SIU 7

This SIU begins at the Kentucky–Tennessee border in Fulton and closely follows US 51 to Dyersburg. The 20-mile (32 km) stretch between Dyersburg and Troy is at Interstate Highway standards—opening with the completion of I-155 west of Dyersburg. An additional 10-mile (16 km) stretch north of Union City to within 1,100 feet (340 m) of the Kentucky border is also a freeway. Thus, the vast majority of the work on SIU 7 will involve bypassing the 15-mile (24 km) portion of US 51 between Troy and Union City (where it is currently a four-lane surface arterial with at-grade intersections) and redesigning the US 51/US 45 interchange in South Fulton. The redesign is projected to start construction in 2028.^[6] This stretch has been divided into five smaller sections. The first two sections make up the Troy Bypass, while the northern three sections represent the Union City Bypass. Tennessee State Route 690 will be the temporary designation for the Union City bypass until I-69 is completed between the Purchase Parkway and I-155.^[7]

The first construction contract was set for SIU 7 on October 30, 2009, covering Section 4 (middle leg of the Union City Bypass). The winning bid for constructing the 4.3-mile (6.9 km) section between SR 21 and SR 5 northwest of Union City was awarded to Ford Construction Company of Dyersburg for $33 million (equivalent to $44 million in 2022^[4]). Construction on this section of the Union City Bypass began in the spring of 2010 and was completed in the summer of 2012. However, it remained closed to traffic until adjacent sections were completed. As of July 2014, land acquisition and utility relocations were underway in all five sections from Troy to Union City. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) awarded a construction contract for 2.4-mile (3.9 km) Section 3 (southern leg of the Union City Bypass) in March 2016 and planned to let a second contract for Section 5 (northern leg of the Union City Bypass) in December 2016. Work began on Section 3 in June 2016.^[8]

There is no current timetable for letting contracts to construct the Troy Bypass (Sections 1 and 2).^[9] However, TDOT Commissioner John Schroer estimated in February 2013 that it would take around 10 years to gradually complete work on SIU 7 due to lack of funding.^[10]

This situation (and the next one below) regarding funding was solved on May 23, 2017, with the signing of the IMPROVE (Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy) Act. The legislation raised taxes and fees for drivers and others: $0.06 for regular fuel, $0.10 for diesel fuel, and $0.08 for liquefied and compressed natural gases (a total of $355 million). The state would get $250 million, counties $70 million, and cities $35 million. Most vehicle owners saw their registration fees go up by $5; private and commercial owners had their fees go up by $10, with ride-sharing exempt; and heavy truck operators would pay $20 more. Electric vehicle owners in Tennessee (about 2,500) would pay an additional $100 in registration and renewal fees (since they do not pay fuel taxes); hybrid-electric car owners are exempt from the extra charges. The new money would fund parts of I-69 in the state. The Union City sections (3, 4, and 5) of this segment begin construction in 2017. Paving on the three segments begin in July 2021^[11][12][13] and segment did eventually open in November 2023 as SR 690.^[14] While TDOT has acquired the right-of-way and is finalizing design for the Troy portion (1 and 2), a timeline for construction has not yet been established.^[7]

SIU 8

SIU 8 proceeds south from Dyersburg, paralleling US 51 to a planned interchange with SR 385 (I-269) in Millington. To facilitate work on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for this segment, TDOT has divided SIU 8 into three smaller segments. In April 2006, TDOT has announced the preferred routing for the northern and southern subsections, favoring an alignment to the west of US 51. Meanwhile, studies are still ongoing for the central section, which include alignments both east and west of the existing US 51. Once TDOT identifies the preferred alignment for the central segment, it is expected that a supplemental draft EIS will be necessary before the final EIS can be prepared.

The routing of I-69 has been criticized by the state Sierra Club chapter for not making use of the existing right-of-way for US 51 and for potentially impacting the Hatchie River, a state-designated scenic river.

TDOT has suspended work indefinitely on segment 8 due to a lack of funding. TDOT has further stated that it does not intend to resume work on the Dyersburg–Millington section until Congress commits federal funding to complete environmental studies, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. However, the revived completion of segment 7 of I-69 in northwestern Tennessee connecting to I-155 and I-55 will provide an unbroken freeway route from that region to Memphis. It will bypass the uncompleted segment 8 by following the west side of the Mississippi River before crossing the river into Memphis and linking to partly finished segment 9. TDOT officials determined "there would be value" in finishing just enough of I-69 to link it to I-55, a major north–south route that runs through Memphis.^[1]

SIU 9

South of Millington, I-69 will intersect the I-269 Memphis Outer Beltway, then continue southwest, roughly parallel to US 51, then abruptly turn east near General DeWitt Spain Airport to connect with I-40 at the existing SR 300 interchange in the Frayser neighborhood. I-69 follows I-40 for about three miles (4.8 km) to the I-40/I-240 Midtown Interchange, where I-69 continues south along the Midtown portion of I-240 (mileposts 25–31) to the I-240/I-55 interchange in Whitehaven. From that interchange, I-69 continues south, merged with I-55 for approximately 12 miles (19 km), crossing the Mississippi state line. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has been working on widening I-55/I-69 between Hernando and the Tennessee state line, adding travel lanes in each direction, reconstructing bridges, and improving traffic flow at interchanges. Meanwhile, TDOT is reconstructing I-55 and I-240 from the Mississippi line to Memphis. With much of the route already built and at Interstate standards through Memphis, the FHWA authorized TDOT to sign I-69 over I-55, I-240, and I-40 on January 18, 2008; however, TDOT has not yet done so. However, it has and still is signed as an "I-69 FUTURE CORRIDOR".

Similar to segment 8, TDOT has suspended work indefinitely on the unbuilt section between SR 300 and the proposed interchange with I-269 near Millington due to a lack of funding. TDOT has further stated that it does not intend to resume work on this section until Congress commits federal funding to complete environmental studies, right-of-way acquisition and construction.^[1]