Traffic Advisories June 4-10

UPPER CUMBERLAND – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and several local governments have significant highway construction going on throughout the Upper Cumberland region that will drastically impact travelers. The following are the traffic advisories for construction throughout the Upper Cumberland for June 4-10, listed by county and an estimated completion date.

Interstate Construction

CUMBERLAND COUNTY SR-24 (US-70N) Resurfacing from SR-1 (US-70)  to SR-28 (US-127), and SR-28 (US-127) resurfacing from south of Elmore Road (LM 15) to Huddle Road (LM 17.9), including bridge deck repair: The contractor will be repairing the Little Obed River Bridges (LM 15.96) on SR-28 (US-127) as well as the SR 28 (US 127) bridge over I-40 at exit MM 317 in Cumberland County. Lane closures will be required on SR-28 (US-127) from 8 PM Friday night (06/05/20) through Monday morning (06/08/20) at 6 AM for the bridge repair activities. Temporary lane closures may also be required on the interstate at the mm 317 exit. The contractor will be retrofitting sidewalk curb ramps at the intersection of Elmore Road and SR-28 (US-127). Temporary nighttime lane closures will be required for these activities. The contractor will conduct the lane closures with traffic control devices and/or flagging as necessary. Motorists should be alert as conditions are subject to change each night. Estimated project completion date is October 2020.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY I-40 Construction of a truck climbing lane EB near MM 339, including grading, drainage, and paving: The contractor has started work on the exit ramp at MM 340. Temporary nighttime interstate lane closures may be required for work around the overpass at this exit. Construction signs, guardrail (westbound), and portable barrier rail (eastbound) have been installed on I-40. The contractor has placed base stone and will be paving the new truck lane behind portable barrier rail. Motorists should use caution and be aware of construction personnel in the work zone along with equipment that will be entering/exiting the roadway. Estimated project completion date is September 2020.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY I-40 Resurfacing from the SR-101 ramp (LM 18) to east of SR-1 (US-70) (LM 24.6): The contractor will be cold planing (milling) I-40 from the Peavine Road exit (MM 322) to the Crab Orchard exit (MM 329). The eastbound and westbound lanes will be reduced to one lane with nighttime lane closures. Resurfacing activities are scheduled to begin Thursday night June 4, 2020. The speed limit will be reduced to 60 mph during working hours. Queue trucks and THP will assist with traffic control. Estimated project completion date is October 2020.

Cumberland and Putnam Counties REGION 2 On-call signing on various interstate and state routes:Beginning on 05/20/20, the contractor will installing concrete footers on the shoulder of I-40 East at mile marker 287.1 in Putnam County and on I-40 West at mile marker 319.2 in Cumberland County. Please be aware that the shoulders will be closed at those locations. Please use caution when traveling through the area. Estimated project completion date is June 2020.

State Road Construction

CUMBERLAND COUNTY Utility Work on SR-1 (WEST AVE.) in both directions from LM 14.17 to LM 14.63: Mobile lane closures will occur in both directions between Stanley Street and just beyond Park Street as crews transition the work zone. Signage, cones, and flaggers will be present between 8 AM to 3 PM with an estimated completion of 06/03/20.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY SR-1 (US-70) Emergency slope stabilization near LM 26.6: Construction signs, portable barrier rail, and temporary traffic signals have been installed. SR-1 (US-70) will be reduced to one lane traffic between Godsey Road and Renegade Mountain Parkway while slope stabilization is in process. Motorists should exercise caution and pay attention to temporary traffic signals as they travel through the work zone. 

CUMBERLAND COUNTY SR-101 (Peavine Road) Grading, drainage, and paving from Firetower Road to Westchester/Catoosa Boulevard: Motorists should use caution while driving along Peavine Road and be alert for shifts in traffic patterns. The posted speed limit has been reduced from 45 MPH to 35 MPH within the work zone. Base stone, paving, storm drain installation, and utility relocation are in progress. Temporary lane closures and/or traffic stoppages may be needed as these construction activities continue. Motorists should reduce speed on Peavine Road and be alert for construction personnel/equipment entering and exiting the roadway. Estimated project completion date is November 2020.

DEKALB AND WARREN COUNTY SR-56 Construction of bridges and paving from south of Warren-Dekalb County line to East Bryant St: The contractor will continue installing concrete box culverts and drainage structures. Grade work and utility work on the new roadway alignment are ongoing. No change in traffic patterns, traffic is still using the existing SR-56. However, motorists are advised to use caution and watch for construction equipment adjacent to roadway. Flaggers may be present to move equipment across roadway, unload equipment, or complete utility work. A portion of County House Road will be closed to allow the contractor to complete work in that area. s should follow posted signs for County House Road detour until work is complete. Estimated project completion date is May 2022.

FENTRESS COUNTY SR-52 Resurfacing (microsurfacing) from SR-296 to the Morgan County line, including bridge deck and expansion joint repair; SR-296 resurfacing (microsurfacing) from SR-28 (US-127) to SR-52; and SR-28 (US-127) resurfacing (microsurfacing) from south of Airport Road to near the Old US-127S ramp: Contractor will continue paving operations on SR-28 from LM 13.3 to 16.9. During this work, the contractor will use a mobile operation and will have the roadway down to one lane in each direction. Motorists are encouraged to use caution and obey posted speed limit through the work zone. Estimated project completion date is September 2020.

