Lane Shift Scheduled for I-24 East as Chattanooga Bridge Project Wraps Up

CHATTANOOGA - The Tennessee Department of Transportation is planning a weekend traffic shift that will impact travelers on I-24 East at the U.S. 27 Interchange in downtown Chattanooga on December 4 - 5, 2010. Crews will shift traffic back onto I-24 eastbound over U.S. 27 North. Traffic is currently detoured around the project at the Broad Street Exit (Exit 178) on I-24. The detour has been in place since August 23 while crews made repairs to the I-24 East Bridge over U.S. 27.

 

Crews will be working throughout the weekend to remove temporary concrete barriers and temporary pavement markings in preparation for the shift on Sunday.  Work crews will be placing new asphalt pavement in the area of the Broad Street Exit to remove the old pavement markings and striping used for the detour.

 

As part of this operation, U.S. 27 South traffic will be detoured to the Browns Ferry Exit (Exit 175) on I-24 from 10 p.m. EST Saturday until the early morning hours on Sunday.  This temporary detour of U.S. 27 South traffic will allow the work crews to complete this major traffic shift in a timely manner.

 

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will assist with traffic control during the work and detours will be posted and new overhead signage installed. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times. Motorists are encouraged to be alert as they travel through the area this weekend and to expect possible delays late Saturday/early Sunday.

 

Mountain States, LLC is the prime contractor for this project that rehabilitated the bridge on I‑24 East over the U.S.-27 ramp to I-24 East (mile markers 177 to179) and the bridge on South Seminole Drive over I-24 (mile markers 181 to 183). The $2.8 million project is funded through TDOT’s Better Bridges Program, which will enable TDOT to replace, repair or rehabilitate 200 state-owned structurally deficient bridges in Tennessee by 2013.

 

For more information on road conditions in Tennessee, please visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/ or call 5-1-1 from any land-line or cell phone. TDOT is also on Twitter.  For travel alerts in the Chattanooga area follow @Chattanooga511 or follow @TN511 for statewide alerts. 

Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly. Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle. TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for your destination.

 

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For more information contact:
Jennifer A. Flynn
TDOT Region Two Community Relations Officer
Jennifer.Flynn@tn.gov
423-510-1164