Contractor to Change MLK Blvd. and 4th St. Ramp Configurations on U.S. 27 North in Chattanooga

Tuesday, January 09, 2018 | 02:15pm

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – As part of the U.S. 27 widening project in downtown Chattanooga, the contractor will be changing ramp configurations on U.S. 27 North between Martin Luther King Blvd. and 4th Street beginning at 7:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday night, January 10, 2018. These changes will affect the on-ramp to U.S. 27 North from MLK Blvd., and the off-ramp (Exit 1C) from U.S. 27 North to 4^th Street. Traffic will begin using these newly configured ramps on Thursday morning, January 11, 2018. This new traffic pattern will be in place for approximately two months.

Traffic coming from downtown Chattanooga and using the on-ramp to U.S. 27 North from MLK Blvd. will be required to come to a complete stop at the top of the ramp. Traffic wishing to access 4^th Street at Exit 1C from U.S. 27 North will now be directed to a new exit ramp before crossing the 6^th Street overpass. This new exit ramp will be narrow and posted for 15 MPH.

Motorists traveling to downtown Chattanooga on U.S. 27 North are encouraged to use MLK Blvd. Exit 1B from U.S. 27 North to downtown instead of the 4^th Street exit, due to the increased congestion between MLK Blvd. and 4^th Street. Motorists leaving downtown and heading north on U.S. 27 are encouraged to take Broad Street or Market Street to the 4^th Street on‑ramp to access U.S. 27 North.

The speed limit will also be reduced from 45 MPH to 35 MPH between Main Street and 4^th Street on U.S. 27 North. The speed limit on U.S. 27 in the rest of the construction zone remains 45 MPH. Motorists should exercise caution when traveling through the construction zone and pay close attention to the signage posted. If inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances prevent this work from being done, it will be rescheduled for a later date.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or Chattanooga area alerts @Chattanooga511 or any of TDOT’s other Twitter pages. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

In 2016, the Tennessee Department of Transportation lost three workers in the line of duty. All three were struck by passing motorists. Those tragedies bring the total number of TDOT lives lost to 112. We don’t want to lose another member of our TDOT family. We’re asking you to WORK WITH US. To learn more or go to the website at http://www.tn.gov/tdot/section/work-with-us.

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