the northwest and has an interchange with Benton Pike. It then has an interchange with Overhead Bridge Road, crosses a Norfolk Southern line, and finally has an interchange with 20th Street NE, before curving again to the northwest where the freeway ends and the road becomes 25th Street, entering into the metropolis of Cleveland. The road intersects with US 11 (Ocoee Street) about a half mile (0.8 km) later and I-75 about beyond this point, continuing north eventually to Dayton. History Construction and early history The route that is now APD-40 was originally proposed and built to relieve congestion and divert commercial through traffic away from downtown Cleveland that increased as a result of industrial and residential growth. The first section, located between I-75 and South Lee Highway, was constructed at the same time as the corresponding section of I-75 between Ooltewah and northern Cleveland, and opened at the same time in October 1966. Extension of the route to US 64, a project that also included widening of US 64 in Bradley County, was authorized in January 1969. The contract for the segment between South Lee Highway and Blythe Avenue, about east of Blue Springs Road, was awarded on January 30, 1970, and construction was completed in November 1971. The contract to construct the segment between Blythe Avenue and US 64 was awarded on November 19, 1971, and the segment was opened to traffic in April 1973 and completed four months later. The final portion, located between US 64 and US 11, was authorized in December 1971. Awarded in two separate contracts, the first construction phase began in April 1973, and the second phase in February 1974. The section was opened to traffic in November 1974, and completed the following month. This section was not in the original plan; the original plan called for the road to end at US 64, but it was later decided to extend it to US 11 (Ocoee Street) and 25th Street NE, and form a complete beltway. SR 60 originally turned south about past the interchange with I-75 and went directly to downtown, but was moved to 25th Street NW in the mid 1960s after being widened, and the section of APD-40 to US 64 after opening. The first segment of APD-40 was initially signed as part of State Route 40, which is part of the origin of the name APD-40. It became known