East Tennessee drivers, brace yourselves for a slew of construction projects that could impact your travel plans between July 4-10, 2024. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has released its weekly construction report, detailing various roadworks that will necessitate lane closures and likely delays across several counties.
In Anderson County, I-75 will be subject to evening lane closures for resurfacing, while parts of SR 62 and SR 95 will also see nighttime work, warning motorists to "expect potential delays during peak travel times, be alert for slow or stopped traffic, and use extreme caution through this area." Similarly, Blount County travelers on US 321/SR 73, US 411 South, and the SR 334 bridge should be ready for nighttime disruptions and slow traffic, as per the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Campbell County's I-75 and SR 9 Bridge over Cove Lake will face closures and lane reductions, with guardrail repairs and bridge repairs respectively, potentially causing traffic to tread gently through these zones. For locals commuting through Claiborne County, SR 63 is on the list for daytime lane closures, imposing their versions of travel throttles.
Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, and Hancock counties aren't exempt either, with various state routes facing routine maintenance, intersection improvements, and, in a heavy blow, SR 33 closure due to bridge replacement efforts. TDOT advises a customary caution in these areas, compounded by attention to detour signs especially on Greasy Creek's compromised bridge.
As for Knox County, it's a cornucopia of construction, with an array of interstates and state routes including I-140 East, I-75, and I-640, all under the knife for ITS installations, resurfacing, and utility work; hence expect the rolling roadblocks and workers present, slow traffic on the weekends of July 13th and 14th. These vital veins of Knox will be narrowed by necessity, as updates and upkeep are underway, likely leading to lagging commutes.
Not to be outdone in infrastructure endeavors, Sullivan, Union, and Washington counties each have their share of revamps and resurfacing, ensuring that drivers must navigate a labyrinth of lane closures and shifts. Whether it is the bridge repairs over South Fork Holston River or the widening project on SR 33, the common thread is the explicit call for vigilance.
