The Tennessee Department of Transportation has begun a resurfacing project on I-24 in Marion and Hamilton counties that includes concrete bridge deck repairs. This weekend is one of the weekends that the contractor has scheduled to perform these repairs. From Friday, at 10 p.m. until Monday, at 6 a.m., the contractor will have interstate lane closures for concrete bridge deck repairs in the area between mile markers 162 and 163. Crews will begin their bridge deck repair work on I-24 West, and, if time allows, they will work on the bridges on I-24 East. Although one lane will remain open to traffic at all times during the weekend bridge deck repair operations, a major traffic impact is expected during this work.
The project area is approximately six miles in length and begins at the end of the Tennessee River Bridge at Nickajack Lake in Marion County near mile marker 161 and extends through a 0.31-mile section of I-24 in Hamilton County to the Georgia State Line near mile marker 167. This is a nighttime resurfacing operation, and work will occur on both sides of the interstate simultaneously. Milling and paving operations requiring interstate lane closures are limited to Sunday through Thursday nights between 9:00 p.m. and 6 a.m. However, there are at least four weekends when the contractor will be allowed to have weekend lane closures to perform concrete bridge deck repairs.
The contractor for this project is Talley Construction Company, Inc. from Rossville, and the estimated completion date for the $5.2-million project is on or before Sept. 15.
Motorists who must travel through the project area during this time are advised to plan ahead and expect delays. TDOT asks drivers to use caution and be alert to changing traffic conditions in the work zone. Local traffic may wish to use alternate routes. The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be on-site in the work zone to assist with traffic control as the work is being performed.
Should inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances delay this work, it will be rescheduled to take place at a later date.
For travel information visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway or call 5-1-1. You can also receive traffic alerts via TDOT’s multiple Twitter feeds, including statewide traffic tweets @TN511 or Chattanooga area alerts @Chattanooga511.
Android and iPhone users can download TDOT’s SmartWay Mobile App to assist them in navigating Tennessee highways. The app provides up-to-the-minute customized traffic information and enables the user to access TDOT’s SmartWay cameras, messages displayed on overhead Dynamic Message Signs, and information on construction related lane closures and incidents on interstates and state routes. The TDOT SmartWay App is free and available for download in the Apple App Store and Play Store for Android.
As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.