Motorists in Williamson County, brace yourselves for delays. The state's transportation chiefs have announced that part of I-840 is going down to a single lane for bridge repairs, and it's gonna last three long months. According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), the lane closure affects the eastbound bridge at mile marker 28, which was recently damaged by the CSX crew's railroad work gone wrong.

The bridge took a hit on Tuesday, prompting an immediate shutdown by TDOT while their inspection teams took a good look at the damage. Inspectors later gave the thumbs up to part of the bridge, declaring it safe for folks to use, but it's a no-go for the right lane until repairs are wrapped up. TDOT has put Bell and Associates Construction on speed dial with an emergency repair contract, and they've planned a traffic shift to reopen at least one lane during the dead of night.

For those used to hopping off at Exit 23, the detour at State Route 246 / Carters Creek Pike is staying put until TDOT manages to shuffle traffic around tonight. Once they’ve got the lane restrictions figured out, they'll be in cahoots with Bell Construction and CSX to tackle a repair job that’s expected to drag on for a quarter of a year. While they promise to keep one lane rolling for the most part, don't be shocked by the occasional full bridge closure when serious work is going down.

In the name of safety and getting things done pronto, TDOT says they're pulling out all the stops to fix up the bridge while trying not to turn your commute into a total nightmare. Just remember heavy-footed drivers, to ease up on the gas and give workers a break in those work zones. Flouting Tennessee's Move Over Law passed back in 2006, might land you a cool 30 days behind bars and a fine that could set you back $500.

Last but not least, if you're hankering for a traffic scoop to help you dodge the worst of it, take a peek at the TDOT SmartWay map or dial-up 511 for the latest statewide info.