Governor Bill Haslam  proclaimed April 4 - 8, 2011 Work Zone Awareness Week in Tennessee, joining states across the nation to remind motorists that safer driving creates safer work zones for everyone.

TDOT will spread that message across the state this week in an effort to improve safety in Tennessee's interstate and highway construction and maintenance work zones. TDOT is also announcing the launch of the new TDOT SmartWay Mobile for smart phones.

"As we head into the busy construction season, motorists will encounter more maintenance workers, utility personnel, and construction workers on Tennessee's roadways," said Governor Haslam. "I want to remind all drivers to stay alert and focused and exercise caution and patience when driving through work zones across the state. Doing so will help ensure everyone stays safe."

The spring and summer months provide perfect weather for highway work, and there hundreds of work zones across Tennessee in downtowns, along interstates and in rural areas. Highway work zones can change frequently, making it even more important to pay attention to the road. Nationally, 85 percent of those killed in work zones are drivers and their passengers. Last year in Tennessee, eight people died in work zone crashes, all of them drivers or vehicle passengers.

TDOT offers motorists a number of tools to provide information about Tennessee's highway system, including construction related lane closures and incidents on interstates and state routes. Today, TDOT is unveiling a new website that will allow smart phone users to easily access the same information on their mobile devices. TDOT SmartWay Mobile also provides simple and easy access to TDOT's SmartWay cameras and messages displayed on the overhead Dynamic Message Signs.

"By incorporating new technology, we are arming motorists with up to the minute information, even when they're on the go," said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. "Drivers can adjust their travel times and routes, and be alert for road work ahead."

The new website works like an application. However, there is no download and no cost for its use. TDOT suggests motorists make the new website a favorite on their smart phones for ease of use. The URL is http://m.tdot.tn.gov/SmartWay/. TDOT has also posted an instructional video at http://www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/mobile.htm

TDOT will draw attention to Work Zone Awareness Week by lighting several buildings in orange, including the State Capitol, Nashville Metro Courthouse, Bridgestone Arena, and TDOT Regional Offices in Jackson, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Nashville. Work zone safety messages will also be displayed on TDOT's overhead Dynamic Message Signs on interstates.

Tennessee Department of Transportation road construction report through April 6:

DAVIDSON COUNTY, I-40 and Robertson Road Interchange:(Recovery Act Project)

• Thursday March 31, 8PM-5AM, There will be one lane of I-40 eastbound closed in order to remove barrier rail.
• Saturday April 2 and Sunday April 3, 6AM-8AM, There will be two lanes of I-40 eastbound and westbound closed in order to remove bridge overhang forms.

• Saturday April 2 and Sunday April 3, 8AM-7PM, Closure of one lane each direction of I-40 for removal of median wall and installation of storm sewer.

DAVIDSON COUNTY, I-65 at the junction with SR 12 (Rosa Parks Blvd.)

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 9PM-5AM and Saturday April 2, 6AM-6PM, There will be alternating lane closures on Rosa Parks Blvd. in order to perform drainage crossing and bridge deck replacement.

• Monday April 4 through Wednesday April 6, 9PM-5AM, There will be alternating lane closures on I-65 northbound and southbound in order to perform bridge work.

DAVIDSON COUNTY, Repair of the I-24 (Silliman Evans) Bridge over Nashville & Eastern Railroad

• Sunday April 3 through Thursday April 7, 8PM-6AM, There will be one lane and a shoulder closed on I-24 eastbound in order to install the containment system used in sandblast and paint operations.

DAVIDSON COUNTY, Widening of I-65 ramp to Old Hickory Blvd (Brentwood)

• Thursday March 31through Wednesday April 6, 9PM-5AM,  There will be alternating lane closures on Old Hickory Blvd. westbound on the bridge over I-65 in order to pour curb and gutter and to remove the concrete island.

DAVIDSON and WILLIAMSON COUNTIES, ITS Phase III:

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 9AM-3PM and 7PM-6AM, There will be periodic day and night time shoulder closures at various locations within the areas listed below in order to install devices, electrical service, and testing. 
  
  • I-24, both directions, between Briley Pkwy and Old Hickory Blvd (MM 43 to MM 40)

·         I-40, eastbound, between 28th St and DB Todd Overpass, (MM 207)

• Monday April 4 through Wednesday April 6, 8PM-5AM, I-24 Eastbound at (MM 39.6) north of Old Hickory Blvd, one left lane closed for guardrail installation, one lane to remain open.
• Monday April 4 through Wednesday April 6, 8PM-5AM, One left lane closed in both directions on I-24 at MM 63, between Old Hickory Blvd (MM 62) and Waldron Rd (MM 64), 3 lanes remain open.

