Another awesome video! The combination of the music and crossing the river on both the "Old Bridge" and "New Bridge" made me homesick. Thank you for posting.
Another smooth ride Jim, no matter when your video was uploaded, it still exhibits the continuous excitement as your previous and current videos. it is a pleasure to view your craftsmanship, your in a league by yourself! your videos thus far are exceptional!! GVJ all the way!
Someone shared this on FB. Nice to know when I get homesick for Memphis that I can watch this video. On my first visit to Memphis, I took this same route just to say that I'd been west of the Mississippi. I did the quick turn around and went back into TN.
That's a great video, especially showing off the Pyramid in different views. Also the intro and credits are very nice. Can't wait to see the St. Louis videos.
remember about the interchange that you said should have a flyover, 2:44 that is what tdot is planning on building rn, look it up on their website, hope you can do another video of Memphis
@VaFreeways I did not upgrade, it won't load existing final cut projects. The say it plays more friendly with digital and DSLR files, almost like it's made for that format. I may upgrade at some point out of sheer curiosity.
First time I went through that I-55 interchange at Crump Ave. we missed the ramp and accidentally went straight into downtown Memphis. I can't imagine how many other people make that same mistake.
The same thing happens going south on I-55. After you get across the river into Tennessee, if you keep going straight, it looks like you are continuing on the interstate, but you are actually on Crump Boulevard. A railroad crossing suddenly comes upon you, you have to slam on the brakes if a train comes through there.
TDOT is planning to upgrade the I-55/Crump Blvd. interchange in the future. It actually predates the Interstate system, which is why getting around it is so difficult. One proposal involves rerouting I-55 to the south of the current interchange and making the current interchange into a roundabout.
@watts4664 I'm a little above the speed limit, I post it because some people are interested in that. yes, Erik does a great job on the camera as you will see in upcoming videos.
yeah they are going to make the new interchange towards the bridge with a S-curve and a round-about for Crump Blvd. and other surface streets. I think.
Oh, man. I lived in the Memphis area for a little over 10 years (1994 to 2005) and they still NEVER upgraded that cloverleaf for I-55?! Memphis in general was pretty slow upgrading the old interstate interchanges. I remember back in 2001, just that one interchange (from I-40 to I-240) near Summer Ave. took at least 2 years to finish. At least it's a good thing they upgraded the I-240 & I-40 interchange in downtown 'cause that one before then was a nightmare!
They have rebuilt the interchange of I-40/ I-240 on the east side. It recently fully opened and is the first four-level in the city. However the interchange at Riverside and I-40 is still the most impressive. It has a stub ramp that was built at the same time as the bridge meant to take westbound traffic to a planned northern freeway that would connect to the I-40/ I-240 intersection at Thomas Street (US-51) but the road was never built and there is a Pyramid that might interfere now. The ramp abruptly ends at a support, but they have it blocked off and you can't really see it traveling westbound
Ahh I finally got around to watching this. LOVED the music! I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who doesn't particularly care for Memphis... The parts I went through were really rundown and "hood." I'm sure there are some really nice parts somewhere I didn't get to see. I've heard Beale Street and Peabody Place in Downtown are pretty cool. Anyway, excellent work!
Yes, I have been in the plant in the mid 1970s. GE manufactured auto bulbs and Christmas light bulbs there. It was interesting in that they had machines that were fed raw stock with all if the materials to make the bulb. It was totally automated except loading the raw stock including the blowing of molten glass to form the glass part. There was even a point that the bulb was lit. The bulbs would collect into a tray, and in another part of the plant they had people that sat at a workstation and tested EVERY bulb and packed them into the boxes of 8-10 bulbs. Production requirements were to test and pack 18,000 bulbs on each shift. The leading person's rate was 22,000 per shift. They received bonuses for any amount over production. It was fascinating to watch them work for a few minutes. They would test 2 at a time on twin bars that were energized to the correct voltage. Fantastic speed .
@mgk920 That's the one! I wasn't completely sure if that was the final decision, but I thought it represented the option that made the most sense. Thanks!
BNforever2009 boring on North 55 is good. It means I can loosen my grip on the wheel and chill, jam to my music because I'm leaving behind the stress of the city. And yes South 55 can be a chill drive too. I know because I've done both.
@CosmoPhotography Thanks, the area where the Gibson Factory was, next to the Fedex Forum downtown was OK, but overall, it's just not an impressive place.
