As Tennessee and the nation continue to open back following shutdowns from the coronavirus, drivers are reminded to be safe as they hit the roads again.

One major issue is the dangers of driving while drowsy.  Sleepiness can result in crashes any time of the day or night, but three factors are most commonly associated with drowsy-driving crashes.

Drowsy-driving crashes:

1. Occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon. At both times of the day, people experience dips in their circadian rhythm—the human body’s internal clock that regulates sleep;
2. Often involve only a single driver (and no passengers) running off the road at a high rate of speed with no evidence of braking; and
3. Frequently occur on rural roads and highways.

How to avoid driving drowsy:

1. Getting adequate sleep on a daily basis is the only true way to protect yourself against the risks of driving when you’re drowsy. Experts urge consumers to make it a priority to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. 
2. Before the start of a long family car trip, get a good night’s sleep, or you could put your entire family and others at risk.
3. Many teens do not get enough sleep at a stage in life when their biological need for sleep increases, which makes them vulnerable to the risk of drowsy-driving crashes, especially on longer trips. Advise your teens to delay driving until they’re well-rested.
4. Avoid drinking any alcohol before driving. Consumption of alcohol interacts with sleepiness to increase drowsiness and impairment.
5. Always check your prescription and over-the-counter medication labels to see if drowsiness could result from their use. 

A new temporary traffic pattern on I-75 northbound at the 24 split has caused the location of I-75 North and the split of I-24 West to move about 1/4 mile to the south. The reconfiguration changed the physical layout of the split and now requires drivers wishing to remain on I-75 North to negotiate a new, earlier decision point using a recently constructed interstate ramp to the east of the I‑75 mainline.

Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina will again join forces this year for the third annual ‘Operation Southern Shield,’ a week-long speed enforcement operation. Drivers breaking the law by traveling above the legal speed limit on interstates, major highways and local roads beginning next Monday will face police officers and state troopers.

According to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of traffic deaths reported in the state during last year’s Southern Shield was 29 percent lower than the past several years during the last two weeks of July.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – TDOT contract crews will make full‑depth concrete repairs this weekend in lane #2 (right/slow lane) on I-24 West near mile marker 174 in the Lookout Valley/Tiftonia area of Chattanooga, Hamilton County. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday evening, July 10, 2020 and continuing until 6:00 a.m. EDT on Monday morning, July 13, 2020, the contractor will have the right lane closed on I-24 West near mile marker 174 to perform this work. One lane will remain open at all times during these repairs.

Major traffic impacts are expected. Motorists are advised to avoid this area during this weekend work. If they must travel through the area, they are encouraged to be patient and alert to the activities and personnel in the work zone.

All lanes on I-24 West will reopen by 6:00 a.m. EDT on Monday morning July 13, 2020.

This work is part of a resurfacing project currently underway on both directions of I-24 in Hamilton County from the Georgia state line at mile marker 171 to just west of the U.S. 27 split at mile marker 178. Most of the work on this project will take place at nighttime on Sundays through Thursdays between the hours of 8:00 p.m.and 6:00 a.m. EDT. However, the contractor is allowed up to three weekend lane closures to perform necessary full-depth concrete repairs on I-24 West. This weekend’s closure is the first of these.

The contractor for the 7-mile project is Talley Construction Company, Inc., and the project completion date is on or before October 31, 2020. The cost of the project is $6,179,177.64.

This work is weather dependent. Should weather or unforeseen circumstances postpone this work, it will be rescheduled to take place as soon as possible.

The Highway 27 northbound on-ramp from 4th Street will be closed Thursday, July 2nd from 9AM until 3PM due to shoulder work.  Detours will be posted via Chestnut Street to the Martin Luther King Jr Blvd interchange with Highway 27.

NASHVILLE – Road construction won’t slow motorists across Tennessee over the July 4^thholiday.  The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, July 3^rdthrough 6:00 a.m. on Monday, July 6^th to provide maximum roadway capacity for holiday travelers.

“The coronavirus has impacted travel plans for Tennesseans this July 4^th holiday,” TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright said. “Although fewer motorists will be traveling through Tennessee, we are suspending lane closures during this holiday travel time to help motorists 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.

This summer, AAA forecasts Americans will take 700 million trips based on economic indicators and state re-openings. That number is down nearly 15% compared to last July through September and is the first decline in summer travel since 2009.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Despite altered work procedures designed to increase safety, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is pushing ahead on construction projects across the state. Reduced traffic over the past several weeks has also allowed TDOT crews to perform additional maintenance to interstates and state highways and make solid progress on projects in general across the state. 

In Nashville, the I-440 Reconstruction Project is in its final phase of work, with paving anticipated to be complete earlier than the project’s July 26^th completion date. In Jackson, a project to widen Interstate 40 continues with traffic now driving on newly constructed lanes and all bridge demolition now complete. In Chattanooga, work is progressing well on the I-75/I-24 Interchange Modification Project. All Phase 1 traffic shifts have been completed and the entire project is slated for completion in summer 2021. In Knox and Blount Counties, three projects underway to improve Alcoa Highway are progressing well with traffic being shifted into newly constructed lanes and retaining wall construction nearing completion.

Since late March, TDOT crews have been able to take advantage of dramatically reduced traffic volumes on interstates across the state. Workers have been performing additional pothole patching and small paving projects to repair pavement impacted by winter weather. Under normal conditions, these operations are limited due to the severe traffic congestion they can cause during daytime hours. 

Traffic volumes are beginning to increase to more normal levels. While TDOT does anticipate a reduction in state gas tax revenues for several months due to the reduced fuel usage, the department is only expecting modest delays in construction projects due to this reduction. Most project design activities have transitioned well to a work from home environment; however, COVID-19 has slowed the process to purchase property, with many real estate transactions being handled through mail rather than in-person. Projects that require a high number of real estate acquisitions and even modest relocations of homes and businesses will likely require additional time. Right now, TDOT is projecting only a few months delay on a handful of projects.

4th Street under Highway 27 will be closed Wednesday, June 24th through Friday, June 26th for bridge demolition. The Highway 27 southbound off-ramp to 4th Street will detour to the 6th Street exit.