Traffic Shifts Planned for I-40 Wolf River Bridge as Construction Continues

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will shift traffic on the Wolf River Bridge of Interstate 40 in Shelby County for bridge construction. Once the shift is in place, travel lanes on I-40 East and on the I-240 to I-40 East ramp will be reduced until bridge construction is completed.

Beginning Saturday, March 5, 2016, the new traffic pattern will be as follows:

• I-40 eastbound will be reduced to three lanes and all traffic shifted to the new outside lanes.
• The I-240 East to I-40 East ramp will be reduced to one lane.
• The new I-40 East flyover will remain one lane with one lane for Sam Cooper Boulevard.

The traffic shift and bridge construction are part of the ongoing I-40/I-240 interchange project. The new configuration will allow crews to safely continue bridge removal and rebuild the inside lanes of the Wolf River Bridge. The current structure is 11 lanes, five westbound and six eastbound. The new structure will have 13 lanes, six westbound and seven eastbound. This final phase of bridge construction is estimated to be complete in the fall of 2016. The entire interchange project is scheduled to be completed July 2017.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or for West Tennessee follow https://twitter.com/NicLawrenceTDOT

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination.  Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

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