@Freewayjim Just out of curiosity, did you upgrade to the new Final Cut Pro X and if so, what are your thoughts on it? My hope is that it offers some less compressed format than that stupid log and transfer. The mini-DV camcorders are almost impossible to find too. Although my forthcoming Pentax K-5 DSLR shoots in an Apple-friendly file format so I might just use that if I decide to start filming again.
Hey Jim: Dad here...Watching the video, I wish I could heal this thing right now! driving is in the blood....Are you sure this group didn't change it's name from Santana...sure sounds alot like them! Actually thought it was the intro to "Black Magic woman" at the start...great shots and choice of music. Road looks rather familiar!!!
@3.30, is that a weigh station/check point for trucks? and if so does each state border have one? thanks, great soundtrack too by the way, love the night drives the best!
@jaquette97 We went to the Gibson Guitar Factory downtown, which is worth seeing, drove a few city streets to get back to the highway and aside from Riverside Drive I was not too impressed.
@wceagle4life I believe that TDOT has settled on a plan that has I-55 curving through that area on a new four-lane high-speed curve with the rest of the interchange being on and off ramps from I-55 meeting the streets at a large roundabout. I also seem to recall that very little new ROW will be needed to do that. Mike
I like the logo and tag line; however, when I see "FWJ," I think of a sports franchise in Fort Worth (Fort Worth Jets or something like that). The music is great. All it needs is some conga drums and it'll really be Santana. Again, great work.
Jim, TDOT has already set plans in motion for a flyover interchange at the old bridge in Memphis.....within the decade, that funky Crump Blvd. intersection will be no more.
@@SlowedByCinnamxn I had to stop in Dauphin Island Alabama on that trip so no, you don't know what's involved with all the trips and planning so please don't assume things.
Since the other two legs of the I-55 cloverleaf are surface streets, they should just build a single long flyover to ensure continuous flow on I-55 and replace the other ramps with just a Parclo (with traffic signals). Unfortunately, that neighborhood at the river to the south of the bridge creates problems with the angle of the freeway. Many houses would need to be removed. Also Exit 12C should be eliminated.
Thanks for those maps in the beginning. Interesting to see how their system progressed over the years. Yeah, I think I-55 thru western Memphis qualifies for ugliest looking urban interstate, or at least it's right up there. I still haven't seen a more outdated ramp to continue driving along a major interstate highway in this country, but interesting, none the less. Looking forward to your St. Louis videos.
The junction at Mallory was the worst design possible when the freeway first opened. The on ramps there were ridiculously short and made it very hard to merge properly. Fixed over thirty years later.
People complain about the road and freeway system in Memphis, but if they have traveled to other cities such as Indianapolis, they will find that while the freeway system is okay, the surface streets are a mess. In Memphis under "Boss Crump", the city started building a network of surface streets long before the interstates. They normally build the streets there before the developments arrive. People would complain about a new six lane street with sidewalks, but no homes or businesses on either side of the road.
The Memphis & AR Bridge is so weird. The design itself which I don’t even like and it carries 1 Interstate, 4 US Routes and 1 TN State route which is a big concurrency.
At least it is a four lane bridge, two lanes in each direction. There are two railroad bridges adjacent to this bridge, the Frisco RR and Rock Island RR bridges, one which was a two lane wooden deck bridge with the two single lanes separated by the tracks in the middle. Keep in mind the next bridges over the Mississippi River up north at that time was the US 60 & 62 bridge at Cairo, IL and the US 82 bridge at Greenville, MS... Long before the I-155 bridge at Dyersburg, and the US 49 bridge at Helena, AR. The Memphis & AR I-55 bridge was completed in 1949. The I-40 bridge was completed in 1973...
April 2020 ... Still not done. They had a plan and were going to build it in 2016, but because the plan would close the I-55 bridge for nine months they halted it at the last minute. The new design was great for I-55 providing a direct north/south connection across the bridge, but in my opinion a planned traffic circle at the Riverside/ Crump Blvd and access to the old French Fort neighborhood was awful and I hope they fix it in the redesign.
Another awesome video! The combination of the music and crossing the river on both the "Old Bridge" and "New Bridge" made me homesick. Thank you for posting.
Music is excellent!
Thank you!
Another smooth ride Jim, no matter when your video was uploaded, it still exhibits the continuous excitement as your previous and current videos. it is a pleasure to view your craftsmanship, your in a league by yourself! your videos thus far are exceptional!! GVJ all the way!
Thank You Freewayjim Your work is is beautiful Being from Memphis You did this Perfect
Wonderful. I really dig this song, never heard it before, but I like it.
Great video love the new intro and the music fit the video of Memphis.
