Here is the weekly road construction report for Hamilton County: 

I-24 resurfacing beginning at the Georgia State Line (LM 0.0/MM 171) to the bridge over Chattanooga Creek (LM 6.18/MM 177) including bridge deck repair: The contractor continues work on a resurfacing project on I-24 in Hamilton County between mile markers 171 – 177 in and around the Lookout Valley/Tiftonia area to the Georgia State Line.  This project includes resurfacing and bridge deck repairs.  Most of the work is scheduled to take place at night between the hours of 9 p.m.-6 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays.  During this report period, they will also be working on Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m.-7 a.m.  One lane will remain open to traffic at all times.  THP will assist with traffic control.  Estimated project completion date is July.  

U.S. 27 (SR-29) reconstruction project from Manufacturers Road (Olgiati Bridge over the Tennessee River) to U.S. 127 (SR-8, Signal Mountain Boulevard):  Weather permitting, the contractor will have lane closures throughout the project area on weeknights to perform road work.  They will also be working on retaining walls and bridges throughout the project area.  As Phase I of construction continues for the widening of U.S 27, the contractor will implement a new traffic pattern resulting from the closure of the Manufacturers Road entrance ramp onto U.S. 27 North and the Manning Street exit ramp from U.S. 27 North.  Both closures will take effect beginning on Wednesday evening.

The Manufacturers Road entrance ramp onto U.S. 27 North will be closed until spring 2013 to allow for construction of several retaining walls and portions of the new bridges over the railroad and Manning Street.  Motorists desiring to travel north on U.S. 27 from Manufacturers Road will be detoured to Cherokee Blvd. and provided access to U.S. 27 North through the entrance ramp on Signal Mountain Blvd.  Motorists must follow the orange “DETOUR” signs posted for this new traffic pattern.  

The Manning Street exit ramp from U.S. 27 North will be closed to allow for reconstruction of the railroad bridge.  This will be a permanent closure.  TDOT recognizes and regrets the inconvenience that these closures will impose on motorists, and thus has delayed these critical closures until absolutely necessary.  However, these closures must take place at this time to allow the project to successfully move forward.   

Also effective beginning Wednesday night, the contractor will permanently close the Whitehall Road exit ramp from U.S. 27 North.  This ramp would have been closed eventually as part of this project, but at the request of the management of the Pinnacle Condominiums, the contractor has agreed to close the ramp several months early.  The Pinnacle will soon begin construction of a new parking garage that will necessitate the closure of their main entrance while the new structure is completed.  The closure of the Pinnacle’s main entrance will require all Pinnacle residents to enter and exit the facility using the back entrance adjacent to the exit ramp from U.S. 27 North.  In the interest of safety, it was decided to implement the permanent closure of the U.S. 27 exit ramp at this time to avoid a potential conflict with vehicles entering and exiting the Pinnacle and those exiting U.S. 27 at a higher rate of speed.  THP will assist with traffic control on the project as necessary.  Estimated project completion date is October 2014.

College Drive East widening project from west of Sunkist Terrace to SR-317 (Apison Pike):  The contractor will be working on College Drive East throughout the project area placing barrier rail and installing erosion control items between 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  Flaggers will be in place to assist with traffic control.  Estimated project completion date is July. 

Shallowford Road widening project from Gunbarrel Road to Jenkins Road, including grading drainage, and paving: The contractor will be laying pipe across the roadway at several locations.  This work will be performed during the day on weekdays only.  Flaggers will be in place to assist with traffic control.  Estimated project completion date is August 2013.  

SR-60 construction of concrete slab bridge over branch (LM 0.44):  (This project is near the Meigs County Line.)  The contractor may be performing work throughout the project area between 7AM-6PM Monday through Saturday.  Flaggers will assist with traffic control.  Estimated project completion date is November. 

Shallowford Road construction of concrete Bulb-Tee beam bridge over South Chickamauga Creek (LM 4.01), including grading drainage, and paving:  The contractor is constructing the new bridge and performing grading operations.  There will be no long-term lane closures as a result of this project.  Traffic has been shifted to Phase 1 of the new bridge while the original bridge is demolished and Phase 2 is completed.  The contractor may have intermittent short-term lane closures to perform bridge work during non-peak hours.  Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed.  Estimated project completion date is August.  

U.S. 11 (SR-2, Lee Highway) construction of a concrete box beam bridge over the CSX Railroad (LM 16.25), including grading, drainage and paving:  The contractor has switched traffic on U.S. 11/Lee Hwy. northbound and southbound to the newly constructed lanes in the middle of the bridge, and work continues on the remainder of the project.  Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed.  Estimated project completion date is July.

Daugherty Ferry Road construction of a concrete box beam bridge, including grading, drainage and paving, over Sale Creek (LM 0.79):  The project to replace the truss bridge over Sale Creek is underway, and the contractor has closed Daugherty Ferry Road to traffic at the bridge for the duration of the project.  The detour route using Coulterville Road and Elesea Road will be clearly marked.  Estimated project completion date is November.