Watch out for lane, ramp closures on U.S. 27 South during Saturday traffic shift onto new alignment

May 1, 2020 at 11:52 a.m. | Updated May 1, 2020 at 1:06 p.m.

by Kim Sebring, compiler

Staff photo by Tim Barber / The familiar AT&T Field is seen, top right, as southbound U.S. Highway 27 traffic exits onto the Fourth and Sixth Street ramp coming from Red Bank. TDOT says contractor for the U.S. 27 Improvement Project is requesting a time extension as the project is behind schedule in downtown Chattanooga.
Staff photo by Tim Barber / The familiar AT&T Field is seen, top right, as southbound U.S. Highway 27 traffic exits onto the Fourth and Sixth Street ramp coming from Red Bank. TDOT says contractor for the U.S. 27 Improvement Project is requesting a time extension as the project is behind schedule in downtown Chattanooga.

Starting Saturday, traffic will be shifted onto a new alignment between the Olgiati Bridge and I-24 as contract crews work on the U.S. 27 reconstruction project in downtown Chattanooga, according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

The shift will start at 7 a.m. and is expected to be completed by or before 7 p.m. on Saturday. As the traffic shift progresses from Olgiati Bridge toward I-24, there will be temporary lane and ramp closures along U.S. 27 South as crews tie in the ramps to the new alignment. Detours will be posted.

TDOT advises drivers to avoid U.S. 27 South through downtown Chattanooga on Saturday if possible, but if they must travel they should exercise caution while traveling through the construction zone and pay close attention to all posted signs, the release states.

After Saturday's shift is completed, drivers will then be traveling in the final alignment of U.S. 27 South in newly constructed lanes. U.S. 27 North traffic will be shifted into its final alignment at a later date.

(READ MORE: Chattanooga's U.S. Highway 27 project to become model for interstate beautification)

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