Someone shared this on FB. Nice to know when I get homesick for Memphis that I can watch this video. On my first visit to Memphis, I took this same route just to say that I'd been west of the Mississippi. I did the quick turn around and went back into TN.
I always look forward to your summer video trips. Can't wait to see what comes next.
Great video, i've never been to memphis, tn, i have been to nashville, tn several times. i cant wait see your next video!!
That's a great video, especially showing off the Pyramid in different views. Also the intro and credits are very nice. Can't wait to see the St. Louis videos.
remember about the interchange that you said should have a flyover, 2:44 that is what tdot is planning on building rn, look it up on their website, hope you can do another video of Memphis
Good to know, thank you!
@@Freewayjimand also a new bridge coming soon
@@None.asked7 Yep saw that, looks nice too!
I like your new look and your new video!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
Seeing this after the 40 bridge closed with the crack, that 55 bridge just isn't big enough to handle that traffic at all
It's older than the i-40 bridge too.😳
i realize it is pretty off topic but do anyone know a good site to watch newly released tv shows online ?
@Jeremy Andy Flixportal :D
@Warren Oakley Thanks, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D Appreciate it!!
@Jeremy Andy glad I could help :)
@VaFreeways I did not upgrade, it won't load existing final cut projects. The say it plays more friendly with digital and DSLR files, almost like it's made for that format. I may upgrade at some point out of sheer curiosity.
Interstate 40 is one of my favorite interstates!
Thank you, I appreciate that coming from a native :)
@nothinbutgreenlights I think so on the weigh stations, both I-40 and I-55 have them just west of the river. I have some night videos coming :)
@Paligurl123 There are two bridges but BOTH go to and from Memphis, they carry interstate highways which have two-way traffic.
Enjoyed the music more than the video.🤘
First time I went through that I-55 interchange at Crump Ave. we missed the ramp and accidentally went straight into downtown Memphis.
I can't imagine how many other people make that same mistake.
LMAOO
The same thing happens going south on I-55. After you get across the river into Tennessee, if you keep going straight, it looks like you are continuing on the interstate, but you are actually on Crump Boulevard. A railroad crossing suddenly comes upon you, you have to slam on the brakes if a train comes through there.
This is my Memphis homecoming theme music.
TDOT is planning to upgrade the I-55/Crump Blvd. interchange in the future. It actually predates the Interstate system, which is why getting around it is so difficult. One proposal involves rerouting I-55 to the south of the current interchange and making the current interchange into a roundabout.
@FreewayAndrew Thank you, I does have a Santana-esque video tot, especially in the beginning (See Jungle Strut).
@FreewayBrent Thanks bro, I'm looking forward to working on the STL footage, it's all loaded and ready for me :)
👍 One of the best to do it. Im just starting and picking up pointers from you guys
Thank you!
@watts4664 I'm a little above the speed limit, I post it because some people are interested in that. yes, Erik does a great job on the camera as you will see in upcoming videos.
yeah they are going to make the new interchange towards the bridge with a S-curve and a round-about for Crump Blvd. and other surface streets. I think.
Oh, one more thing, that's a really nice song.
Oh, man. I lived in the Memphis area for a little over 10 years (1994 to 2005) and they still NEVER upgraded that cloverleaf for I-55?! Memphis in general was pretty slow upgrading the old interstate interchanges. I remember back in 2001, just that one interchange (from I-40 to I-240) near Summer Ave. took at least 2 years to finish. At least it's a good thing they upgraded the I-240 & I-40 interchange in downtown 'cause that one before then was a nightmare!
@NYGiantsFan845 Thank you, STL is a neat city, I can't wait to start working on it!
They have rebuilt the interchange of I-40/ I-240 on the east side. It recently fully opened and is the first four-level in the city. However the interchange at Riverside and I-40 is still the most impressive. It has a stub ramp that was built at the same time as the bridge meant to take westbound traffic to a planned northern freeway that would connect to the I-40/ I-240 intersection at Thomas Street (US-51) but the road was never built and there is a Pyramid that might interfere now. The ramp abruptly ends at a support, but they have it blocked off and you can't really see it traveling westbound
Thank you!
Ahh I finally got around to watching this. LOVED the music! I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who doesn't particularly care for Memphis... The parts I went through were really rundown and "hood." I'm sure there are some really nice parts somewhere I didn't get to see. I've heard Beale Street and Peabody Place in Downtown are pretty cool. Anyway, excellent work!
