Interstate 40 Traffic in Nashville Rerouted This Weekend as Bridge Repairs Continue

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Transportation crews will close a short section of Interstate 40 Westbound near downtown Nashville this weekend as a major bridge repair project continues. In order to accelerate the repairs, I-40 Westbound will close from the I-24/I-40 split near the Silliman Evans Bridge to the I-40/I-65 South split just west of the 2nd & 4th Avenue exit beginning this Friday, June 19, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The interstate will reopen no later than 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 22, 2009. 

 

During this weekend’s closure, concrete repairs will be performed on the I-40 Westbound Bridge that crosses over 2nd & 4th Avenues and Lafayette Street, as well as the I-40 Westbound Bridge that crosses over 8th Avenue. A short section of 8th Avenue, from Division Street to South Street, will be closed during the bridge repairs. A detour will be in place. There will also be periodic closures on 2nd and 4th Avenues and Lafayette Street at various times over the weekend.

 

TDOT will use the many overhead message boards across the city to direct motorists around the closure. Several portable message boards will also be placed at strategic points on Nashville interstates to alert drivers of detour routes. Most of the traffic will be diverted to Interstate 440 or I-24 West on the north side of downtown Nashville. TDOT HELP trucks and Metro Nashville Police will be working all weekend to keep detour routes clear of crashes or other delays. In addition, information on the closure will be broadcast on the TDOT SmartWAY Highway Advisory Radio station (1680 AM) and on 511.

 

The bridge repairs are being performed in conjunction with a project to resurface a section of Interstate 40 in downtown Nashville. New asphalt will be placed on I-40 from the I-40/I-65 split just west of downtown to just past the I-40/I-24 split on the southeast side of Nashville.

 

Attached to this release is a map detailing the westbound closure. For more information on this or any other TDOT road construction project or for weather-related road closure information, visit the TDOT Web site's dynamic TDOT SmartWay Information System at http://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. TDOT is also on Twitter. For up to date traffic information for the Nashville area follow Nashville511 on Twitter or follow TN511 for statewide updates.