Improvement work getting underway on I-640/I-40/I-75/I-275

Nashville, Tenn.—The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) laid out plans today for a new, multifaceted road and bridge improvement plan for Knoxville that will get underway March 1, 2004. The project includes maintenance, repair and improvement work on I-640, I-40, I-75 and I-275.

“This project includes some much needed repairs to seven bridges and to a retaining wall that was identified late last year as needing reinforcement work,” said Fred Corum, TDOT’s Region 1 Director. “Twenty-one interchange ramps in this section also need improvements. There is no easy way to do this work. We are consolidating everything we can into night work and weekend work, but there will be some unavoidable weekday traffic delays as well.”

Corum explained that this work that must be done for safety reasons and to prevent the further deterioration of components included in the impacted corridor. “We’re doing all we can to get the word out to help drivers plan their trips and to mitigate congestion where possible. We are also taking the Nascar race at Bristol Motor Speedway into consideration and planning around it.”

According to Corum, at least ten portable message signs will be used throughout the life of the project, warning drivers of the upcoming construction. Some of those signs will be posted as far as five miles out, others will be placed on nearby streets next to interstate access ramps. Fliers describing the project will also be posted at welcome centers in East Tennessee.

The contract completion date for the project is June 30, 2005. The contract was awarded to Renfro Construction Company for the amount of $8,253,947.10. The contractor will receive an incentive of up to $5,000 per day up to a maximum amount of $300,000 for completing the project early. If the project is not completed by June 30, 2005, $5,000 per day will be deducted from the contractor’s payment. Those deductions will be unlimited.

Here is the construction plan, step by step. Impacted bridges are listed below.

Beginning March 1, 2004, the contractor will work on the I-75 north/south (I-640 east/west) portion of the project. This work will include milling and paving of the shoulders on I-640 in preparation for traffic shift, grinding conflicting striping and clearing brush.

Later in March, the contractor will reduce I-40 east and westbound traffic to two lanes from Bridge # 2 (I-40 east and west over I-75 north/I-640 east ramp) to Liberty Street bridge over I-40 for a period of five (5) weeks. That work will begin after the Nascar Nextel Cup Series at the Speedway on Monday March 29, at 7:00 p.m. The contractor has agreed to work 24-hour shifts 7 days per week on bridge numbers 2, 3, 5, and 7.

Once this work is completed the contractor will begin work on either bridge number 1, 4 or 6. The contractor will only be allowed to work on one of these bridges at a time until each one is completed. The contract requires work to begin on each bridge on a Friday at 7:00 p.m. and continue in 24-hour shifts, 7 days per week, until completed.

During the summer months twenty-one different interchange ramps in this section will require improvements and repairs. Ramps I-75 south to I- 640 east, S.R. 9 to I-640 east, I-640 west to S.R. 9, I-640 west to I-75 north, I-75 north to S.R. 62 east and I-75 north to S.R. 62 west will be included in a schedule yet to be determined. As much of the ramp work will be done over the weekends as possible. Ramps will not be closed simultaneously with exception of I-75 south to I-640 east and S.R. 9 to I-640 east. All other ramps will remain open during work. Detours will be provided.

Impacted bridges and work description:

Bridge # 1: I-40 west to I-75 north (I-640east)

Repair deteriorated areas of bridge deck, remove and repair deteriorated areas of concrete on abutments and bents. Apply a texture-coat finish to bridge parapets, abutments and bents. Touch-up paint on structural steel.

Bridge # 2: I-40 east and west bridge over I-75north (I-640 east) ramp

Provide new expansion joints at end of pavement at bridge ends. Apply texture-coat finish to parapets (railings), abutments and bents. Repair deteriorated areas of concrete on abutments and bents (framework).

Bridge # 3: I-75 south(I-640 west) to I-40 east

Remove existing asphalt on bridge. Scarify ¾” of existing bridge deck. Repair deteriorated concrete on deck. Overlay existing deck with 1½” Polymer Modified Concrete. Install new expansion joints. Blast clean, and paint existing steel. Apply texture-coat to parapets, abutments and bents.

Bridge # 4: I-40 east to I-75 north ( I-640 east)

Scarify (lacerate) bridge deck ¾”. Repair deteriorated concrete on bridge deck. Overlay bridge with 1½” Polymer Modified Concrete. Provide new expansion joints at bridge ends. Blast and paint existing steel structures. Apply texture-coat to parapets, abutments and bents.

Bridge # 5: I-75 south ( I-640 west) to I-40 east

Same as bridge # 3

Bridge # 6: I- 40 west to I-75 north ( I-640 east)

Same as bridge # 4

Bridge # 7: Liberty Street over I-40

Same as bridge # 4

Other Important projects:

1. Resurfacing of I-140 (Pellissippi Parkway): from US 70(SR 1, Kingston Pike) in Knox Co. to SR115 (Alcoa Hwy) in Blount County. The contractor will begin clearing operations on March 1st. The clearing operation will require lane closures during daytime hours. Approximately March 15 the milling and paving operation will begin and motorists should expect lane closures during this time.

Contract Cost: $ 3,541,929

Estimated Completion Date: 12/15/04

2. Resurfacing of SR1 (Kingston Pike): from Papermill Road to the junction of Newcom Avenue. This will include overnight work only beginning sometime late spring. All milling and paving operations will be done between hours of 7:00 PM and 7:00 am. This project is scheduled to be let to contract in March. No estimated completion date at this time.

*This news release and related photographs and maps can be found in the TDOT web site media room at www.tennessee.gov/tdot.

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