Partial Closure on I-40 Eastbound near Spence Lane Saturday

Nashville, Tennessee - The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) issued an advisory today about the planned closure of I-40 east near Spence Lane on Saturday May 15, 2004 beginning at 9:00am. The ramp from Murfreesboro Road to I-40 east will also be closed.

“This closure must take place because of blasting that we will conduct approximately 300 feet west of Spence lane as part of the widening project in the area,” said Mark Holloran, TDOT’s Region Three Director. “We will be blasting early in the morning then will work as quickly as we can to get one lane open to allow traffic to begin flowing again.”

Holloran said this will be the first of nine weekends of blasting that will occur along a 1,200 foot section of I-40 that will require similar highway closures. The overall purpose of this safety-based project is the widening of I-40 from three to five lanes beginning near Spence Lane and ending near Briley Parkway.

“The blast this weekend is designed to remove approximately 1,500 cubic yards of rock. It will be the most critical and unpredictable of the blasts since it involves removal of the existing rock cut face,” Holloran added. Suggested detours:

• During the closure, traffic on I-40 east and the ramp from I-24 to I-40 east will be detoured to Briley Parkway.
• The traffic on I-40 east from the west side of Nashville will be directed to use I-440 east to I-24 east and then to Briley Parkway.
• Motorists needing to access I-40 east from the north side of Nashville will be directed to use I-65 Southbound to I-440 east then to I-24/I-40 split area where the two left lanes will be closed.
• Traffic from I-24 west will be directed to use Briley Parkway.
• Traffic from I-24 west will be directed to use Briley Parkway.
• The traffic on I-40 east from the downtown area will be directed to use I-24 east to Briley Parkway.

Police Officers will be stationed at signalized intersections on Briley Parkway to assist with traffic control along the detour route. Local drivers from the Nashville area should consider other alternative routes to relieve congestion on Briley Parkway. Motorists traveling to the airport are urged to leave early and take alternate routes such as Harding Place and Murfreesboro Road.

It is expected that all lanes will be reopened by sundown on May 15th; however, if circumstances prevent that from occurring, the contractor will continue to work until all lanes are open.