The Tennessee Valley Authority will be transporting a large transformer to the Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Facility in Hamilton County on Sunday. Moving this oversize load will require temporary lane closures on I-24 near Exit 174 beginning at 7 a.m.
On Sunday morning, Edwards Moving & Rigging, the company that will be performing the move, will close the inside (fast) lane on I-24 East and West at mile marker 174 to remove the cable guardrail and to construct a median crossover for the truck that will haul the transformer. As soon as the median crossover construction is complete, the transformer will be moved. During the move, TDOT HELP trucks and vehicles from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will pace traffic on I-24 as the load is moved across the interstate and onto U.S. 41 at the Tiftonia exit.
After the transformer has been moved across the interstate, the inside lane on I-24 East and West will remain closed while the median crossover is removed and the cable guardrail restored. All lanes should be reopened to traffic by noon at the latest.
Motorists are urged to be alert and watch for changing conditions on I-24 as this equipment is moved through the area. Drivers who usually use U.S. 41 in the Tiftonia area should be aware that the traffic on U.S. 41 will also be affected as the large load is taken to the Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Facility.
From a desktop or mobile device, the public can get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or Chattanooga area alerts @Chattanooga511 or any of TDOT’s other Twitter pages.