Tennessee State Route 23

State Route 23 (abbreviated SR 23) is an east–west major arterial urban highway running from Bellevue Boulevard (U.S. Route 51) near downtown Memphis to Interstate 240 near Shelby Farms in Shelby County, Tennessee.

State Route 23
Union Avenue, Walnut Grove Road
Route information
Maintained by TDOT
Length	8.83 mi[1] (14.21 km)
Existed	October 1, 1923[2]–present
Major junctions
West end	US 51 / US 64 / US 70 / US 79 in Memphis
Major intersections	SR 277 in Memphis US 72 / SR 57 in Memphis
East end	I-240 Exit 13 near Shelby Farms
Location
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Counties	Shelby
Highway system
Tennessee State Routes Interstate US State
← US 23 → I-24

Route description

SR 23 is a mix between a four-lane divided highway and a seven-lane urban highway (with center turn lane). This highway is designated on maps as being a secondary state route from its eastern terminus to its junction with SR 277 (East Parkway). At this junction, SR 23 becomes a primary state route all the way to its western terminus at US 51. SR 23 is better known as Union Avenue from its junction with SR 57 (Poplar Avenue) to its western terminus with US 51. Union Avenue continues beyond this terminus going toward downtown Memphis ending at Riverside Drive. SR 23 from Poplar Avenue to I-240 is known as Walnut Grove Road. According to data from TDOT, The SR 23 designation ends at I-240, however, Walnut Grove Road actually continues east through Shelby Farms.

Future

In 2008, Walnut Grove Road was widened from the interchange with I-240 to the Wolf River bridge. The project, which included a new Single Point Urban Interchange with Humphreys Boulevard, was scheduled to be complete before December 1, 2008, but was finished eight months early. The improvements will be continued east of this project through Shelby Farms, including a connection to a proposed extension of Kirby-Whitten Parkway (aka Shelby Farms Parkway). This is expected to begin within the next year or so.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Memphis, Shelby County.

mi	km	Destinations	Notes
		US 64 west / US 70 west / US 79 south / US 51 (Union Avenue/S. Bellevue Boulevard/SR 3)	Western terminus of SR 23; western end of US 64/US 70/US 79 concurrency
		US 64 east / US 70 east / US 79 north / SR 277 (East Parkway)	Interchange; eastern end of US 64/US 70/US 79 concurrency
		Union Avenue Extension	Interchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
		Flicker Street	Interchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
		US 72 / SR 57 (Poplar Avenue)	Interchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; Union Avenue changes to Walnut Grove Road
		I-240 – Nashville, Jackson, MS	Eastern terminus of SR 23; road continues as Walnut Grove Road
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

References

1. TDOT Region 4 Pavement Condition Data
2. Highway Planning Survey Division (1925). Biennial Report of the Commissioner of the Department of Highways and Public Works State of Tennessee for the Years 1923 and 1924 (PDF) (Report). Nashville: Tennessee Department of Highways and Public Works. pp. 39–44. Retrieved May 19, 2023.