Travis Brickey
TDOT, Community Relations Officer
Office: 865.594.0161
Mobile: 865.755.9960
travis.brickey@tn.gov

TDOT Media Advisory
 James White Parkway Ramp Opens Early

Knoxville, TN. --- The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced today that the ramp from northbound James White Parkway (JWP) to westbound I-40 will open at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, May 2.  Originally, a temporary one-lane asphalt ramp was to be constructed by May 17, 2008 following the closure of I-40 on May 1, 2008. However, TDOT traffic engineers and SmartFIX40 contractors were able to devise a plan to reroute westbound I-40 traffic utilizing one lane of the existing two-lane eastbound JWP exit ramp saving two weeks of construction time. This ramp configuration will be in use until the permanent JWP westbound exit ramp is constructed.

Traffic information can be found on the SmartFIX40 website at www.smartfix40.com or by calling the SmartFIX40 project hotline at 865-329-GO40 (4640). Motorists can also dial 511 statewide or tune to 1620 AM along East Tennessee interstates to get updated traffic information.

SmartFIX40 is TDOT’s single most expensive construction project in its 90 year history.  Broken into two separate contracts, SmartFIX40 has a price tag of $190 million.  SmartFIX40 is an accelerated construction process that involves closing a primary roadway to allow around-the-clock work that is uninterrupted by traffic in order to dramatically shorten the time it takes to complete the project, thereby reducing the long-term inconvenience to motorists.