is classified as an Intermodal Connector of the National Highway System, a national network of roads identified as important to the national economy, defense, and mobility.[4] [5]
SR 357 begins at a partial diamond interchange with SR 75 (Bristol Highway) in Blountville adjacent to the Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Here the road continues east for a short distance as two-lane Airport Parkway, which provides access to the main entrance to the airport and an adjacent parking lot. The highway initially goes west for a short distance before turning north-northeast. The route then crosses Centenary Road, which is accessible via an interchange-style connector road. Passing a rock quarry the highway curves around a small ridge, crosses Shipley Ferry Road, which is also accessible via an interchange connector road. SR 357 then curves back around and reaches its northern terminus at I-81. North of this point, the road continues as Browder Road, a two-lane locally maintained road.[2] [3]
During the planning phase of the Interstate Highway System, the route that became I-81 was placed north and east of the airport. In 1957, the Johnson City Planning Commission unsuccessfully lobbied to move the routing a few miles south to run closer to the airport, as well as Johnson City.[6] For this reason, a connector road between the airport and I-81 was planned. On February 14, 1967, a plan was presented to the Sullivan County Court to allow the state and county each to fund half of the project. Some local officials were reluctant to back the proposal at that time, since the project was still in the planning phase. Others felt that Sullivan County should not be responsible for the entire cost of local funding, since the airport is regional.[7] [8] After further analysis, the county court ultimately approved the funding plan on July 17, 1967.[9]
The connector road, which was initially known as Tri-Cities Airport Road on the Tri-Cities Airport Connector, was constructed in conjunction with I-81. The contract for the route was awarded on May 4, 1971, and construction was underway three months later.[10] [11] [12] The project was initially slated for completion in August 1973,[12] but that month, the contractor ceased work on the project in order to focus on completing Interstate Highways in the state. This action was blamed on fuel shortages that were presumably part of the global energy crisis that year. However, the delay was also speculated to be due to an emphasis on completing Interstate Highways in East Tennessee, including I-81, which were also delayed by the energy crisis.[13] Construction reportedly resumed a few months later, and by February 1974, the route was expected to be complete by the fall of that year.[14] The project experienced additional delays, however. The road was opened to traffic on a limited basis by February 1975,[15] and was completed four months later.[16]
The connector road was constructed as a partnership between the state and county government, and then turned over to local control once construction was complete, with the exceptions of each termini.[17] On July 1, 1983, the state assumed control of the route as part of a statewide takeover of approximately 3300miles of city and county maintained roads, which also included a renumbering of a number of existing state routes. At this time, the road was designated SR 357.[1] [18]