The route was integrated into the Interstate System as part of I-75, and the southern terminus was the end of a concurrency with I-40 and I-75.

Work on most of the route began in March 1958, and the first section, located between I-40 and Baxter Avenue, opened on October 28, 1960, after several delays.

[8][9] On December 6, 1979, TDOT submitted an application to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), requesting relocation of I-75 onto the then-underconstruction western leg of I-640 and renumbering of the route between I-40 and I-640/I-75 as I-275.

The application cited the shorter distance and fewer number of interchanges that through traffic on I-75 would be required to traverse.

[13][14] Between December 1, 2006, and January 26, 2008, the existing cloverleaf exits (1A–B, 1C–D, 2A–B) were replaced with traditional diamond interchanges to add a continuous third lane in each direction.