I-40/Hernando DeSoto Seismic Retrofit Project Update for October 18

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Crews working to seismically retrofit the I-40/Hernando DeSoto Bridge over the Mississippi River in Memphis have safely and successfully installed five of six seismic bridge joints and are now beginning removal on the last seismic joint. All three new seismic expansion joints are now in place on the westbound side. Crews are finalizing the work on the westbound piers by replacing the bridge railing this week.  Once the bridge railing is back in place the deck will be restriped for traffic. On the eastbound side, crews have safely installed two new seismic expansion joints and have poured the concrete bridge deck around one new joint. Crews are in progress of replacing the second bridge deck today. The contractor continues to makes progress and has begun removing the final existing expansion joint. Final preparations for the installation of the last new seismic expansion joint are underway.

 

Traffic remains reduced to one 11-foot travel lane in each direction near exit 1. The two right (outside) lanes will be closed until completion of the project, which is currently scheduled for mid-November. All wide loads, and over height loads must utilize the I-155 Bridge in Dyersburg until completion of the current I-40 project. 

 

TDOT has created a project website, http://www.tn.gov/tdot/i40hd/, to keep the public informed about the project.

 

For up-to-date travel information visit the TDOT SmartWay website at http://www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/ or dial 5-1-1 from any land-line or cellular phone.  TDOT is also on Twitter. For traffic alerts in the Memphis area follow @Memphis511 on Twitter or follow @TN511 for statewide updates.