Tennessee Highway 2

Single digit state highway signs are some of the toughest to find. They tend to mark what the state originally considered the most important routes across Tennessee, but usually become bundled with U.S. routes. The state markers were systematically removed so to not confuse motorists. As of today, I have found signs of 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 & 8.

The best that I can tell, TN2 was the route from Nashville to Chattanooga. This route was originally the Dixie Highway but eventually became the important US41. When Interstate 24 was constructed, that alleviated traffic off of US41/TN2. After Chattanooga, TN2 went to Knoxville.

There are only so many ways you can get down off of Monteagle. Interstate 24 on the east side of Monteagle became where US41 had been, and US41 between Monteagle and Jasper were reroute through Tracy City over what used to by TN150. In the 80's, road officials felt both directions of I-24 going through that area wasn't getting the job done and a massive construction project was done for new eastbound lanes coming down the mountain. Now the westbound lanes going up the hill is what the Dixie Highway / US41/US64/TN2 Used to be.

Once you're at the base of the incline, TN2 is still there, as it parallels I24 from exits 143 to 152. I would suspect this highway now gets very little traffic, from the locals and from roadgeeks like me.