The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes beginning at midnight on Thursday through 6 a.m. on Tuesday to provide maximum roadway capacity for holiday travelers.
“Tennessee’s interstates and state routes will be especially busy during the July fourth holiday,” TDOT Commissioner John Schroer said. “We will be suspending lane closures for this holiday travel period to help travelers reach their destinations safely and without unnecessary delays.”
Motorists will still encounter some long term lane closures on construction projects.
While lane closure activity will be stopped, workers may be on site in construction zones and reduced speed limits in work zones will still be in effect. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.
AAA projects nearly 43 million Americans will travel this Independence Day weekend, the highest July fourth travel volume on record, and a half million more travelers than last year. Over 36 million of them will drive. AAA estimates more than 831,000 Tennesseans will travel during the holiday, with over 744,000 driving.
From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at
www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel.
TDOT officials remind all drivers to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.