I-40 work in Knoxville begins with major traffic shifts

Motorists will be noticing traffic changes along interstates in Knoxville as the I-40 closure deadline of May 1 approaches.

The Associated Press

4/15/2008

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —  The closure of I-40 in downtown Knoxville begins in just 15 days on May 1 and Tuesday night the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) was set to begin the first of six major traffic shifts in conjunction with the ongoing SmartFIX40 project.

“Travelers will be noticing a number of changes along the interstates in Knoxville as we move closer to the I-40 closure on May 1,” TDOT Region One Director Fred Corum, said.  “These traffic shifts are necessary to ensure the I-640 and I-275 interchanges are reconfigured and re-striped to accommodate larger volumes of traffic that will be generated once the interstate is closed on May 1.”

The first major work will begin tonight to expand the I-40 westbound exit ramp to I-640 west (exit 393) to three lanes.

This work will help accommodate higher traffic volumes in this area.  All work is weather dependent.

Also this week, crews will work to expand the I-640 westbound ramp to I-40 westbound to three lanes; reduce I-40 westbound from downtown past the I-40/640 interchange from three lanes to two to accommodate merging traffic from I-640; and the I-40 eastbound exit ramp (exit 385) to I-640 will be expanded to three lanes and I-40 east toward downtown will be reduced to two lanes.

Scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 22, crews will work to complete a number of traffic shifts up to the May 1 closure, including re-striping the I-40 eastbound ramp to I-275 northbound (exit 387)  to carry two lanes of traffic; reducing traffic to one lane at the Henley Street exit (exit 388); reducing I-40 eastbound to one lane past the I-640 westbound exit ramp toward Asheville Highway; and re-striping the I-640 eastbound exit to I-40 eastbound (exit 393) to carry three lanes.

On Wednesday, April 30, the final preparations for the rerouting of traffic on I-40 will take place. All remaining I-40 closure advisory signs will be uncovered.

At 10 p.m., access to I-40 eastbound from Western Avenue will be closed.

At 11:00 p.m., the ramp from Hall of Fame Drive to westbound I-40 will be closed and the access to I-40 eastbound from Henley Street will be closed.

At 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, all “Interstate Ends” signs will be uncovered on eastbound and westbound I-40 near downtown Knoxville.

All local westbound traffic on I-40 between Cherry Street and Hall of Fame Drive will be diverted onto Hall of Fame Drive.  All eastbound traffic on I-40 past Henley Street will be diverted onto James White Parkway.

Closure updates and traffic shift information can be found on the SmartFIX40 Web site at www.smartfix40.com or by calling the SmartFIX40 project hotline at (865) 329-4640.