Southern Railway's last passenger service. Extended to North Road Street by 1973, to Main and Market Streets by 1975, to South Roan Street at Plymouth Road by 1978, and to the Unicoi County Line by 1983. 1972 - 1973 University Parkway opened. Southern Railway station demolished for construction of Downtown Loop. Congress approves reconstruction plans for Mountain Home Veterans Administration Center in tandem with College of Medicine projects.
Planning begins for new roadway system to serve medical facilities.
Johnson City Medical Center Hospital completed adjacent to Veterans Administration complex and new College of Medicine forming third anchor of medical complex. 1979-1980 First phases of State of Franklin Road open near ETSU's Minidome and new Johnson City Medical Center Hospital. 1982 Tennessee Department of Transportation assists local governments of Washington and Carter Counties to form Johnson City Metropolitan Transportation Organization to coordinate transportation planning and resource management of state and federal transportation programs. Region qualifies for wider range of federal and state gas tax assistance for transportation improvements. 1986 US 23 officially redesignated as Interstate 181.