Tennessee State Route 79

Infobox road
state=TN
type=Dual
route=79
alternate_name=
maint=TDOT

---

length_mi=10.37
length_round=
length_ref= [http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/materials/pavement/Documents/Region4(All%20Counties)(PROTECTED).xls TDOT Region 4 Pavement Condition Data] ]
established=1947
direction_a=West
starting_terminus= at Hathaway, TN
junction= near Cottonwood Grove, TN
direction_b=East
ending_terminus=
counties=Lake
previous_type=US
previous_route=79
next_type=TN
next_route=80
commons=gallery

State Route 79 (abbreviated SR 79) is a 10.37 mile long state highway in southwestern Lake County, Tennessee. SR 79 has a dual primary & secondary designationTennessee Department of Transportation [http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/Maps/county/default.htm County Maps] and [http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/Maps/city/ City Maps] ] and is one of a few state routes in Tennessee to have an aggregate road surface.

Route description

The western terminus of SR 79 is located at the Mississippi River (Island 15) in the extreme southwestern portion of Lake County, Tennessee and travels across low-lying areas that are subject to flooding from the Mississippi River. SR 79 from its western terminus (mile 0.00) to mile 6.66 has been repeatedly damaged by seasonal flooding and as a result TDOT uses gravel, crushed stone, sand and dirt to rebuild the road surface when it has been damaged from flooding. This section is unsigned in the field. At mile 6.66, SR 79 crosses the federal levee and is designated as part of Great River Road from here to its eastern terminus near Ridgely, Tennessee.

History

SR 79 was known as Powell Ferry Road prior to its designation as a state route and served the Powell Ferry (also known as the Pemiscot Ferry) that crossed the Mississippi River to Caruthersville, Missouri. This ferry began service in 1895 and was operated by Lee Line Steamers [http://www.rootsweb.com/~mopemis2/towns/1904.htm Rootsweb MOGENWEB, 1904 Pemiscot County] ] . The roadway geometry of SR 79 has been changed very little since its designation as a state highway with the only major change being at the junction of SR 79 and SR 181 [http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=16&X=1358&Y=20059&W=2&qs=%7cRidgely%7cTN%7c Aerial View of SR 79 & SR 181 intersection, Microsoft Terraserver] ] .

Major intersections

External links

[http://tdot.state.tn.us Tennessee Department of Transportation]
[http://web5.ecsis.net/~lmoore/TNGEN/communities/hathaway.html Hathaway, TN History]

References