TDOT Halts Construction for Thanksgiving Holiday Travel

Nashville, Tennessee - The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will suspend construction on all major roadways in the state beginning at noon Wednesday, November 23, 2005, to ease traffic flow for those traveling on Tennessee’s roads during the Thanksgiving holiday period.

“According to AAA Auto Club South, more than 700,000 Tennesseans will be traveling in their vehicles this Thanksgiving holiday period,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “We hope that by stopping road construction early we will help people get to their destinations safely and on time.”

AAA Auto Club South predicts that more than 37 million Americans will be traveling this Thanksgiving and that 83% of those people will travel by motor vehicle despite the rise in fuel prices.

Tennessee construction work will be halted on all roads that have an average daily traffic count of 30,000 vehicles or more which includes interstates and state routes. According to Nicely, construction will not resume until Monday, November 28 after the morning rush hour period.

Some minimal lane closures on long term projects will need to remain in place. They include:

• State Route 67 over the Doe River in Carter County.
• State Route 58 over the Tennessee River in Roane County.
• Old Hickory Boulevard over Whites Creek in Davidson County is down to one lane due to bridge work.
• State Route 10 over Goose Creek is down to one lane in Trousdale County due to bridge work.
• Interstate 40/240 at the Midtown Interchange project in Shelby County.

These closures must be kept in place for the safety of motorists due to the layout of the construction projects.

However, in Davidson County, in Nashville a new third lane will be opening in each direction beginning this Wednesday at noon on Briley Parkway between McGavock Pike and Gallatin Road.

Though construction workers will not be on site, reduced speed limits will still be in place in some construction zones where the special layout requires caution on the part of the driver. Drivers are urged to follow all work zone instructions for their own safety.

Also remember Tennessee law requires drivers to move over for stopped emergency vehicles on interstates. If there is no lane available, drivers must slow down while passing any stopped emergency vehicle such as a police unit, trooper, TDOT HELP truck, tow truck, fire truck, ambulance, etc.

Statistics researchers at TDOT estimate a traffic increase of approximately 10% on Tennessee interstates during the Thanksgiving holiday period, with Friday being the busiest day of all.