Last evening, a stretch of I-24 West in Grundy County dropped to a crawl as crews from the Tennessee Department of Transportation took to the scene of a recent fuel spill. The aftermath of an accident had prompted an environmental clean-up, which necessitated the temporary sealing off of the right lane at mile marker 132. According to the TDOT announcement, the lane closure occurred yesterday, from 9:00 PM to the anticipated end at 1:00 AM CST.
Chasing the twin aims of mitigating traffic congestion and ensuring worker safety, the decision to run the clean-up during the dead of night was a calculated one. Those navigating the late hours were warned of potential delays. As is often the case, the schedule was pinned to the whims of the weather and stood subject to change should the unforeseen arise.
No matter the hour, the state's Move Over Law remained staunch, demanding drivers give berth to workers and emergency vehicles at the night. Punishments for those disregarding this dictate are nothing to scoff at—an up to $500 fine or a potential jail time of 30 days, serving as a stark reminder to follow the law.