2:17 to 2:30 to the left is a old GE factory somewhere where my grandma used to work
Yes, I have been in the plant in the mid 1970s. GE manufactured auto bulbs and Christmas light bulbs there. It was interesting in that they had machines that were fed raw stock with all if the materials to make the bulb. It was totally automated except loading the raw stock including the blowing of molten glass to form the glass part. There was even a point that the bulb was lit. The bulbs would collect into a tray, and in another part of the plant they had people that sat at a workstation and tested EVERY bulb and packed them into the boxes of 8-10 bulbs. Production requirements were to test and pack 18,000 bulbs on each shift. The leading person's rate was 22,000 per shift. They received bonuses for any amount over production. It was fascinating to watch them work for a few minutes. They would test 2 at a time on twin bars that were energized to the correct voltage. Fantastic speed .
@VaFreeways Thanks, I think we have some pretty cool stuff on the way.
@colinstu: I saw something about the Zoo Interchange. Looks like it's going to be a monster of an interchange, when it's all said and done.
I'm from the Memphis Tennessee .
@FreewayAndrew Thank you!
Hello from Kansas 🇺🇸
Hello from Metro Atlanta.
@mgk920 That's the one! I wasn't completely sure if that was the final decision, but I thought it represented the option that made the most sense. Thanks!
as an ex-truck driver, I can answer that. Yes, you will normally find a weigh station just across the state line any state you travel into.
Bro I used to live in Memphis. I used to go on those bridges all the time.
good drive--it does get boring on I-55 north of Memphis
No south of Memphis on 55 is the most boring 350 miles of boring Mississippi to get back to louisiana
BNforever2009 boring on North 55 is good. It means I can loosen my grip on the wheel and chill, jam to my music because I'm leaving behind the stress of the city. And yes South 55 can be a chill drive too. I know because I've done both.
Yep!!! Going back from Little Rock to Northern Indiana isn’t really much to see.
@ScrewdUPClickV2 Thanks!
@FreewayAndrew Thanks!
@eluko79 Thank you! Shoot there are 2-3 places where I-70 is one lane, including STL, that's 1950's engineering for ya.
@marrinohio I have another Memphis video from 2010 that you might enjoy as well (a different route). Check my catalog.
It looked like there's a pedestrian lane on the I-55 bridge, but I couldn't see where it goes when the bridge ends.
@CosmoPhotography Thanks, the area where the Gibson Factory was, next to the Fedex Forum downtown was OK, but overall, it's just not an impressive place.
@Freewayjim Just out of curiosity, did you upgrade to the new Final Cut Pro X and if so, what are your thoughts on it? My hope is that it offers some less compressed format than that stupid log and transfer. The mini-DV camcorders are almost impossible to find too. Although my forthcoming Pentax K-5 DSLR shoots in an Apple-friendly file format so I might just use that if I decide to start filming again.
Hey Jim:
Dad here...Watching the video, I wish I could heal this thing right now! driving is in the blood....Are you sure this group didn't change it's name from Santana...sure sounds alot like them! Actually thought it was the intro to "Black Magic woman" at the start...great shots and choice of music. Road looks rather familiar!!!
@3.30, is that a weigh station/check point for trucks? and if so does each state border have one? thanks, great soundtrack too by the way, love the night drives the best!
@jenzeppelin Thank you!
@Paligurl123 Well, not all 300+ videos but if you check the dates on the uploads you'll get an idea. I did about 45 or so videos on this years trip.
@colinstu Filmed it a week ago tonight in fact.
@CAMINOANDALUZ Yeah, it is pretty neat, thanks!
@js30blackhawks2010 Thanks! LOL, I never thought of it that way but you have a point.
@jaquette97 We went to the Gibson Guitar Factory downtown, which is worth seeing, drove a few city streets to get back to the highway and aside from Riverside Drive I was not too impressed.
@aswchris: I just downloaded the track. Good vibes from this song!
When I'm on a long trip I have to take what I can get.
@wceagle4life I believe that TDOT has settled on a plan that has I-55 curving through that area on a new four-lane high-speed curve with the rest of the interchange being on and off ramps from I-55 meeting the streets at a large roundabout. I also seem to recall that very little new ROW will be needed to do that.
Mike
@colinstu I filmed the Marquette as well as I-794, day AND night, coming soon :)
@jaquette97 Thank you on the music :)
Even thought the Hernando-Desoto Bridge opened in 1973, folks around here still call it 'the new bridge' :)
@FreewayTitan Thanks, it seems to work.
@0marigolds Thank you for turning me on to that super awesome song :)
@mutt1256 Thank you!
@lakebay972 Thanks!
@aswchris YT user 0Marigolds turned me on to it, I wanted something bluesy for Memphis, thanks!
