| State: | TN |
| Type: | Sec |
| Route: | 357 |
| Alternate Name: | Airport Parkway |
| Map Custom: | yes |
| Map Notes: | TN 357 highlighted in red |
| Length Mi: | 2.55 |
| Established: | July 1, 1983[1] |
| History: | Completed in 1975 |
| Direction B: | North |
| Terminus B: | in Kingsport city limits |
| Direction A: | South |
| Terminus A: | in Blountville |
| Counties: | Sullivan |
| Previous Type: | Sec |
| Previous Route: | 356 |
| Next Type: | Sec |
| Next Route: | 358 |
State Route 357 (SR 357) is a 2.55adj=midNaNadj=mid, north-south state highway in Sullivan County, Tennessee. A four-lane divided highway, the route serves as a connector route from Interstate 81 (I-81) to the Tri-Cities Regional Airport, and is known as Airport Parkway. It was constructed in conjunction with I-81, and was completed in 1975. The state assumed maintenance of the road in 1983, designating it as SR 357.
SR 357 begins at a partial interchange with SR 75 in Blountville, where the road continues east for a short distance, as Airport Parkway, into the main entrance of the Tri-Cities Regional Airport. It then goes west for a short distance before it turns north just before an interchange with Centenary Road. SR 357 then passes by a rock quarry before curving around a small ridge to have an interchange with Shipley Ferry Road. It then curves back around before ending at I-81 (Exit 263), where the road continues as narrow local road. The route's northern terminus is technically in the Kingsport city limits, through it is far outside the metro area. The entire route is in Sullivan County and is a 4-lane divided highway for its entire length.
During the planning phase of the Interstate Highway System, the route that became I-81 was placed north and east of the airport. In 1957, the Johnson City Planning Commission unsuccessfully lobbied to move the routing a few miles south to run closer to the airport, as well as Johnson City.[2] For this reason, a connector road between the airport and I-81 was planned.
The connector road, which was initially known as Tri-Cities Airport Road on the Tri-Cities Airport Connector, was constructed in conjunction with I-81. The contract for the route was awarded on May 4, 1971, and construction was underway three months later.[3] [4] [5] The project was initially slated for completion in August 1973,[5] but that month, the contractor ceased work on the project in order to focus on completing Interstate Highways in the state. This action was blamed on fuel shortages that were presumably part of the global energy crisis that year. However, the delay was also speculated to be due to an emphasis on completing Interstate Highways in East Tennessee, including I-81, which were also delayed by the energy crisis.[6] Construction reportedly resumed a few months later, and by February 1974, the route was expected to be complete by the fall of that year.[7] The project experienced additional delays, however. The road was opened to traffic on a limited basis by February 1975,[8] and was completed four months later.[9]
The connector road was constructed as a partnership between the state and county government, and then turned over to local control once construction was complete, with the exceptions of each termini.[10] On July 1, 1983, the state assumed control of the route as part of a statewide takeover of approximately 3300miles of city and county maintained roads, which also included a renumbering of a number of existing state routes. At this time, the road was designated SR 357.[1] [11]