Although drivers should not expect delays to ease up due to the construction on Highway 27 any time soon, the project's manager said the construction is on track to be complete by February 2015 or earlier.
"Project progress is coming along very well," reported Tony Newman, project manager with Volkert Inc., which is managing the construction contract for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. "The contractor has attacked the project with full intention of completing on time."
The expected completion date had originally been set for October 2014, which was extended to February 2015 because of the need to build extra retaining walls to support housing complexes that were built on the edge of the road after the original plans were created, said Newman.
Work on bridges, retaining walls, earthwork and paving is still ongoing, he said.
"I think the contractor has a very good shot of meeting the original completion date of October 2014," said Newman.
One major closure to be expected around the first of the year is the northbound exit ramp to Dayton Boulevard while the bridge is under construction, he said. By the time that occurs, the ramp and new bridge at Signal Mountain Road will be complete, so drivers will still have access to Dayton Boulevard, said Newman. He said there will also be sporadic closures of the ramp from Dayton Boulevard to southbound Highway 27 into downtown as that bridge is being built.