TDOT Advises Motorists to Expect Delays on Mississippi River Bridges

Memphis, Tenn. — Motorists using either of the Mississippi River Bridges between Memphis and Arkansas should expect delays overnight Monday, April 28 and Tuesday April 29.  The Tennessee Department of Transportation will stop traffic on the approaches of the Interstate 40 (Hernando Desoto Bridge) and the Interstate 55 Bridge for thirty minutes intervals between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 5 a.m.  The delays are necessary so crews can install new overhead message boards. 

“Our goal is to get these message boards erected in a timely manner, with the least amount of impact to motoring pubic,” said TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges. “Safety is our number one concern for our crews as well as drivers using the Mississippi River Bridges.  During these lane closures we urge motorists to drive safely and be alert.”

The overhead message boards will be part of the new TDOT SmartWay system in Memphis.  The $31.5 million project includes a new Traffic Management Center, 39 additional overhead message boards, 90 additional traffic cameras, and 16 highway advisory radio transmitters.  When complete the system will have a total of 115 traffic cameras, 42 overhead message boards and a city-wide highway advisory radio system.  Work on the system is expected to be complete by October 2008.

For more information on this or any other TDOT road construction project or for weather-related road closure information, visit TDOT’s SmartWay Information System website at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone to access valuable information about travel conditions anytime, or log on to www.TN511.com.

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Contact:
Pamela Marshall
TDOT Community Relations Officer
Pamela.Marshall@state.tn.us
901-685-3920