FENTRESS AND OVERTON COUNTY SR-85 Emergency slide repairs at various locations: The contractor continues work on the Overton County side of SR-85 and the road remains closed from LM 17.5 to LM 22.2. This closure will remain in effect until the project completion scheduled for 09/30/20. The Fentress County portion of SR-85 remains open to through traffic. A detour route remains in place for Overton SR-85 and motorists are encouraged to continue using the detour route until the road is opened. Estimated project completion date is September 2020.

JACKSON COUNTY SR-85 Resurfacing (microsurfacing) from the Smith County line (LM 0) to SR-56 (LM 15.3) and SR-262 resurfacing (microsurfacing) from the Macon County line (LM 0) to the Cumberland River Bridge (LM 7.5): Contractor will continue paving operations. During this work, one lane of the road will be shut down and flaggers will be used to control the flow of traffic through the work zone. Motorists are encouraged to use caution in the work zone and obey posted speed limits. Estimated project completion date is September 2020.

OVERTON COUNTY SR-294 Bridge repair over Big Eagle Creek: The lane closure at LM 1.39 remains in effect and will last until project completion scheduled for 06/15/20. The contractor has begun work on Phase 2 of the project and a temporary signal system remains in place to allow traffic through the work zone. Motorists are encouraged to use caution and move slowly through the work zone when the signal light allows. RESTRICTIONS: Loads wider than 9.5′ should seek alternate route. Estimated project completion date is June 2020.

OVERTON COUNTY S.I.A. Grading, drainage and paving on Oak Hill Road from Rickman Road to near SR-111: Contractor currently has Oak Hill Road closed to through traffic. Road closure is scheduled to remain in place until project completion on 06/30/20. The closure of Oak Hill Road will begin just past Tanimura Plant entrance and end at first entrance of Fitzgerald’s Plant. During this closure, motorists wishing to access Tanimura Plant should do so from SR-111 side; motorists wishing to access Fitzgerald’s should do so from Old SR-42/Rickman Road. A detour route will be in place along SR-293 to allow motorists to bypass Oak Hill Road. Estimated project completion date is June 2020.

PUTNAM COUNTY Utility Work on SR-135 (BURGESS FALLS RD.) in both directions from LM 4.8 to LM 4.9: Move prior for relocation project 117819.00 (Burgess Falls Road), Intersection at West Cemetery Road. Signage and flaggers will be present, motorists should be aware of personnel and equipment between 8 AM and 3 PM with an estimated completion of 06/17/20. 

PUTNAM COUNTY – Cookeville South Willow Ave. from State St. to I-40: Lane closures between I-40 and State Street with signage, barrels and cones. Motorists should use caution and be aware of personnel and equipment when traveling through the work zones. Traffic may be reduced to a single lane in some locations from 9 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday with estimated completion date of 06/30/20. 

PUTNAM COUNTY SR-136 Resurfacing from US-70N (SR-24) (LM 4.15) to north of Whiteaker Springs Road (LM 7): The contractor will install pavement markings during the day, resulting in daily lane closures from 12th Street (LM 5.4) to north of Whiteaker Springs Road (LM 7). Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling through the work zone and be alert of all traffic signage

PUTNAM COUNTY SR-111 resurfacing from south of East Main Street (LM 10.3) to the Overton County line (LM 12.96): The contractor will install construction signs and begin milling existing pavement, resulting in daily lane closures on SR-111 from East Main Street (LM 10.3) to the Overton County Line (LM 12.96). Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling through the work zone and be alert of all traffic signage, personnel, and equipment. Estimated project completion date is October 2020.

SMITH COUNTY, emergency slope stabilization on U.S. 70 (S.R. 24) near L.M. 12.95: From now through July 2020, U.S. 70 (SR 24) is reduced to one 11′ lane. Temporary traffic signal in place for traffic control.

SMITH COUNTY, High Friction Safety Improvements on SR 263:  Daily, 8AM-5PM, There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 263 for high friction safety improvements between LM 0-5.

SMITH COUNTY, Cordell Hull Bridge Repair: From now through July 2020, the Cordell Hull Bridge (Old SR 25) will be closed for repairs. A signed detour will be in place.

VAN BUREN COUNTY SR-30 Slope stabilization in VanBuren County near LM 16.1: The contractor is working on SR-30 north from LM 15.9 to 16.3. The roadway will be reduced to one lane controlled by a traffic signal. Large trucks heading West on SR-30, down the mountain, use extreme caution. Estimated project completion date is July 2020.

WHITE COUNTY Grading, drainage and paving at Airport Rd. leading up to Upper Cumberland Regional Airport: The contractor will be working on grading and drainage work along Technology Drive and Airport Road during this period. Temporary traffic stoppages may be needed as construction progresses. Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling through the work zone and be alert of all traffic signage, personnel, and equipment. Estimated project completion date is June 2020.

Michelle Price is the former managing editor of the Upper Cumberland Business Journal and can be reached via email. Send an email.

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