Starting Friday, TVA contract crews will begin repairs on the northbound side of the Highway 153 bridge over the Chickamauga Dam with the closure of the northbound lanes, according to state transportation officials.
Similar work on the southbound side of the bridge was completed ahead of schedule, so crews are moving to the northbound side, officials said. Detours will be in place routing drivers around the work through the weekend, with the lanes reopening early Monday.
Contractors for the Tennessee Valley Authority will begin the work and close the northbound lanes at 9 p.m. Friday when a signed detour will be put in place, according to a statement issued by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
(READ MORE: Bridge work stops on I-75/I-24 project in Chattanooga amid beam problems)
The detour will direct drivers on Highway 153 north onto Exit 6 for Amnicola Highway. Detour traffic will turn left onto Amnicola Highway, merge right onto DuPont Parkway and then turn left at the intersection to return to Highway 153 North.
Drivers are encouraged to use caution as they travel through the area, according to transportation officials. State Help trucks and law enforcement will be present to assist as needed.
The work is weather permitting. Should inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances delay the work, it will be rescheduled. The National Weather Service’s forecast calls for a sunny sky with high temperatures in the mid-90s to upper 90s through the weekend with no chance of rain until Monday afternoon.
From a desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live-streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at smartway.tn.gov/traffic.
— Compiled by Ben Benton
Tennessee Department of Transportation / Northbound 153 over Chickamauga Dam will close Friday night through Monday morning for repairs.