Travelers planning to navigate through East and Middle Tennessee this week should gear up for a host of construction projects that may affect their travels. According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Cumberland and neighboring counties will see a range of activities from bridge construction to resurfacing efforts that will require lane closures, traffic stoppages, and potential delays from August 1-7.
In Cumberland County, SR-28 (US-127) is undergoing bridge construction and paving, where grading activities are causing temporary lane closures and periodic stoppages. Motorists are directed to use South Grace Hill Drive as a detour due to the closure of North Grace Hill Drive. Similarly, along SR-1 (US-HWY. 70 W.), utility work is resulting in intermittent stoppages and shoulder and lane closures, as trucks and heavy equipment will be present. The bridge over the Obed River on SR-1 (US-70) is closed with a detour in place via Northside Drive (SR-462), cautioning drivers about the route alterations.
Resurfacing projects span SR-1, SR-101, and SR-24 with contractors actively working on the roads, and flaggers on-site to manage traffic flow. Downtown pedestrian improvements along SR-28 (Main Street) have closed shoulder parking, potentially leading to lane closures. Upgrades to signaling and paving along SR-28 from SR-68 to Byrd's Creek also demand heightened vigilance from drivers due to the frequent ingress and egress of construction equipment.
Elsewhere, in Fentress County, the widening of SR-28 (US-127), from near N. Lowe Rd to north of SR-62, accompanies utility work with flaggers intermittently controlling the traffic amidst ongoing construction activities. In Jackson County, rockfall mitigation on SR-135 has necessitated a complete closure between LM 6.31 and 7.76, with detour signs in place for rerouted traffic. The bridge repair over Indian Creek on SR-85 has reduced the road to one 11' lane controlled by temporary traffic signals, advising drivers to watch for detour routes due to wide-load restrictions.
Over in Putnam County, grinding projects on I-40 from MM 274 to MM 281 are set to occur in the evening hours, urging travelers to be prepared for closures and potential stops. The contractor's milling and paving efforts on SR-24 will also condense traffic to a single lane, with flaggers managing passage through the impacted area. With an umbrella of construction spread across these counties, vigilant driving and planning alternate routes could be advisable—so buckle up and stay safe while bypassing the commotion.
