Heads up, Knox County drivers—construction is on the schedule and it's bringing ramp closures along I-275 North that you'll want to plan around. Specifically, starting the evening of Wednesday, June 11, several key on-ramps to I-275 North will be intermittently closed, which is likely to cause some delays. So if you're used to breezing onto the interstate from I-40 East, Henley Street, or I-40 West at Exit 387A, you're going to need to quickly adjust and find an alternate route—at least during the evening and overnight hours until Thursday, June 12.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced this infrastructure hustle, which is all set to go down between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., assuming the skies stay clear. That's right, this schedule is firmly at the mercy of favorable weather conditions, so keep an eye on the sky, or more aptly, your favorite weather app. And when you head out, brace yourself to slow down and move carefully—TDOT workers will be out there, and safety's a two-way street.
For those who haven't yet had to unexpectedly memorize their local detour routes, here are the affected ramps again: the on-ramp from I-40 East to I-275 North (Exit 387A), the Henley Street on-ramp to I-275 North, and the on-ramp from I-40 West to I-275 North (also Exit 387A). Detour signs and traffic cones will become your new best friends if you're caught unprepared.
Remember, knowing is half the battle when it comes to dodging traffic tie-ups. TDOT urges drivers to "Know Before You Go!"—a mantra worth repeating. This means especially not to try and check the traffic on your phone while driving. Let's keep the tweeting, texting, or talking on the cell phone to the passenger seat or before you hit the road, alright?
So, with a touch of patience and a pinch of planning, you can navigate this brief bout of construction without too much of a headache. Consider this a friendly reminder to always be ready for the orange barrel shuffle that comes with road improvements. Safe travels!
