Commutes and travel through East Tennessee might get a bit stickier as multiple counties gear up for a week of construction-related activity, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). Drivers can anticipate an array of lane closures and potential delays nightly, with suggestions to plan extra time into their travel schedules and to exercise caution on the roads.
From Anderson to Washington County, road warriors will be facing hurdles – lane closures across major interstates and numerous state routes are headliners in the list. The TN.gov advisory cautions that these disruptions, including temporary lane closures on I-75 in Campbell County and the SR 62 in Anderson County, will primarily occur from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. This continues across the board from BLOUNT to SULLIVAN counties, with an I-140 East roadside construction activity and a bridge repair on the SR 334 over CSX Railroad in the queue.
In Knox County, a brief rolling roadblock is on the books for I-275 on August 18, intended for utility crews to perform overhead line work. Other activities extending their reach into the night and early morning hours are the roadside maintenance on interstates and resurfacing projects, all punctuated by the hum of worker presence and reminders to keep an eye out for shifting traffic patterns.
For those traversing Hancock County, be mindful of the SR 33 closure due to bridge replacement over Greasy Creek – a detour is in motion. In Jefferson County, motorists on I-40 near Mile Marker 416 will experience their own set of disruptions on August 21, with lane closures earmarked for roadway maintenance. Additionally, Sullivan County extends its own tapestry of projects with resurfacing operations spanning the nocturnal hours, serving as another testament to the ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the robust transportation veins of the region.
The web of construction does not yield as nighttime approaches, rather it seems to awaken with projects from Greene County's I-81 to the University Parkway utility undertakings in Washington County. A 2024 construction saga continues to unfold, unfurling lane closures, paced traffic, and the steady rhythm of progress under the shadow of nightfall and the gaze of the morning sun.