• Friday April 1 at 8PM through Monday April 4 at 5AM, One left lane closed in both directions on I-24 at MM 63, between Old Hickory Blvd (MM 62) and Waldron Rd (MM 64), 3 lanes remain open for the installation of DMS 57 median foundation.

DAVIDSON AND SUMNER COUNTIES, Safety Improvements on SR 386 (Vietnam Veterans Blvd.)

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 8PM-6AM, The inside lane of SR 386 northbound and southbound from I-65 to Center Point Rd. will be closed in order to remove median and pave for a traffic shift.

DAVIDSON COUNTY, Central Pike from US 70 to Stoners Creek

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 9AM-3PM, (excluding Sunday), There will be alternating lane closures on Central Pike from Lebanon Rd to Stoner’s Creek in order to install pipe. Flaggers will be utilized.

REGION 3 On-Call Guardrail:

• Thursday March 31 through Tuesday April 5, 8PM-6AM, (each night), There will be one lane closures at various locations on interstates and state routes in Davidson, Smith, Wilson, and Rutherford Counties for guardrail and attenuator repair.

REGION 3, On-Call Cable Barrier Repair

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 8PM-6AM, There will be one lane closures at various locations on interstate and state routes in order to repair cable barrier rail.

REGION 3, On-Call Pavement Marking

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 7AM-7PM, There will be rolling lane closures on various State Routes in Montgomery, Hickman, Marshall, and Dickson Counties in order to retrace pavement markings.

REGION 3, On-Call Striping

• Wednesday April 6 through Friday April 9, 9PM-5AM, There will be alternating lane closures in Davidson, Wilson, and Sumner Counties on ramps entering and exiting the interstate in order to replace or install striping on the roadway.

REGION 3, On-Call Concrete Repair

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6: No closures scheduled.

GILES COUNTY, Resurfacing on I-65 from US 64 to the Marshall County line Including Bridge Repair

• Friday April 1, 8PM through Monday April 4, 6AM, There will be one lane closed on I-65 southbound in Giles County between mile marker 19.6 and mile marker 20.3 in order to perform bridge repair. One lane will remain open.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Bridge Construction on SR 13 (Wilma Rudolph) over the Red River

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 9AM-3PM, There will be alternating lane closures on Wilma Rudolph Blvd. (SR 13) southbound over the Red River in order to perform bridge work.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Widening on Waldron Rd (Recovery Act Project)

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6: No closures scheduled.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Bridge Repair on SR 840 over Overall Creek

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6: No closures scheduled.

SUMNER COUNTY, SR 109 Widening from SR 76 To SR 52

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6: No closures scheduled.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Widening of I-65 from SR 248 (Goose Creek) to SR 96

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 8PM-5AM, There will be alternating one lane closures on I-65 northbound and southbound between SR 96 and MM 62.5 in order to perform some maintenance work and install barrier rail. One lane will remain open.

WILSON COUNTY, SR-171 (Mt Juliet Road) Widening: (Recovery Act Project)

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 9AM–3PM, (excluding weekend), There will be temporary lane closures on Mt. Juliet Road (SR-171) northbound and southbound, from Division St. to Lebanon Road, for installation of storm sewer and base stone.  Flaggers will be utilized.

WILSON COUNTY, SR 109 widening from I-40 to SR 24

• Thursday March 31 and Friday April 1, 9AM-3PM, There will be alternating lane closures on SR 109 northbound and southbound from I-40 to Eastgate Blvd. in order to install signal poles and signals.

DAVIDSON COUNTY, TDOT Maintenance:

Davidson County

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 9AM-3PM, There will be possible lane closures at various locations on State Routes and Interstates in Middle Tennessee to patch potholes and for ditch cleaning.
• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 9AM-3PM, and 7PM-1AM, There will be mobile operations in various locations in Davidson County for vegetation control and shoulder work. This will affect the shoulders or inside and outside lanes.
• Thursday March 31, 7PM-3AM, The two right lanes will be closed on I-65 southbound at mile marker 89 for milling and paving. Two lanes will remain open.

Williamson County

• Tuesday April 5 through Wednesday April 6, 8PM-3AM, There will be alternating lane closures on I-65 southbound between mile marker 60 and mile marker 57 for milling and paving.One lane will remain open.

Montgomery County

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, (excluding weekends), 9AM-4PM, There will be one lane closed periodically on I-24 westbound in Montgomery County between mile marker 8 and mile marker 11 in order to trim vegetation overhanging the roadway. One lane will remain open. Exit 11 is S.R. 76 Adams and Clarksville Exit, and Exit 8 is S.R. 237 Rossview Road Exit.

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, (excluding weekends), 9AM-3PM, There will be periodic lane closures on State Route 48 (Trenton Road) in Montgomery County between the 8 mile marker and the 9 mile marker in order to reshape ditches, pave and stripe. This work will be done between Needmore Road and Treeland Drive.

