Construction Won’t Slow July 4th Travelers in Tennessee

Nashville, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner Gerald Nicely has instructed all TDOT employees and contractors to cease all construction related lane closure activity on interstates and major state roadways on July 4th, as well as the weekends preceding and following the holiday.

Crews will stop all lane closures on Saturday and Sunday, the weekend before the Holiday, Saturday and Sunday, the weekend after the Holiday and on the Fourth of July.

“This is an unusual situation with the July 4th holiday falling on Wednesday,” said Nicely. “We wanted to make sure our projects didn’t create long delays for travelers, no matter which weekend they planned to be on the road during this holiday period.”

There may be some lane closures in place on long-term construction projects. Drivers should obey all posted speed limits, particularly in construction zones, even when workers are not present. The slower speeds are necessary due to the temporary layout of the roadway in construction zones and will be strictly enforced.

“Motorists can expect to see an increased number of law enforcement on the roads during this period,” said Governor’s Highway Safety Office Director Kendell Poole. “Our number one goal is for everyone to have a safe and happy holiday – so buckle up and slow down.”

According to AAA Auto Club South, travel will be up slightly this Fourth of July holiday with projections up nationwide by .8% compared to 2006. AAA is forecasting a .4 percent increase in auto travel for the southeastern region of the U.S. In Tennessee, 718,417 of the state’s residents are expected to drive somewhere for the holiday.

Travelers are reminded to dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone to access valuable information about travel conditions anytime, or log on to www.TN511.com.