TDOT HELP Trucks Heading to Bristol
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 | 08:00am
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will be sending special “HELP” to the Tri-Cities this weekend to assist with the heavy traffic expected in conjunction with NASCAR events at Bristol Motor Speedway from Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26.
Two lime-yellow HELP trucks from Knoxville will patrol the area, assisting with incidents in an effort to keep traffic moving. The trucks are four-wheel drive and equipped with push bumpers, top-mounted arrow boards, emergency work lights, air compressors, and others tools. Operators can perform a variety of functions from clearing a stalled car off the roadway to changing a flat tire.
Knoxville’s 13 HELP truck drivers assisted more than 18,000 motorists last year alone. In addition to Knoxville, TDOT has HELP truck programs in Chattanooga, Nashville and Memphis.
Other traffic control measures being taken by TDOT from August 24 through August 26 include:
- TDOT maintenance units will be posted throughout the region to assist with any other issues may arise for motorists.
- TDOT will provide portable message signs to warn drivers of any possible delays.
· For post-race traffic traveling from the Tri-Cities area to Knoxville, one westbound I-40 lane will be closed in Jefferson County at the I-40/I-81 interchange to allow two lanes to flow from I-81 to Knoxville. Portable message boards will be used to advise motorists of these lane changes.
For travel and TDOT construction information, please visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway, or call 511 from any land-line or cellular phone. You can also receive traffic alerts via TDOT’s multiple Twitter feeds, including statewide traffic tweets. Smart phone users can use the TDOT SmartWay Mobile website at http://m.tdot.tn.gov/SmartWay/ to access TDOT’s SmartWay cameras and information on construction related lane closures and incidents on interstates and state routes.
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