TDOT Readies for May 1 Interstate Closure

TDOT Partnering with Multiple Agencies to Keep Traffic Flowing During 14-month Closure

Knoxville, Tenn— The Tennessee Department of Transportation is now less than thirty days from the complete closure of Interstate 40 in downtown Knoxville.  Beginning May 1, I-40 between James White Parkway and Hall of Fame Drive will close for 14 months.  All I-40 traffic will be rerouted to I-640 and all I-75 traffic will be diverted to I-275.  Access to and from downtown Knoxville will be maintained throughout construction.  

Today, TDOT gathered with emergency responders from across the Knoxville area to kick off National Work Zone Awareness Week in an effort to highlight the importance of safe driving in work zones and the emergency plan for the upcoming I-40 closure. 

“During SmartFIX40 the work zone area will be significantly reduced creating a safer environment for both workers and drivers,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.  “Whether motorists are taking the detour route or driving through the project en route to downtown Knoxville, our top priority will be to keep traffic flowing.”

TDOT has worked with emergency response agencies in the Knoxville area, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Knoxville Fire Department, and Rural/Metro Ambulance Service, for many months to plan and prepare for every possible scenario that could occur during the closure.  The team developed an incident management plan to assist responders in the event that an incident shuts down one of the alternate routes during the closure.  The plan separates areas on I-640 and I-275 into zones.  Each zone has a specific alternate route to be used.
(Click Here to view the I-40 Incident Management Zones)

“It’s extremely important for motorists to be alert for all the changes that will occur in the coming weeks,” said KPD Chief Sterling Owen.   “The Knoxville Police Department will make it a priority to keep traffic running as smoothly as possible on both I-640 and I-275.  We intend to step up patrols and strictly enforce speeding and reckless driving infractions.”

In 2006, 27 people were killed in work zone crashes Tennessee and 1,680 were injured.
 
“The Tennessee Highway Patrol and State Troopers take speed enforcement in work zones very seriously,” said THP Colonel Mike Walker.  “We will be stepping up our enforcement of speed limits and citing drivers whose speeds exceed the posted limits through these zones, especially here in Knoxville during this major interstate closure.”

SmartFIX40 is TDOT’s single most expensive construction project in its 90 year history. Broken into two separate contracts, SmartFIX40 has a construction price tag of $190 million. SmartFIX40 is an accelerated construction process that involves closing a primary roadway to allow around-the-clock work that is uninterrupted by traffic in order to dramatically shorten the time it takes to complete the project, thereby reducing the long-term inconvenience to motorists. For the latest project information visit www.smartfix40.com.

Click here to view the “Work Zone Crashes Factsheet.”

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Julie A. Oaks
TDOT, Public Information Officer
 Office: 615.741.2331
Mobile: 615.533.7105
Fax: 615.741.9093