Nashville – Road construction won’t slow travelers through Tennessee this July 4th holiday weekend. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all interstate construction that requires lane closures beginning at midnight on Thursday, July 2.

“We want travelers on Tennessee’s roadways to get to their destinations safely and efficiently,” said Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “Suspending lane closures during the holiday period is one way to ensure that travelers don’t have to contend with the additional stress of construction-related lane closures as they travel across our state.”

No lane closure activity will occur on interstates or state highways from midnight on Thursday, July 2 until 6:00 a.m. Monday, July 6. This will provide maximum roadway capacity for holiday travelers. Some long-term lane closures will remain in place in order to ensure safety.

Even though lane closure activity will be stopped, workers will still be on site at many projects. Drivers should obey all posted speed limits, particularly in construction zones. Slower speeds are necessary in work zones due to the temporary layout of the roadway and they will be enforced. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.

“If you and your family are traveling during this holiday period, please buckle up and observe the rules of the road so you’ll arrive safely at your destination,” said Governor’s Highway Safety Office Director Kendell Poole. “During this weekend drivers will notice an increased law enforcement presence on Tennessee’s roadways in an effort to ensure that everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July holiday.”

According to AAA predictions, all types of travel are expected to decrease nationwide this 4th of July holiday, with projections down 1.9% nationwide from 2008. However, AAA is forecasting an even more significant decrease of 2.6% in auto travel because of the steep price increase of gasoline in May and most of June, coupled with consumer concerns about the sluggish economy. An estimated 776,000 are expected to travel by car in Tennessee this year.

Travelers are reminded to dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone to access valuable information about travel conditions anytime, or log on to www.TN511.com. TDOT is also on Twitter. For updated travel information follow TN511 on Twitter or follow one of regional feeds: Nashville511, Chattanooga511, Memphis511 and Knoxville511.

“I speak for everyone here at the Tennessee Department of Transportation when I say our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Susan McKee who passed away earlier today after being struck by a vehicle while flagging traffic in a highway work zone.  Highway construction workers, and in particular the women and men who work as flaggers in our construction and maintenance zones, put their lives at risk every day to build and maintain our transportation system.  Unfortunately, incidents like this are all too common.  The death of Ms. McKee should serve as a reminder to all motorists of the importance of using the utmost caution when traveling through all highway work zones.” – TDoT Commissioner Gerald Nicely

It is a good rule of thumb for drivers to slow down when workers or pedistrians are along the side of the road you are driving on, even if you are already going the posted speed limit. Be sure to keep especially alert when passing through a construction zone.

NASHVILLE- Governor Phil Bredesen yesterday released a final list of projects to be funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (Recovery Act), proposed bridge bonds and TDOT’s regular funding mechanisms. The three-tiered program represents more than 450 projects statewide touching every county in Tennessee.

“The Recovery Act is fundamentally about creating and retaining jobs during one of the toughest economic times our nation and state have faced since the Great Depression,” said Governor Bredesen. “This three-tiered program represents a record investment in Tennessee’s transportation system. The Recovery Act, along with the bridge bonding and TDOT’s regular program, will put thousands of Tennesseans to work rebuilding and strengthening one of Tennessee’s largest economic drivers, our transportation system.”

The Legislature is currently considering the transportation budget for approval. TDOT will let to contract all Recovery Act projects in May and June of 2009.

“Not only will these transportation projects help create or save tens of thousands of jobs for Tennesseans, the end result of this investment will be a more reliable transportation system,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “This three-tiered program represents a responsible, balanced and community based approach to transportation. Years of planning and study have gone into each of the projects funded for construction.”

The projects will fund 122 construction projects in our TDOT region which includes: Bedford, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson and Wilson counties.

Of Local Interest

Four projects are located in Montgomery County including:

• Bridge Rehabilitation, Montgomery SR-12 SR-12 over Little McAdoo Creek at LM 4.04
• Road Resurfacing, 4.1miles  Montgomery SR-12/US-41A SR-374 to Kentucky State Line
• Bridge Replacement, Montgomery SR-13/US-79 SR-13 (Wilma Rudolph Blvd) Northbound lane over Red River at LM 21.57
• Road Resurfacing, 8.2miles Montgomery SR-238 SR-76 to Kentucky State Line
• Road Right of Way, 3.8 miles Montgomery SR-149/13 Proposed SR-374 to Zinc Plant Road

The City of Clarksville is also in line for multiple public transportation related grants.

For more information on Tennessee’s transportation portion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act visit www.tn.gov/tdot/recovery.

Last month, the Tennessee Department of Transportation let the first projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to contract. In May and June, more than a hundred other projects will move into the construction phase, bringing valuable transportation improvements and jobs to communities across the state. This means that a large majority of Tennesseans, no matter where they live, will find themselves traveling through a work zone in the near future.

Although there will be a noticeable increase in road construction this year, TDOT has made and will continue to make every effort to minimize the impacts of this work on motorists, residents, and businesses. Much thought goes into the selection of projects well before they are ever let to contract. Our construction personnel take great care in looking at traffic control, possible detours and alternate routes, as well as direct effects on homes and businesses located within the project limits. We also work very closely with local governments in the months and weeks before a project begins, especially when a community has more than one project under construction. Our ultimate goal is to keep traffic moving and maintain emergency services, while ensuring the safety of both the motoring public and the construction workers. Once a project is underway, our construction project supervisors will maintain those open lines of communication with local agencies to address any issues that may arise.

In recent years, TDOT has altered the work schedules on most of its construction projects in an attempt to minimize traffic tie-ups as much as possible. Some work may be performed during daytime hours, but outside of the heavy morning and afternoon commute times. Most interstate work, especially in urban areas, will be completed during evening and overnight hours. However, the complexity of some projects may require around the clock lane closures and traffic shifts. Despite our best efforts, we realize that construction projects will cause delays and can be difficult areas to drive through. In taking the long view, we know these short-term inconveniences are the price we pay for maintaining one of the nation’s best highway systems. As we head into National Work Zone Awareness Week April 6 through 10, we ask for your patience.

Please slow down, be mindful of the distractions inside your car, and be prepared for the changing conditions inside a work zone. Our first priority is your safety and the safety of our workers. Together – we can keep Tennessee in motion.

All non-emergency construction and maintenance work requiring lane closures on Tennessee interstates and state highways will remain suspended until 6:00 a.m. on Monday, January 5.For more information on TDOT road construction projects or for weather-related road closure information, visit the TDOT SmartWay Information System web site at http://www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone to access valuable information about travel conditions anytime, or log on to www.TN511.com.