SPECIAL TRAFFIC ALERT - KNOX/JEFFERSON/HAMBLEN/HAWKINS COUNTY
Friday, January 21, 2011 | 10:36am
Generator Transport Route, Days 1-3
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Motorists in Knox, Jefferson, Hamblen, and Hawkins Counties should expect delays on some state routes as a large generator is slowly transported by Barnhart Crane and Rigging Company through East Tennessee.
The generator and transportation rigging is 22 feet wide, 345 feet long and will take up at least two travel lanes. The hauling rig, trucks and generator combined weigh an estimated 660 tons. In order to safely move the massive structure, crews will only drive between 5 to 10 miles per hour with law enforcement escorts.
The transport of the oversized load will begin on Saturday, January 22 at 6:00 a.m.
Weather permitting, the transport will travel from:
· Pickle Lane to North National Drive
· North National Drive to State Route 168 (John Sevier Highway)
o Portions of John Sevier Highway will be closed from National Drive to Strawberry Plains Pike.
· John Sevier Highway to Strawberry Plains Pike; transport will crossover I-40 at the Strawberry Plains Interchange
o Sections of Strawberry Plains Pike from John Sevier Highway to Interstate 40; and from I-40 to Asheville Highway will be temporarily closed during the transport
o Ramps onto eastbound I-40 will be closed temporarily during the crossover
o A rolling road block for both east and westbound I-40 traffic will be utilized during crossover
o The convoy will then proceed back onto Strawberry Plains Pike
· Strawberry Plains Pike to Kitts Rd. to US 11E (Andrew Johnson Highway) into Jefferson City
o No access will be allowed onto Strawberry Plains Pike until the transport has passed through
· Day 1 transport ends in Jefferson City at the G.W. Wyatt Offices
Traffic engineers estimate it will take the generator approximately nine hours to travel the 26 mile route that will begin at 6:00 a.m.
On Sunday, January 23, the transport will resume at 9:00 p.m. and will travel from:
· G.W. Wyatt Offices on U.S. 11E (Andrew Johnson Highway)
· U.S. 11E (Andrew Johnson Highway) in Jefferson City to the City of Morristown
o Traffic on eastbound U.S. 11E will be delayed from Jefferson City into Morristown
· Right onto State Route 474 (Merchants Greene) and proceed to intersection with State Route 160
· Left onto State Route 160 and proceed to interchange with US 25E / State Route 160
o Traffic on eastbound SR 160 will be delayed in Morristown
· A rolling roadblock will be put into effect on US 25E to allow the transport to make a left turn northbound onto the southbound ramp as the transporter is too tall to make it under the US 25E bridge to use the northbound ramp.
· The transporter will continue northbound on US 25E in the southbound lanes until the convoy crosses over into the northbound lanes just north of Fish Hatchery road via a median break. The rolling roadblock will remain in effect on US 25E until the transporter crosses back over into the correct northbound lanes.
· Transport will continue northbound on US25E until exiting eastbound onto E. Morris Blvd to Day 2 Stop Point in Morristown Industrial Park.
Traffic engineers estimate it will take the generator approximately nine hours to travel the 19 mile route that will begin at 9:00 p.m.
On Monday, January 24, the transport will resume at 9:00 p.m. and will travel from:
· Morristown Industrial Park on E. Morris Blvd. in the City of Morristown
o Traffic on eastbound E. Morris Blvd. will be delayed in Morristown
o Police will be stationed at intersections to control traffic and prevent traffic from turning westbound
· Transport leaves Morristown Industrial Park on E. Morris Blvd. making a left onto Shelby Williams Lane and then a right onto US11E (Andrew Johnson Highway)
o The convoy will take the entire pavement width of US11E
o The westbound traffic on U.S. 11E will be temporarily closed as the convoy proceeds
o Police will be stationed at intersections to control traffic and prevent traffic from turning westbound
o Westbound truck traffic will be stopped and rerouted at the intersections with State Highways 113 and 66 as the convoy proceeds eastbound on US11E
· Transporter will go over a Bridge Jump at Caney Fork Creek on US11E (Andrew Johnson Highway)
and continue through Bulls Gap on US11E.
o US11E (Andrew Johnson Highway) will be temporarily closed to traffic while bridge jump setup in place
o Bridge jump setup and US11E closure will begin Monday, January 24 morning at 9:00 a.m. and will remain in place for 24-hrs until Tuesday, January 25.
· The convoy will make a left onto State Route 66 (N. Main Street) in Bulls Gap and travel northbound
o The convoy will take the entire pavement width of State Route 66
o The southbound traffic on State Route 66 will be temporarily closed as the convoy proceeds northboun
o Police will be stationed at intersections to control traffic and prevent traffic from turning southbound
o Southbound truck traffic will be stopped at Cherokee High School until the convoy passes through to State Route 70
· The convoy will make a right onto State Route 70 and travel eastbound
o The convoy will take the entire pavement width of State Route 70
o The westbound traffic on State Route 66 will be temporarily closed as the convoy proceeds eastbound
o Police will be stationed at intersections to control traffic and prevent traffic from turning westbound
· Transporter will make a left turn onto Old Persian Road and then a right onto Old Tennessee 70 progressing into the TVA plant completing the route.
o The convoy will take the entire pavement width of these roads
o Police will be stationed at intersections to control traffic and prevent traffic from turning into the convoy
Traffic engineers estimate it will take the generator up to nine hours to travel the 20 mile route from Morristown to the TVA site in Rogersville.
A map of the entire route is attached to this release.
** MEDIA NOTE: Questions about the movement of the large generator should be directed to Ragan Watson with Barnhart Crane and Rigging Company at 901-271-6516.
For up to date travel information, motorists may dial 5-1-1 from any land line or cell phone or follow TDOT on Twitter. For traffic information in Knoxville and Tri-Cities areas follow @Knoxville511. For statewide travel information follow @TN511.
As always, motorists are encouraged to check traffic conditions before leaving home. Drivers should never text, tweet or use a cell phone when behind the wheel.