Contractor to Implement Major Traffic Shift This Weekend on U.S. 27 South as part of Reconstruction Project in Downtown Chattanooga, Hamilton County

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – TDOT contract crews will make a major traffic shift this weekend on U.S. 27 South as part of Phase 3 of the U.S. 27 reconstruction project in downtown Chattanooga.  Weather permitting, the contractor will begin shifting traffic at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Friday evening, October 26, 2018.  Once the contractor begins the shift, it will take 12 to 15 hours to get traffic in its final Phase 3 alignment on U.S. 27 South.

If weather or unforeseen circumstances prevent this work from being done Friday evening, the contractor will do the work on Saturday when conditions are favorable.  Traffic will be in its new pattern by Monday morning, October 29, 2018.

Motorists are advised to avoid U.S. 27 South this weekend.  Those who must travel on U.S. 27 South during this time period should be alert to changing conditions as the contractor moves traffic during the shift (including intermittent ramp closures to and from the downtown area) and changed conditions after the shift is complete.

The new traffic pattern will result in traffic on U.S. 27 South being repositioned to the east side of the roadway between the I-24 interchange and the 4th Street interchange.  This will let the contractor complete work on the outside lanes of the project on the southbound side of U.S. 27.

The new traffic pattern will affect access to and from U.S. 27 South. 

• The entrance ramp from W. Main Street to U.S. 27 South that provides quick access to I‑24 will be closed to allow the removal and replacement of the ramp’s bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks.  This closure can be expected to be in place for up to a year.  Detour routes will be posted for traffic to use Williams Street to gain access to I-24 East/West.  Another alternate to access I-24 is via U.S. 27 South from MLK Blvd.
• U.S. 27 South traffic will use a new exit between 4^th Street and 6^th Street to access MLK Blvd. Traffic from MLK Blvd. to U.S. 27 South will have access via an extended ramp that will merge onto U.S. 27 South just north of Main Street.

This configuration is expected to remain in place through the better part of 2019 with some changes at 4^th Street along the way.  As part of this traffic change, minor updates to other ramps will occur.  Please give this area your full attention and be alert to changing conditions in the work zone.

Traffic on U.S. 27 North will not be affected as a result of this traffic shift.

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