TDOT Stops Interstate Construction for Memorial Day Weekend

Nashville, Tenn.--The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will halt all interstate construction work this Memorial Day weekend in anticipation of heavy holiday travel.

TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely has instructed all of the department’s crews and contractors to stop road construction work starting at 4 p.m. Friday May 27, through the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 31. This will provide maximum roadway capacity to the many motorists expected to travel through the state this holiday weekend. Construction on all interstates will be stopped and projects on all state routes carrying average daily traffic of 30,000 vehicles or greater will be also be put on hold.

“Suspending construction on holiday weekends is now common practice for TDOT,” said Commissioner Nicely. “It is more important to keep traffic moving and to allow people to travel without interruptions during the holidays than it is to continue to work during these busy travel periods. We want everyone to have an enjoyable trip and to stay safe.”

Drivers should also obey the speed limit, particularly in construction zones, even when workers are not present. The slower speeds are necessary due to the temporary layout of the roadway in construction zones and will be strictly enforced.

The AAA Auto Club South estimates that more than 600,000 Tennesseans are expected to travel this weekend, with 545,000 projected to drive, while 65,000 are expected to travel by plane. The Association also estimates that across the country, 37.2 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day Holiday period.