East Tennessee drivers should brace for a week of slowdowns as road construction projects kick off across multiple counties. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has announced a range of temporary lane closures for guardrail repairs, roadwork, bridgework, and resurfacing projects that are expected to impact traffic from September 19-25, 2024. According to a TDOT announcement, lane closures and delayed traffic are anticipated across Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, and Knox Counties.
Travelers through Anderson County may hit nighttime delays on I-75 South near Mile Marker 119.5 due to guardrail repairs scheduled for September 25, with closures expected from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Motorists on SR 62 between SR 61 and Union Valley Road should also prepare themselves for potential closures and workers on the road during the night. A lane is narrowed on the SR 9 Bridge over Cove Lake in Campbell County, as bridge repair work reduces traffic flow around the clock.
In Knox County, various projects are set to snag traffic including I-40 East and I-140 East roadside constructions and I-640 West guardrail repairs, with lane closures predominantly arranged for overnight hours to minimize congestion. TDOT urges drivers to be on the lookout for workers and to exercise extreme caution in these areas. Survey work activities will necessitate mobile lane closures on I-40 East and West between Mile Markers 369 and 387, beginning September 23 and lasting through September 26.
Maintenance activities are not limited to highways; some local streets will also be disrupted. Main Street in Greene County and intersections in Hamblen County will experience nightly closures, while over in Hancock County, a section of SR 33 is completely closed off for bridge replacement over Greasy Creek, with traffic being rerouted accordingly. These projects present a concerted effort by the state to improve and maintain its transportation infrastructure, though they come with the temporary cost of travel convenience.
For full details on all projects and affected areas this week, travelers can refer to the TDOT website.
