Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will close a 3-mile section of I-24 near downtown Nashville this weekend and more throughout the summer as the state replaces two aging bridges.

The repairs are part of an $8.7 million project to rehabilitate bridges that were built in 1961. The
project will require the total closure of a section of I-24 for 13 weekends this spring and summer.

Instead of shutting down the interstate for several months, TDOT is using an innovative method to rehabilitate this bridge, Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC). Using this method, 277 concrete panels weighing from 3.5 to 11.5 tons have already been created and will be dropped into the bridges then tied together. This is similar to the way a puzzle works. During the process, drivers might experience some rough driving surface, but that will be repaired in time. Due to deteriorated concrete and problems in the old bridge deck, the entire 9-inch bridge deck will be removed and replaced.

Interstate 24 eastbound and westbound will be closed from the I-24/I-65 split north of downtown Nashville to the I-24/I-40 split east of downtown beginning Friday, May 4 at p.m. The interstate will open no later than Monday, May 7 at 5 a.m.

In addition, Main Street and Woodland Street, from South 5th Street to Interstate Drive, will be closed to perform bridge repairs. Detours will be in place.

Drivers passing through downtown Nashville will follow detour signs instructing them to take the west loop (I-40/I-65) around downtown. Project closures and detour maps are available at www.tdot.state.tn.us/i24bridges/maps.shtml. A new East Nashville specific map, along with other maps to access downtown has recently been added.

All work is weather dependent.

The interstate will be shut down Fridays at 9 p.m. and reopened Mondays at 5 a.m. Due to three major events at LP Field and Memorial Day weekend, the interstate WILL NOT be closed the weekends of April 27-29, May 25-28, June 7-10, and June 22-24. Construction is estimated to be completed on or by August 31, 2012.

For more information on TDOT construction project activity visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at
www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/.