Tennessee State Route 79

State Route 79 (SR 79) is a 10.37-mile-long (16.69 km) state highway in southwestern Lake County, Tennessee. SR 79 has a dual primary and secondary designation[2] and is one of a few state routes in Tennessee to have an aggregate (gravel) road surface.

State Route 79 marker State Route 79 marker

State Route 79

SR 79; primary in red, secondary in blue
Route information
Maintained by TDOT
Length10.37 mi[1] (16.69 km)
Existed1947–present
Major junctions
West endDead end at Mississippi River at Hathaway
Major intersections SR 181 / Great River Road near Cottonwood Grove
East end SR 78 near Ridgely
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTennessee
CountiesLake
Highway system
← US 79→ SR 80

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 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, where it continued west as Missouri Route 84.[3] This ferry began service in 1895 and was operated by Lee Line Steamers.[4] Ferry service was discontinued by the mid-1970s.

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.[5]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Lake County.

Locationmi[6]kmDestinationsNotes
Hathaway0.00.0Dead end at Mississippi RiverWestern terminus; SR 79 begins as an unsigned secondary highway
​6.610.6

 SR 181 south / Great River Road to I-155		SR 79 becomes a signed primary highway; northern terminus of SR 181; western end of Great River Road concurrency
​10.316.6
 SR 78 / Great River Road north – Tiptonville, Dyersburg		Eastern terminus; SR 79 ends as a primary highway; provides access to Reelfoot Lake State Park and Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. TDOT Region 4 Pavement Condition Data
  2. Tennessee Department of Transportation County Maps and City Maps
  3. Map of Missouri Showing State Road System (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Missouri State Highway Commission. Missouri State Highway Commission. 1939. § I9. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  4. Rootsweb MOGENWEB, 1904 Pemiscot County
  5. Aerial photo of SR 79 & SR 181 intersection from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps
  6. retrieved from DeLorme Street Atlas USA
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