A project to repair and repave Interstate 24 from Moccasin Bend to the Ridge cut starts Monday and will last through Aug. 31, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
"Because of the area where this resurfacing will take place, this project will impact traffic no matter how we approach it," TDOT Region Two Director Ray Rucker said in a news release Friday. "However, by working at night and on weekends, we hope to lessen the inconvenience to drivers."
The project will require some lane closures but not on holiday weekends such as Easter and Memorial Day, during Riverbend (June 10-18) or during the Bonnaroo festival weekend (June 9-12), he said.
At least two lanes will remain open in each direction except between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The $5.3 million project is 5.2 miles long, from mile markers 177 to 183, the news release stated.
In addition to paving, the project includes partial and full-depth concrete repairs to portions of the roadway and some bridge deck repairs. The contractor is Highways Inc. of Brentwood, Tenn.
Here is the work schedule from TDOT:
• Monday and Tuesday - Eastbound and westbound from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. There will be short-term single- or double-lane closures throughout the length of the project. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained at all times. Tennessee Highway Patrol will assist with traffic control.
• Wednesday - Eastbound from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. The contractor will have either one lane or two lanes closed (only 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) for temporary widening and strengthening of the inside shoulder. Once this work is completed, all three existing lanes of traffic will be shifted to the left in anticipation of removal and replacement of a 500-foot section of failed concrete pavement. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained at all times. THP will assist with traffic control.
• Thursday - Eastbound from 7 a.m. to 6 a.m. The contractor will have either one lane or two lanes closed (only 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) for temporary widening and strengthening of the inside shoulder. Once this work is completed, all three existing lanes of traffic will be shifted to the left in anticipation of removal and replacement of a 500-foot section of failed concrete pavement. At least one lane of traffic will be maintained at all times.
• Friday at 7 p.m. through April 11 at 6 a.m. - Eastbound. The contractor will have either one lane or two lanes closed (only 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) for removal and replacement of 500-foot of failed concrete pavement. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained except for 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in which only one lane will be available. It is anticipated that all of this repair can be completed in one weekend. However, if this is not possible then the remaining repairs will be completed the following weekend (April 15-18).
Updated project information can be found on the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway or by calling 511.
Or get Twitter updates from @Chattanooga511 or @TN511.