Interstate 40 Lane Closure Scheduled For This Weekend

SmartFIX40 Traffic Alert
Interstate 40 Lane Closure Scheduled For This Weekend

Knoxville, Tenn.—The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced Wednesday that the right lane of eastbound Interstate 40 in downtown Knoxville will close Friday, September 29, 2006 at 9:00 p.m. until Sunday, October 1, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. and will include closing the exit ramp to Broadway (S.R. 33). Construction crews will be building a portion of the future exit ramp to Hall of Fame Drive and Broadway.

The closure will begin at the James White Parkway off-ramp and will end just past the exit ramp to Broadway, reducing I-40 to just one lane in this area.

“The new exit ramp to Hall of Fame Drive and Broadway has to tie in to the existing interstate,” said Ray Bell spokesperson Jeff Walker. “There is no way we can connect the ramp without closing the right lane of the interstate,” This section of I-40 carries an average of 100,000 vehicles per day, so motorists are advised to avoid this section of roadway during the closure if possible.”

SmartFIX40 is an accelerated construction process used by the department to speed up construction. It involves completely closing the roadway to allow around-the-clock work that is uninterrupted by traffic in order to dramatically reduce the time it takes to complete the project, thereby reducing the long-term inconveniences to drivers.

During the SmartFIX40 project, James White Parkway will be closed for nine months in 2007, and I-40 through traffic will be rerouted onto I-640 for 14 months starting in the spring of 2008. Local traffic will have access to downtown at all times. More than two years of traffic delays, lane closures and motorist frustrations will be avoided by allowing construction crews the opportunity to work without restriction from moving traffic while traffic is rerouted from I-40. I-40 through downtown Knoxville carries an average of 103,000 vehicles a day.