Repairs to close lanes of bridge over Highway 153 into November

Road work tile
Road work tile

You know how hard it can be to get through choked traffic on Hixson Pike around Highway 153 in rush hour?

It's about to get worse.

The outside lane on each side of the Hixson Pike bridge over Highway 153 is going to be out of commission for 10 months, starting Wednesday, for repairs. The $1.1 million project includes replacing the aging bridge deck and installing new parapet walls and overhangs.

"We understand that this project will cause headaches, but it must be done because the bridge and rails are in need of repair," said Jennifer Flynn, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Chattanooga office.

"On a positive note," she added, "the curbing that is out there now will be removed when the new rail is constructed, so there will actually be more room on the bridge once the project is finished."

TDOT traffic counts say an average of 30,000 vehicles a day use that part of Hixson Pike. Traffic backups are common in the area, with commercial developments and traffic signals on either side of the Highway 153 interchange.

Flynn said flaggers will help manage traffic, but the contractor won't designate alternate routes since one lane in each direction will remain open.

"We expect that people will adjust their driving habits if this is a route that they used quite often," she said.

The nearest through streets crossing Highway 153 are Hamill Road to the south and Gadd Road to the north. Flynn said TDOT will work with the city traffic engineer's office to help keep expected additional traffic flowing smoothly on nearby surface streets.

Construction crews also may have to close lanes on Highway 153 intermittently for the project, mostly at night. Flynn said closures may be possible between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. If any daytime closures are needed, they'll be done during nonpeak hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The bridge is expected to reopen no later than Nov. 23 and the entire project, including work on Highway 153, should be finished by May.

Contact staff writer Judy Walton at jwalton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6416.

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