As part of the I-75/I-24 interchange modification project in Hamilton County, TDOT contract crews will implement a major traffic shift that will take an entire weekend to complete and necessitate the closure of the ramp from I-75 North to I-24 West within the area of the split.
From 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, to 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, those traveling from I-75 North to I24 West will be detoured to Exit 3-A East Brainerd Road, where they will be directed to re-enter the interstate via I75 South to I-24 West. This detour will add an additional 5 miles to the movement. Heavy congestion is expected.
This detour will also alter the flow of traffic on East Brainerd Road and Hickory Valley Road:
Those traveling eastbound (toward Gunbarrel Road) on East Brainerd Road will not have access to I75
Those traveling westbound (toward Brainerd Road) on East Brainerd Road will have access to I-75 North only
Traffic on Hickory Valley Road will have right-in/right-out access only at East Brainerd Road.
Additionally, the I-75 North on-ramps from US 41/Ringgold Road at Exit 1 will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday, and traffic will be detoured to alternate routes to access either I-75 or I-24 at other locations.
Due to low height restrictions at the tunnels on US 41/Ringgold Road west of the Exit 1 interchange, truck traffic will be prohibited from using the tunnels as an alternate route.
The Tennessee Welcome Center on I75 North will also be closed to all traffic during the same time period.
The weekend lane closures will allow contract crews to work around the clock and make connections critical to the project, according to a news release from TDOT. Message boards will be in place to mark closures and detours, while TDOT personnel, contract crews and law enforcement will be stationed throughout the work zone.
The speed limit through the work zone will remain reduced at 45 miles per hour. Once this work is completed, motorists traveling through the interchange will notice a traffic shift along some of the ramps.
The schedule for this work is contingent on the contractor completing all preparatory construction work beforehand; it is also weather dependent. Should preparation issues or inclement weather delay this work, it will be rescheduled to take place on the next available weekend.
C.W. Matthews Contracting is the contractor for the $132.6 million I75/I24 interchange modification project, which is slated for completion in late summer 2021.
Source: TDOT