Starting 8 a.m. CDT Monday and continuing over five days, commuters coming to Chattanooga on Interstate 24 from the west will encounter daylong lane closures on the bridge over the Tennessee River in Marion County as transportation officials perform an inspection.
The work will require closures taking place 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day for the full length of the bridge, according to a press release issued Friday by the state Department of Transportation. The right lane and shoulder on I-24 east on the bridge will be closed daily through 5 p.m. June 25, then, June 26, the right lane and shoulder on the westbound side of I-24 will be closed from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for the full length of the bridge.
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The bridge spans the Tennessee River’s Nickajack Lake near the rest area in Marion County. State bridge information shows the bridge, built in 1965, is more than 3,100 feet long and stands about 70 feet above the water.
This bridge requires a hands‑on inspection of specific steel members, according to agency spokesperson Rae Anne Bradley. Specialized equipment will be used to access areas to be inspected, and temporary lane closures are necessary for the safety of workers and drivers.