TN 126
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From:  Kingsport (Sullivan County)
To:  Bristol (Sullivan County)
Total Length:
24.9 miles
ROUTE LOG
TN 93: 0 - 0
TN 355: 2.2 - 2.2
TN 36 NB: 0.9 - 3.1
TN 36 SB: 1.3 - 4.4
TN 93: 1.3 - 5.7
I-81 (exit 66): 7.7 - 13.4
TN 126 Bus, TN 394 SB: 0.6 - 17.3
TN 394 NB: 0.2 - 17.5
TN 126 Bus: 0.5 - 18.0
US 11W, TN 1: 6.9 - 24.9
Creation: Appeared between 1965-69 running from US 23 (now TN 36) Kingsport to US 11W Bristol. This had been US 11W up until 1959 and may have briefly been TN 1A after US 11W moved. Note the 1963 Sullivan County Map shows no state highway at all on this route. This is the 2nd TN 126.

1960 TN Interstate Map
TN 1A's brief existence
1960 Tennessee Interstate Map
1971 Official
TN 126 replaces TN 1A
1971 Official

Adjustments: In 1983, TN 126 west was extended north with TN 36, then replaced TN 93 Bus south to TN 93 at its junction with US 23 (now also I-26).
Between 1987-97, TN 126's east end was reconfigured to meet US 11W across from Grove Park Dr. The old routing became more Stafford St.
About 2004, TN 126 was shifted on its west end to use S. Wilcox Dr to meet TN 93 further east. The old direct route to I-26/TN 93 on Old Wilcox Rd is no longer in the state highway system.

1969 Sullivan County
TN 126 ending at US 23/TN 36
1969 Sullivan County
1985 Sullivan County
TN 126 extended to TN 93/I-181
1985 Sullivan County
2007 Sullivan County
TN 126 west end shift further east along TN 93
2007 Sullivan County

Between 2019-21, TN 126 was placed on TN 394 and Blountville Bypass around central Blountville. This left behimd TN 126 Business.
Posting: Posted as secondary routing everywhere.
The overlay with TN 36 is posted.
Secret US Route Overlay: None
Comment: TN 126 serves as a de facto TN 93 Business through Kingsport, otherwise is a backdoor route from Kingsport to Bristol along the original TN 1 routing.
Wikipedia says without citation that Old Wilcox Dr is TN 126 Business. This is erroneous and stems from when TN 126 replaced TN 93 Business - a single LGS posting of 93 Bus just swapped shields witout removing the 'business.'

Previous TN 126's:


TN 126 #1: The 1946 Route Log stops at TN 125. Then the 1948 Route Log has additional numbers, but 126 is already skipped!
This suggests the first TN 126 was around only around 1947. I have no clue where though. The 1947 TN Official State Map does not appear to show one.

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Page last modified 9 March 2024