Drivers headed for downtown Chattanooga on Rossville Boulevard began encountering a new traffic pattern this week that shifted the flow of vehicles from four to two lanes so workers can complete repairs on the Interstate 24 west on-ramp bridge.
Monday’s launch on repairs started a 12-day clock on the project, and if the weather allows, the work could be finished in a matter of days, according to Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson Rae Anne Bradley.
“From the start of their lane closure, the contractor has 12 continuous days to finish the repair work,” Bradley said Thursday in an email. “Weather permitting, the contractor is expected to finish early and fully reopen to traffic by early next week.”
During a recent inspection, damage to an outer steel beam was found on the on-ramp bridge that northbound traffic on Rossville Boulevard uses to reach I-24 west. The damage forced the closure of the ramp in May, according to the state transportation officials. The other lanes on I-24 west over Rossville Boulevard are safe for travelers, state officials said.