West end: I-40 near Only | Length 259.6 km | |
East end: SR 56 / SR 108 in Altamont Counties Hickman County, Tennessee | ||
State Route 50 (SR 50) is a west–to–east highway in Middle Tennessee. The road begins near Only and ends in Altamont. The current length is 161.3 miles (259.6 km).
Contents
Map of TN-50, Tennessee, USA
Route description
The highway begins at exit 148 on Interstate 40 (I-40) near Only as a continuation of County Road 920 (CR 920, Duck River Road); SR 50 and CR 920 run concurrently for a short distance. SR 50 travels southeast, passing nearby Grinder's Switch before entering Centerville, where it runs concurrently with SR 48 and SR 100 for a short distance. Disengaging from SR 48/SR 100 and continuing southeast, it intersects the Natchez Trace Parkway and becomes Williamsport Parkway all the way into Columbia. SR 50 roughly parallels the Duck River from the highway's beginning to Columbia; the highway crosses the river six separate times along this stretch.
SR 50 enters Columbia from the northwest and intersects U.S. Route 43 (US 43). Shortly thereafter, it intersects US 412 and runs concurrently with it as Hampshire Pike for a short distance. Upon disengaging from US 412, SR 50 becomes James Campbell Boulevard and intersects US 31. It continues southeast out of town and becomes New Lewisburg Highway. It intersects I-65 at exit 37 and becomes New Columbia Highway/Jim McCord Highway until it intersects US 431 outside Lewisburg.
Upon entering Lewisburg from the northwest, SR 50 runs concurrently with US 431 for a short distance before disengaging and proceeding into downtown Lewisburg as Franklin Avenue and then College Street. It then runs concurrently with US 431 Business/US 31A Business (US 431 Bus./US 31A Bus.) for a short distance. Disengaging from US 31A Bus., SR 50 continues as US 431 Bus. (East Commerce Street) and rejoins US 431 at the southeast edge of town.
Near the small town of Belfast, SR 50 becomes Fayetteville Highway and turns almost due south. It passes through Petersburg and becomes Lewisburg Highway all the way to Fayetteville.
In downtown Fayetteville, SR 50 turns east and disengages from US 431, joining US 64/SR 15 as College Street East. Turning northeast, it becomes Mulberry Avenue for a short distance before turning east, becoming Winchester Highway, and intersecting US 231. On the eastern edge of town, SR 50 breaks away from US 64/SR 15, turns northeast, and becomes Lynchburg Highway. It passes through the small town of Mulberry and becomes Fayetteville Highway all the way to the edge of Lynchburg.
Just inside Lynchburg, SR 50 becomes Main Street for a short distance before turning back southeast as Winchester Highway. It becomes Lynchburg Road and crosses the Elk River just below Tims Ford Dam; the dam is visible from the highway. Passing south of Tims Ford Lake, SR 50 continues into Winchester. This section of SR 50 between Lynchburg and Winchester is popular with area motorcyclists and sports car drivers due to its sinuousness.
In Winchester, SR 50 makes several turns and has several names (Cedar Street, 2nd Avenue, High Street, 1st Avenue, College Street) until it joins US 41A/SR 16 as Dinah Shore Boulevard and heads northeast out of town.
Just outside Decherd, SR 50 disengages from US 41A/SR 16 and passes through Decherd as Main Street. Continuing northeast, SR 50 leaves Decherd and becomes Old Alto Highway and then Warren Chapel Road before rejoining US 64 as Veterans Memorial Drive. It crosses the Elk River a second time and intersects I-24 at exit 127, where SR 50 again disengages from US 64. SR 50 intersects US 41/SR 2 in the Pelham community and then crosses the Elk River a third time.
Continuing northeast, SR 50 climbs the Eastern Highland Rim onto the Cumberland Plateau as Elkhead Road and then Pelham Road. Shortly after reaching the Plateau, it joins SR 108 all the way to SR 50's eastern terminus at SR 56 in Altamont.