Nashville Interstate 40 Traffic 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 5, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The interstate will reopen no later than 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 8, 2009.  

 

“This work would take numerous weekends of one lane closures to complete if we did not do a complete closure of the area,” said TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges. “Closing the area completely allows our crews to perform more work in a shorter period of time and is actually safer for both the workers and the traveling public. We will again make every effort to notify the public through a variety of sources and will make sure the detour routes are clearly marked.”

 

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. Due to the nature of the repairs, it will be necessary to have periodic closures on 2nd Avenue, 4th Avenue, and Lafayette at different 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.

 

Another closure of I-40 Westbound to make concrete repairs is planned to take place after the CMA and Bonnaroo Music Festivals in mid-June. Crews will complete any remaining repairs to the I-40 Westbound Bridge over Lafayette Street and will also make repairs to the Interstate 40 West Bridge over 8th Avenue. 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, as well as a map showing the messages that will be displayed on overhead and portable message boards over the weekend. 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.

 

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For more information contact:
BJ Doughty

TDOT Region 3 Community Relations Officer
615-350-4302