TN.gov Newsroom

 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely announced today the early completion of the $52 million I-75 widening project in Hamilton County. The newly widened section of interstate was fully opened to traffic back on July 1, 2010, nearly six months ahead of schedule. Since that time, crews have been working to put the finishing touches on the project and completed their final work on August 12, 2010, over four months ahead of the scheduled December 31, 2010 completion.

 

“The Ooltewah-Collegedale area is one of the fastest growing areas in southeast Tennessee,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “The extra interstate lanes and improved interchange at Exit 11 will improve traffic flow and the overall efficiency of this stretch of I-75.”

 

NASHVILLE — Governor Phil Bredesen announced $25.9 million in federal and state aeronautics grants today to fund improvements at 22 commercial and general aviation airports in Tennessee.

“From moving people to moving freight, the airports in Tennessee are vital pieces of the state’s overall economy and travel system,” said Bredesen. “Tennessee’s airports are often the front doors to our communities, welcoming visitors from across the globe, so it’s important to keep them up to date in order to stay competitive and efficient at meeting the needs of both businesses and travelers.”

  

ATLANTA – Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. announced today that the Georgia DOT, along with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, applied for $34 million in federal funding to accelerate development of high-speed rail service from Atlanta to Chattanooga, Tennessee, continuing to Nashville and eventually to Louisville, Kentucky.  GDOT is the lead state in the initiative and applied on behalf of the two states.

 

NASHVILLE — Now is the time to start making plans for the annual Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee, which will kick off its 21st Year with a seven-day ride beginning Sept. 12 and will feature a loop through some of Tennessee’s most beautiful landscapes.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In just one month crews will reduce the Interstate 40 Bridge over the Mississippi River near Memphis to one lane in each direction for approximately two months. Crews must reduce the bridge to one lane in each direction in order to safely install a new seismic expansion joint along three bridge piers located near the Riverside Drive exit. The lane closures will begin immediately following the morning rush hour on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 and will last until the week of November 15. 

 

Phase One Now Underway; I-40 Reduced to One Lane in Both Directions Beginning September 7

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Today, crews working to seismically retrofit the Interstate 40/Hernando DeSoto Bridge over the Mississippi River closed the I-40 Eastbound Exit 1 ramp to Front Street, Riverside Drive and the Tennessee Welcome Center. The ramp will remain closed for three weeks. It is the first of three long-term closures planned as work to retrofit the bridge continues. 

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Motorists are once again able to travel all the westbound lanes on I-40 in Roane County after a sinkhole was completely repaired on Tuesday.

 

Tennessee Department of Transportation maintenance crews discovered the sinkhole near mile marker 344.5 in the right hand lane of I-40 westbound on Monday. TDOT geotechnical engineers evaluated the sinkhole and determined strong water flow under the roadway was the cause.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation maintenance crews re-opened the northbound travel lanes on State Route 66 in Sevier County shortly after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. TDOT estimates the turn lane will also be opened at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon.

 

TDOT crews discovered a depression in a turn lane on Highway 66 Monday morning and closed both the outside (or right) northbound travel lane and the turn lane to Huffaker Road to protect travelers as excavation and repairs began. After excavation, crews discovered a leak in a water line beneath the roadway had softened the ground and contributed to the sinkhole. Workers dug 25 feet down and approximately 10 to 15 feet in diameter to find the source of the water that saturated the ground under the road.

 

 

 

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Transportation will lower the speed limit on a large portion of Vietnam Veterans Boulevard (State Route 386) beginning Thursday, July 22, 2010. The speed limit will be reduced from 70 mph to 65 mph from the Davidson-Sumner County line near Mansker Creek to Greenlea Boulevard near Gallatin. Beyond Greenlea Boulevard, the incremental speed reductions already in place will remain. The speed limit on the stretch of Vietnam Veterans Boulevard from Interstate 65 to the Sumner County line will stay at 70 mph.