West Tennessee commuters, it's that time again to adjust your travel plans. From July 31st through August 7th, various construction projects will impact roadways in Region 4, spreading across 21 counties. Expect to see DAYTIME or NIGHTTIME lane closures, whether you're commuting on the state routes or planning to travel along the interstate, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
Specific areas to be mindful of include Carroll County's SR-22, which will be undergoing resurfacing from the Henderson County Line to near Weatherford Rd. This, together with the resurfacing of SR-77 from near McLemoresville Road to the SR22 Bypass in Huntingdon, is set to cause temporary lane closures that might delay your drive. For those traveling at night, watch out for the I-40 resurfacing work in Benton County from S.R. 69 (MM 126) to the Humphreys County line (Tennessee River Bridge), as closures are planned during the off-hours.
In Dyer County, bridge repairs on US 412 (SR 20) over the North Fork Forked Deer River will also contribute to reductions in traffic lanes, with a 12’ lane restriction and decreased speed limits to 55 MPH firmly in place. A reconstruction effort on US 79 (SR 76) in Gibson and Carroll Counties brings both lane closures and permanent road changes. Barker Road intersection with the new SR 76 construction near Mt. Olive M.B. Church is closed permanently, with detours in effect.
Moreover, new infrastructure changes will affect local traffic patterns, as TDOT reports that N. Jax Road in Gibson/Carroll County has become a dead-end, while S. Jax Road remains open, accessible via Oasis Rd. But the silver lining for regional drivers lies in Obion County, where Future I-69 (Phase 3) – SR 690 – is now open to traffic. Although, still remember to adhere to the newly reduced speed limit of 45 mph. In Weakley County, SR-445's safety improvements project is ongoing, another site of temporary lane closures.
All this resurfacing, repairing, and noise wall construction signals a period of regeneration for West Tennessee roads. But regeneration comes at the cost of temporary inconvenience. For the full list of construction sites and details on lane closures, detours, and reduced speed limits, visit the TDOT website at this link. Plan your routes accordingly to avoid being caught in the gridlock, and always, be prepared for swiftly changing traffic patterns during these summer construction weeks.
