As the $161 million Interstate 75/Interstate 24 split project passes the six-month mark, construction on drainage structures, added lanes, noise walls, entrance and exit ramps, utilities and bridges on McBrien and South Moore roads means navigating the project area in an automobile has reached its most challenging level yet.
The project is 25% complete with the finish date set for late 2025 still intact, and so far there have been no increases in the project cost, according to Rae Anne Bradley, spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Work substantially began in July with the closures of the McBrien Road and South Moore Road bridges linking Brainerd to the north to East Ridge to the south over I-24. The two 1960s-era spans were demolished and new spans installed as crews prepare the new bridges for decking and work on the approaches that land on North Terrace and South Terrace. Both Terraces currently are reduced to one lane in stretches between Belvoir Avenue and Spring Creek Road, where crews are busily working, and traffic has backed up a half-mile or more during rush hour in recent weeks.
On I-75 between the interchange known as the split and East Brainerd Road, crews are adding lanes to widen the interstate and the East Brainerd Road to I-75 southbound entrance ramp, replacing median barriers, guardrail, signs and lighting, rehabilitating existing concrete pavement and replacing the bridge on I-75 over the CSX railroad, according to TDOT. Noise walls are also part of the work in the I-75 section of the project.