Residents and commuters in Collierville, take note: major road work is about to affect your daily travels. Starting May 27, a portion of Shelby Drive will be no-go for cars, trucks, and essentially anything with wheels that isn't part of the construction crew. Citing necessary infrastructural upgrades, this closure spans from the eastern Collierville High School driveway all the way to Quinn Road, as reported by the Town of Collierville's official website.
According to the details, this inconvenient but critical project kicks off a week earlier, around May 19. Initially, crews will tackle erosion control measures and ready the site on Shelby Drive's south side. The disruption, while setting the stage for significant improvements, could have been timed better, with work stretching through the height of summer, projected to conclude on August 1. While the project looks to improve traffic flow and safety, not to mention installing a sewer line about the depth of a three-story building, you’ll need to map out alternative routes.
"The closure is timed to avoid impacting the school year and will allow critical infrastructure work to be completed before fall," Tim Gwaltney, Deputy Town Engineer, highlighted the strategic scheduling aimed at minimizing educational disruption. The Shelby Drive Improvements Project represents a notable partnership with the Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), which sees the Town receiving 80% reimbursement for eligible costs involved.
You should be aware of some specific closures. The eastern driveway for Collierville High School will be out of commission for the duration of the summer, and no through traffic will be allowed between CHS and Quinn Road. Meanwhile, looking for silver linings in the midst of closure clouds, westbound traffic on Shelby Drive will still be able to turn left onto Quinn Road, despite the rest of the roadwork chaos. All of this is a part of the broader Shelby Drive Improvements Project, which, when completed, promises eased traffic and a safer passage between Sycamore Road and Hwy 72.
