Olgiati Bridge work to close lanes Thursday and Friday

Workers move steel beams onto a flatbed trailer for transportation beneath overpasses of U.S. Highway 27 along W. 20th Street on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Construction on the section of highway from the Olgiati Bridge to I-24 is the most expensive project in TDOT history with a $126.3 million contract.
Workers move steel beams onto a flatbed trailer for transportation beneath overpasses of U.S. Highway 27 along W. 20th Street on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Construction on the section of highway from the Olgiati Bridge to I-24 is the most expensive project in TDOT history with a $126.3 million contract.

Traffic crossing the Olgiati Bridge Thursday and Friday will encounter closed lanes in both directions for work on the bridge struts underneath the span.

The work will continue at least until 4 p.m. Friday, Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn said in a news release.

During the lane closures, traffic will be shifted to the two inside lanes in each direction with the outside lanes being closed, Flynn said.

"The contractor hopes to complete the work on Friday, but [if] that doesn't happen, he may work on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018," she said.

There will be other snags, too.

The onramp from Manufacturers Road to U.S. 27 South at the bridge will remain open but ramp traffic will be required to stop before merging.

The onramp from Fourth Street to U.S. 27 North at the bridge also will remain open but with a stop sign at the end of the ramp before traffic can merge onto the highway, Flynn said.

"Additional temporary ramp closures or traffic shifts may be necessary as this work continues on different sections of the bridge," Flynn said.

Drivers are urged to obey the signage and pay close attention to changing conditions in the work zone.

Upcoming Events