To address Interstate 24’s narrow passage going west from Chattanooga along the Tennessee River Gorge, state transportation officials are conducting preliminary studies for potentially widening the interstate around the base of Lookout Mountain to the Interstate 59 interchange in Dade County.
The proposal aims to reduce congestion, improve traffic operations and address deficiencies to meet design standards by widening I-24 from four to six lanes, with three lanes in each direction, according to a Tennessee Department of Transportation legal notice. The proposed work, which could begin in a couple of years, also includes replacing structurally deficient bridges throughout the project area.
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Two public meetings are planned to provide information to the public as the state agency takes the first steps on the project, according to the notice. The first meeting is set for 5-7 p.m. July 8 at the Chattanooga Public Library on Broad Street, followed by a second meeting 5-7 p.m. July 10 at the John A. Patten Community Center at 3202 Kellys Ferry Road.