Tennessee Department of Transportation announces Section of I-24 Closed in Downtown Nashville this Weekend, Final Closure

Nashville, TN – Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) contract crews will close a three mile section of I-24 near downtown Nashville this weekend to finish work on a major bridge rehabilitation project over Main and Woodland Streets.  Weather permitting, this will be the project’s final full weekend interstate closure.

I-24 eastbound and westbound will be closed from the I-24/I-65 split north of downtown to the I-24/I-40 split east of downtown beginning Friday August 24th, at 9:00pm. The interstate will open no later than Monday August 27th at 5:00am. Main Street and Woodland Street, from South 5th Street to Interstate Drive, will also be closed.

In addition, Monday August 27th through Wednesday August 29th from 8:00pm to 5:00am the following mornings there will be alternating street closures on Main Street and Woodland Street, from South 5th Street to Interstate Drive, for texture coating of the bridges. Detours will be in place.

Also, Monday August 27th through Wednesday August 29th from 9:00pm to 5:00am the following mornings, two lanes of I-24 eastbound and westbound will be temporarily closed in order to install snowplowable pavement markers and scoring shoulders.  One lane will remain open.

There will be no construction on Thursday August 23rd. All interstate lanes and local streets will be open to help ease traffic congestion for the Titans first home pre-season game.

*All work is weather dependent.

This is the project’s final weekend closure and weather permitting, crews will be paving and sealing the final layer of the bridge deck surface. In total, 277 pre-fabricated bridge deck panels have been installed. The repairs are part of an $8.7 million project to rehabilitate these bridges built in 1961.

Interstate drivers passing through downtown Nashville will follow detour signs instructing them to take the west loop around downtown.  Project closures and detour maps are available at http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/i24bridges/maps.shtml .

An East Nashville specific map, along with other maps to access downtown can also be found on this website. TDOT will use its overhead Dynamic Message Signs to direct motorists around the closure. Drivers are advised to be alert and follow the posted directions.

Law enforcement officers will be on site in the work zone to provide traffic control as the work is being completed. TDOT also asks drivers to use caution, reduce their speed and be alert to changing traffic conditions in work zones across the state.

For more information on TDOT construction project activity visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/.  Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information or can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel information or

www.twitter.com/Nashville511 for traffic information in the Nashville area.  Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly.  Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle.  TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for their destination.