TDOT to Raise Weight Restriction on State Route 33 Bridge in Union County

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After a week of repair and reinforcement work, the Tennessee Department of Transportation will raise the weight restriction to 35 tons on the State Route 33 Bridge in Union County. TDOT weight posted the bridge at 10 tons on Thursday, October 21 after discovering an increase in deterioration under the bridge. TDOT’s bridge repair crews have now added new supports to the bridge to provide added stability on the structure and are adding material to prevent further corrosion under the bridge. This is similar to repairs recently made to the U.S. 41 Bridge in Marion County.

 

With new repairs in place, TDOT will increase the weight restriction to 35 tons for trucks with five axles, 22 tons for vehicles with three and four axles and 20 tons for two axle vehicles beginning Monday, October 25, 2010.

 

Construction is currently underway on a new bridge to replace the aging truss structure and is scheduled for completion in 2012.

 

Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers will still be posted on either side of the bridge to prevent overweight vehicles from crossing.

 

Detours are still in place for heavy loads over 35 tons.

·         Southbound traffic on the north side of the bridge traveling to the Maynardville area should follow South US 25E in Tazewell to Bean Station and take South US 11W to Blaine and follow SR 61 West to Luttrell, take SR 131 South (Tazewell Pike) to SR 144 West (Ailor Gap Rd.) to SR 33 in Maynardville. 

·         Southbound traffic on the north side of the bridge traveling to the Knoxville area should follow South US 25E in Tazewell to Bean Station and take South US 11W to Blaine and continue on South US 11W to Interstate 40. 

·         Northbound traffic on the south side of the bridge in the Knoxville area should follow I-40 to North US 11W (Rutledge Pike) to Bean Station and take North US 25E to Tazewell.

·         Northbound traffic on the south side of the bridge in the Maynardville area should take SR 144 East (Ailor Gap Rd.) to SR 131 North (Tazewell Pike) to SR 61 in Luttrell and follow SR 61 East to North US 11W in Blaine. Follow North US 11W to Bean Station and take North US 25E to Tazewell.

 

For information on travel conditions across the state visit www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway or call 5-1-1 from any cell or land line phone. For statewide traffic alerts follow TDOT on Twitter @TN511 or follow @Knoxville511 for East Tennessee area travel alerts.

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Media Contact:
Yvette Martinez
TDOT Community Relations Officer
Yvette.Martinez@tn.gov