Motorists driving southbound on U.S. Highway 27 approach the Manning Street/Whitehall Road exit that has been closed to allow for expansion of the highway.
U.S. Highway 27Starting today, commuters who usually take U.S. Highway 27 directly to Whitehall Road and Manning Street must find more roundabout routes.
As of Monday night, the U.S. Highway 27 southbound exit and entrance ramps for both roads are closed permanently, according to Tennessee Department of Transportation officials.
The northbound ramps also will be closed permanently in several weeks as contractors begin work to widen the span of U.S. 27 from north of the Olgiati Bridge to Signal Mountain Road.
Contractors spent Monday night setting up barrier walls and painting new pavement stripes to start diverting traffic, said TDOT spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn.
The ramps must be closed because they no longer comply with current design standards mandated by the Federal Highway Administration, she said. The ramps will be blocked off with new retaining walls, she said.