Traffic Shift Planned for Sam Cooper Boulevard as I-40 Wolf River Bridge Construction Continues

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will shift eastbound traffic on Sam Cooper Boulevard in Shelby County to allow for ongoing construction of the Interstate 40 Wolf River Bridge. Once the shift is in place, the new traffic pattern will remain in place until bridge construction is complete.

Beginning Sunday, March 13, 2016, at 6:00 a.m., the new traffic pattern will be as follows:

• Sam Cooper Boulevard eastbound lanes will shift into a new lane onto I-40 East over the Wolf River Bridge

The traffic shift on Sam Cooper Boulevard is part of a series of shifts that began earlier this month, when I-40 eastbound was reduced to three lanes and all traffic shifted to the new outside lanes. The I-240 East to I-40 East ramp was also reduced to one lane. The new I-40 East flyover remains one lane with one lane for Sam Cooper Boulevard.

The work is part of the ongoing I-40/I-240 interchange project, which includes reconstruction of the Wolf River Bridge. The new configuration will allow crews to safely continue bridge removal and rebuild the inside lanes of the bridge. This final phase of bridge construction is estimated to be complete in the fall of 2016. The entire interchange project is scheduled to be completed July 2017.

Motorists traveling on Sam Cooper Boulevard, I-40 or I-240 should be aware of the traffic shifts. All drivers are reminded the speed limit in the work zone near Sam Cooper Boulevard is 20 mph.

The scheduled closures are weather dependent.  Should inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances prevent work from occurring as scheduled, the work will be rescheduled to Monday, March 14, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or for West Tennessee follow https://twitter.com/NicLawrenceTDOT.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination.  Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

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