Editing Interstate 26 (section)

===Interstate 181===
{{Infobox road small
|state=TN
|type=I
|route=181
|formed=1985
|deleted=2007
|location=[[Johnson City, Tennessee|Johnson City]]–[[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport]], Tennessee
|length_mi=23.85
|length_ref=<ref>{{google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-26+W&daddr=US-23+N&hl=en&ll=36.414652,-82.350769&spn=0.481288,0.891953&sll=36.308187,-82.337701&sspn=0.003765,0.006968&geocode=FQsGKgIdCJ4X-w%3BFffOLQIdM-YT-w&mra=me&mrsp=0,1&sz=18&t=p&z=11|title=Interstate 181 (Tennessee)|access-date=December 2, 2013 |link= no}}</ref>
}}

'''Interstate&nbsp;181''' ('''I-181''') was established in December 1985 as an Interstate designation of [[U.S. Route 23 in Tennessee|US&nbsp;23]], which was already built to Interstate standards in the 1970s. In Tennessee, I-181 traversed from [[U.S. Route 321|US&nbsp;321]]/[[Tennessee State Route 67|State Route&nbsp;67]] (SR&nbsp;67), in Johnson City, to [[U.S. Route 11W|US&nbsp;11W]]/[[Tennessee State Route 1|SR&nbsp;1]], in Kingsport, totaling {{convert|23.85|mi|km}}. US&nbsp;23 continued on both directions as Interstate grade to the Virginia line to the north and {{convert|15|mi|km}} south to [[Erwin, Tennessee|Erwin]]; by 1992, US&nbsp;23 was upgraded to Interstate grade south to Sam's Gap at the North Carolina line. All exit numbers were based on US&nbsp;23 mileage. On August 5, 2003, after completion of a {{convert|9|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} section in North Carolina, I-26 was extended west into Tennessee, replacing I-181 from Johnson City to [[Interstate 81|I-81]]; north of I-81, I-181 continued into Kingsport.<ref name=allen>{{cite news |url= http://www.mountainx.com/article/11472/The-political-history-of-I-26 |title= The Political History of I-26 |access-date= December 2, 2013 |date= July 16, 2003 |work= Mountain Xpress |first=Calvin |last=Allen |location= Asheville, NC}}</ref><ref name=AASHT2003>{{AASHTO minutes |year= 2003S |page= 11 |access-date= December 2, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AASHTO2006>{{AASHTO minutes |year= 2006S |page= 1 |access-date= December 2, 2013}}</ref>

The [[American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials]] (AASHTO) initially ruled against an extension of I-26 (as the number) along the remainder of I-181 to Kingsport since that would give a main route Interstate Highway (I-26) a so-called "stub end", not connecting to any other Interstate Highway, an international border, or a seacoast. In 2005, the numerical extension was enacted by the effect of the [[Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users]] (SAFETEA-LU), being signed into law on August 10. In March 2007, I-181 was officially decommissioned, as all signs and exit numbers were changed over to I-26's designation.<ref name=allen/><ref name=AASHT2003/><ref name=AASHTO2006/>