Progress ramps up on Fifth Interchange
By Amye Anderson
UCBJ Managing Editor
COOKEVILLE – With the eastbound ramps of the Fifth Interchange now open to traffic, the Fifth Interchange project is beginning to look and feel less like a construction site and more like Cookeville’s newest I-40 exit.
If the project maintains its current pace, work at the site should wrap by April. But, there’s still plenty of work to be done before then.
“The contractor should be complete with the pouring of the westbound ramps Monday of next week, at the latest, and begin demobilizing,” said Jennifer Flynn, TDOT Community Relations Officer.
After that, work installing the base stone for shoulders, ramp tie-ins and asphalt binder (BM2) will progress for the next two to three weeks.
“The goal is to have the westbound ramps open by the second or third week of October,” she said.
The opening of the westbound ramps will have one lane of travel in each direction at the bridge.
From there, the remainder of the project will include completion of the bridge as well widening of the state industrial access road – Mine Lick Creek Road – to Academy Sports + Outdoors.
TDOT is constructing the interchange and widening the state industrial access road only. The local connector roads are being overseen by the city of Cookeville.
The entire project has an estimated completion date of April 2018.
