Tennessee motorists will not have to worry about construction delaying their Independence Day plans, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
“With so many people hitting the road we want to do all we can to ensure they reach their destinations safely and without necessary delays,” said TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley in a Monday press release. “We are doing so by suspending lane closures during this busy holiday travel time.”
The agency is suspending all construction operations beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, July 1 and ending at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5.
According to the release, the state is expecting 1 million Tennesseans to hit the road for the holiday – a record – despite soaring gas prices in the state and nationwide.
The news of the halt in construction comes just days after TDOT announced a new plan to address potholes statewide, which is an ongoing issue that has been plaguing Tennessee’s motorists.
A hotline, 833-TDOTFIX (836-8349), is now up and running for Tennesseans to report potholes so TDOT can fix them.
“We all know it’s been a terrible year for potholes and here at TDOT we are always looking for ways to improve our customer service,” Eley said last week. “For the citizens, this hotline will give them another convenient way to report maintenance problems on our interstates and state routes. For TDOT, this centralized way of receiving, processing, and tracking information will enhance our operations.”
The department is spending $3.3 million in the way of pothole repair.
“As the weather allows, multiple crews will be patching potholes over the coming days and weeks. Cold mix asphalt is currently being used for repairs. Asphalt plants may open during the day and allow crews to use hot mix for more permanent repairs in some areas,” TDOT said in January. “However, it may be spring or early summer before more permanent repairs are made throughout the state. Full-scale paving may be necessary to repair more severe locations fully. Dedicated crews will be assigned to interstates, while smaller groups will focus on state routes.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Road Construction” by Thomas R Machnitzki. CC BY 3.0.
