Bridge Repair Project Requires Closure of Interstate 40
Thursday, May 28, 2009 | 03:00am
CLOSURE COMPLETED - I-40 OPENED SUNDAY, MAY 31 AT 3:00 P.M.
Traffic Near Downtown Nashville to be Rerouted
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Transportation crews will close a short section of Interstate 40 East near downtown Nashville this weekend as a major bridge repair project continues. In order to expedite the repairs, I-40 Eastbound will close from the I-24/I-40 split near 2nd & 4th Avenues to the I-40/I-24 split near Spence Lane beginning this Friday, May 29, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The interstate will reopen no later than 5:00 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2009.
“The previous closure we did on the westbound side of I-40 worked extremely well,” said TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges. “Once again, we will make every effort to notify travelers through a variety of sources and will work hard to keep traffic flowing on the various detour routes.”
During the closure, three bridges in the eastbound lanes of I-40 will be repaired. One bridge crosses over Fairfield Avenue, another over Brown’s Creek, and the third crosses over the Interstate 24 ramp. None of the bridges have had any major repairs since their completion in the early 1960’s. Work will be performed on various areas of the bridges, including the replacement of deteriorating concrete on the bridges’ surfaces. Repair work will also be performed on the entrance and exit ramps located within the closure.
TDOT will use its many overhead message boards across the city to direct motorists around the closure. Several portable message boards will also be placed at strategic points on Nashville interstates to alert drivers of detour routes. Most of the traffic will be diverted to Interstate 440. TDOT HELP trucks and Metro Nashville Police will be working all weekend to keep I-440 clear of crashes or other delays. In addition, information on the closure will be broadcast on the TDOT SmartWAY Highway Advisory Radio station (1680 AM) and on 511.
The bridge repairs will be completed in conjunction with a project to resurface a section of Interstate 40 in downtown Nashville. New asphalt will be placed on I-40 from the I-40/I-65 split just west of downtown to just past the I-40/I-24 split on the southeast side of Nashville. The resurfacing work will be done during the evening and overnight hours and is expected to be complete by late summer.
Attached to this release is a map detailing the eastbound closure, as well as a map showing the messages that will be displayed on overhead and portable message boards over the weekend. For more information on this or any other TDOT road construction project or for weather-related road closure information, visit the TDOT Web site's dynamic TDOT SmartWay Information System at http://www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone to access valuable information about travel conditions anytime, or log on to www.TN511.com. TDOT is also on Twitter. For up to date traffic information for the Nashville area follow Nashville511 on Twitter or follow TN511 for statewide updates.
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For more information contact:
For more information contact: