TDOT Help Trucks Race to Bristol

Knoxville, Tennessee - The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will be sending special “HELP” to the Tri-Cities this weekend to assist with the heavy traffic expected in conjunction with events at Bristol Motor Speedway. 

Four lime-yellow HELP trucks from Knoxville will be roaming the area to assist with incidents in an effort to keep traffic moving.  The trucks are four-wheel drive and come equipped with push bumpers, top-mounted arrow boards, emergency work lights, air compressors, and others tools.   Operators can perform a variety of functions from pushing a stalled car off the roadway to changing a flat tire.

“Our HELP trucks are also equipped with emergency response equipment and our drivers are trained emergency medical responders,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.  “We are happy to be able to share their services around the state for major events like this that bring large numbers of motorists to cities that don’t have permanent HELP operations.”

Knoxville’s 13 HELP truck drivers assisted more than 18-thousand motorists last year alone.  TDOT has HELP truck programs in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville and Memphis.

Other traffic control measures being taken by TDOT on the dates surrounding the Food City 500 race weekend from March 26 through March 28 include:

• For traffic heading westbound from the race to Knoxville, one of the westbound I-40 lanes will be closed in Jefferson County to allow two lanes to flow from I-81 towards Knoxville.  Portable message boards will be used to advise motorists.

• TDOT maintenance units will be posted throughout the region to perform emergency repairs.

• TDOT will provide portable messages signs to warn drivers of delays.

• TDOT will suspend all construction projects that restrict traffic from Friday March 26 through the race weekend.

For information on construction activity on Tennessee’s interstate system, go to www.tennessee.gov/tdot and click on Traveler Information.