Tennessee State Route 43 (SR 43) is a state‑maintained highway in West Tennessee that serves as the unsigned, or “hidden,” state designation for the U.S. Highway 45 (US 45) corridor throughout the state. While the route itself is not signed, the physical roadway is signed as US 45, and SR 43 is used internally by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for administrative and maintenance purposes.
Route description
SR 43 begins at the Mississippi state line south of Memphis, where US 45 enters Tennessee. The highway proceeds northward through the Memphis metropolitan area, continuing through the cities of Millington, Brownsville, Bolivar, and Jackson. In the Jackson area, the route intersects major east–west corridors such as US 70, US 64, and Interstate 40 (I‑40). From Jackson, SR 43 continues northward, ultimately terminating at the Kentucky state line near South Fulton, where the roadway continues as US 45 toward Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Length
The total length of SR 43, corresponding to the length of US 45 within Tennessee, is approximately 160 mi (about 258 km). Exact mileage figures are maintained by TDOT and may be updated periodically.
History
SR 43 was established in the early 1920s as part of Tennessee’s original state highway system. When the U.S. Numbered Highway System was introduced in 1926, US 45 was overlaid on the existing SR 43 alignment. Since then, the route has remained largely unchanged, serving as a primary north–south arterial corridor for the western portion of the state.
Function and administration
As an unsigned state route, SR 43 does not appear on public road signage; travelers see only US 45 markers. TDOT uses the SR 43 designation for tasks such as pavement maintenance, traffic monitoring, and funding allocation. The route is classified as a primary state highway for the majority of its length, reflecting its importance to regional mobility and commerce.
Major intersections
| Location | Milepost* | Intersecting routes |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi state line | 0.0 | US 45 (southern terminus) |
| Memphis | — | I‑55, I‑240, US 61/64/70 (concurrency with US 45) |
| Brownsville | — | US 278, SR 369 |
| Bolivar | — | US 64, SR 125 |
| Jackson | — | US 70, US 64, I‑40, SR 16 |
| South Fulton | — | US 45 (continues to Kentucky) |
*Mileage is measured along the US 45 alignment; specific SR 43 milepost data are maintained by TDOT.
Signage
Throughout its corridor, SR 43 is unsigned; the route is identified to motorists solely by US 45 shields. This practice is common in Tennessee for state routes that overlay U.S. Highways.
References
Information about SR 43 is derived from TDOT highway logs, the Tennessee Official Transportation Map, and the United States Highway System documentation.
