Interstate 40 Widening Project in Nashville Completed Five Months Early

Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is pleased to announce the early completion of the widening project on I-40 near Nashville International Airport. The project was not scheduled to be complete until May 2007.

This project is designed to improve the flow of traffic on this heavily traveled stretch of I-40. The work included widening Interstate 40 from the I-24/I-440 split to Donelson Pike. The project also included a major reconstruction of the I-40/Briley Parkway interchange and improvements to Briley Parkway from Karen Drive to Elm Hill Pike.

“The addition of more lanes on this section of I-40 has eased congestion in this area during peak travel times and hopefully saved motorists some time in their commute to and from work,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “The ability to deliver a project of this magnitude months ahead of schedule shows that the incentives we include on our major interstate contracts are working to the benefit of motorists.”

TDOT officials worked very closely with representatives of the contractor, Dement Construction, throughout the project to complete construction ahead of schedule and to minimize the impact to area motorists. The contractor opened all lanes on I-40 in September of 2006 and the Briley Parkway interchange was completed in December 2006, five months ahead of schedule.

“Our employees worked very hard to deliver this project ahead of schedule and we are extremely proud of the way it turned out,” said Bill Dement of Dement Construction. “It’s a shining example of what teamwork between TDOT and contractors can accomplish.”

“We know this construction project has been an inconvenience for drivers at times. We appreciate their patience and hope the finished product has had a positive impact on their lives,” Commissioner Nicely stated.

TDOT traffic counts estimate nearly 120,000 vehicles use this stretch of Interstate 40 each day.

There is some final detail work to be completed on this project, including work on Briley Parkway that can not be performed until the adjacent project on Briley Parkway between Lebanon Road and Elm Hill Pike is completed in the spring. That work will be conducted during off-peak travel hours and at night, and should have minimal impacts on traffic flow.