@Paligurl123 ??? all my videos for 2011 are finished, not sure where I'll go in 2012.
@Paligurl123 No, not nearly as much as I like, maybe one good trip a year.
I like the logo and tag line; however, when I see "FWJ," I think of a sports franchise in Fort Worth (Fort Worth Jets or something like that). The music is great. All it needs is some conga drums and it'll really be Santana. Again, great work.
They are going to redo the I-55/EH Crump/Riverside Drive interchange. Thank goodness.
Jim, TDOT has already set plans in motion for a flyover interchange at the old bridge in Memphis.....within the decade, that funky Crump Blvd. intersection will be no more.
I don't know, maybe someday if it happens to be on the way to somewhere else I'm going.
@Paligurl123 LOL, nah, I travel with too much gear :)
Hopefully, they'll made a project of I-55.
Isn’t this your Last Video in Arkansas? Why don’t you make Videos in that State anymore?
I never have a reason to go through Arkansas.
@@Freewayjim You could’ve went through Arkansas on your 2019 Trip instead of Louisiana. But that’s Fine anyways.
@@SlowedByCinnamxn I had to stop in Dauphin Island Alabama on that trip so no, you don't know what's involved with all the trips and planning so please don't assume things.
WOW MEMPHIS LOOKS WAY COOL
@tanya45100 Thank you!
@wceagle4life Good stuff! thanks for the insight.
@cadmusdixon92 Thanks!
@Paligurl123 My favorite city to visit and photo/video is Pittsburgh. As far as states, West Virginia, Georgia & Texas probably have the best roads.
Since the other two legs of the I-55 cloverleaf are surface streets, they should just build a single long flyover to ensure continuous flow on I-55 and replace the other ramps with just a Parclo (with traffic signals). Unfortunately, that neighborhood at the river to the south of the bridge creates problems with the angle of the freeway. Many houses would need to be removed. Also Exit 12C should be eliminated.
Thanks for those maps in the beginning. Interesting to see how their system progressed over the years. Yeah, I think I-55 thru western Memphis qualifies for ugliest looking urban interstate, or at least it's right up there. I still haven't seen a more outdated ramp to continue driving along a major interstate highway in this country, but interesting, none the less. Looking forward to your St. Louis videos.
At least they are finally done with the Mallory Ave. Interchange
The junction at Mallory was the worst design possible when the freeway first opened. The on ramps there were ridiculously short and made it very hard to merge properly. Fixed over thirty years later.
they need more lanes in Memphis
People complain about the road and freeway system in Memphis, but if they have traveled to other cities such as Indianapolis, they will find that while the freeway system is okay, the surface streets are a mess. In Memphis under "Boss Crump", the city started building a network of surface streets long before the interstates. They normally build the streets there before the developments arrive. People would complain about a new six lane street with sidewalks, but no homes or businesses on either side of the road.
The Memphis & AR Bridge is so weird. The design itself which I don’t even like and it carries 1 Interstate, 4 US Routes and 1 TN State route which is a big concurrency.
At least it is a four lane bridge, two lanes in each direction. There are two railroad bridges adjacent to this bridge, the Frisco RR and Rock Island RR bridges, one which was a two lane wooden deck bridge with the two single lanes separated by the tracks in the middle. Keep in mind the next bridges over the Mississippi River up north at that time was the US 60 & 62 bridge at Cairo, IL and the US 82 bridge at Greenville, MS... Long before the I-155 bridge at Dyersburg, and the US 49 bridge at Helena, AR. The Memphis & AR I-55 bridge was completed in 1949. The I-40 bridge was completed in 1973...
Freeways are braylens favorite roads
The upgrade to I-55 is coming.
April 2020 ... Still not done. They had a plan and were going to build it in 2016, but because the plan would close the I-55 bridge for nine months they halted it at the last minute. The new design was great for I-55 providing a direct north/south connection across the bridge, but in my opinion a planned traffic circle at the Riverside/ Crump Blvd and access to the old French Fort neighborhood was awful and I hope they fix it in the redesign.
Tell me are you a christian child and I said: MAAAAAAAAAAM I AAAAAAAM TONIGHT! DA DA DA DA MEMPHIS :) :D
Tudringram
Sorry, that was boring
What do you expect from that part of the country? people still want to see it though, can't please everyone.
@@Freewayjim That part of the country ??
@@debbywilkins2239 Yes, the southern part of the midwest is not very interesting in general.
@@Freewayjim I Miss You
@@DrakeJones-ys3sf Thanks, just haven't traveled much recently.