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 7PM-6AM, There will be periodic lane closures on State Route 48 (Collage Street) between mile marker 5 and mile marker 6. This work will be done between Spring Street and 4th Avenue. Civic Engineering working for the City of Clarksville Gas and Water Department will be boring to take soil samples in order to do pipe integrity test.

Robertson County

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, (excluding weekends), 9AM-4PM, There will be one lane closed periodically on I-24 in both directions in Robertson County between mile marker 25 and mile marker 19 in order to trim vegetation overhanging the roadway. One lane will remain open. This is between exit 24 (Springfield and Ashland City) and Exit 19 (Adams).

TDOT Bridge Repair

Davidson County

• Thursday March 31 through Friday April 1, 9AM-3PM, State Route 45 between Madison and Old Hickory over the Cumberland River Bridge, the right lane will be closed in both directions for bridge inspection. One lane will remain open.
• Thursday April 1 through Wednesday April 6, 9AM-3PM, State Route 100 at mile markers 1.06 and 7.36 over the Harpeth River Bridge, one lane will be closed for bridge inspection. One lane will remain open.

• Tuesday April 5, 8PM-5AM, I-24 westbound at mile marker 58.6 (over Mill Creek), two right lanes will be closed to repair potholes in bridge deck. Two lanes will remain open.

Utilities

• Beginning Monday April 4, 9AM-7PM (EACH DAY for approximately 130 DAYS) – The right lane on Lebanon Road westbound will be closed for the installation of a new 16” water main. Two lanes will remain open.

Local Program Projects

ARRA Project Intersection Improvements (Davidson Co.)

• Thursday March 31 through Wednesday April 6, 9AM-3PM, There will be lane closures at the following intersection for improvements. (Harding Place & Antioch Pike, Bell Rd. & Cane Ridge Rd., Harding Place & Trousdale Dr.)

Motorists are encouraged to use caution and obey reduced speed limits in all TDOT work zones, regardless of lane closure activity.

Information in this report is provided to the Department of Transportation by the contractors. Most work is weather dependent and subject to change due to inclement weather.

For more information on this or any other TDOT road construction project or to view travel conditions in this area visit the TDOT SmartWay Information System web site ( http://www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/ ). People can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone to access up to date traffic conditions, or visit www.TN511.com ( http://www.tn511.com/ ). TDOT is also now on Twitter. For up to date traffic tweets for the Nashville area follow Nashville511 ( http://twitter.com/nashville511 ) on Twitter. For statewide traffic tweets just follow TN511 ( http://twitter.com/TN511 ). Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly. Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle. TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for your destination.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is launching a new safety campaign aimed at eliminating tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at the state's 2,815 public at-grade railroad crossings. New billboards and posters will be installed near high traffic railroad crossings across the state to remind drivers and pedestrians to make safe decisions at crossings and around railroad tracks.

"More than seven hundred fatalities occurred in the U.S. last year as a result of vehicle-train collisions," said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. "Those statistics are proof we need to intensify our efforts to educate the public about taking unnecessary risks at railroad crossings.

As part of the safety campaign, sixteen billboards and 94 large digital posters will be displayed now through late 2013 at rotating locations near railroad crossings with high traffic volumes. The program is funded through the "Ton Mile Tax," which are funds collected by TDOT from railroads that operate within the state and earmarked specifically for safety related programs.

In the last two years, there have been 95 vehicle-train collisions in Tennessee, killing five people and injuring 26 others. So far in 2011, one person has died in a vehicle-train collision. According to Operation Lifesaver, more than 450 people in the U.S. were killed while trespassing on tracks last year, an 8.2% rise in trespassing fatalities since 2009.

Train and Railroad Crossing Facts

• Average train weighs 12 million pounds
• Weight ratio of a train to car is about 4,000-to-one, or that of a car to an aluminum can
• A train traveling 50mph and pulling 100 cars takes one mile to stop
• Majority of vehicle-train collisions occur when trains are traveling at less than 35mph
• Nearly 2/3rds of all collisions occur during daylight hours.

For more information on TDOT's Rail Regulatory and Safety office, please visit http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/maintenance/railregulatory.htm.

Middle Tennessee Construction March 24 – March 30, 2011

Middle Tennessee Construction March 17 – March 23, 2011

• Road Closures

Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will close lanes on Interstate 65 North and South in Giles County this weekend to perform bridge repair work. I-65 from mile marker 16.7 to mile marker 21.6 will be reduced to one lane in each direction beginning Friday, March 18, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. The lanes will reopen no later than Monday, March 21 at 6:00 a.m.

During this weekend's lane closures, workers will remove and replace deteriorated concrete on four bridges located within the project area. Once the concrete is replaced, it will have to harden for several hours. The bridge repairs are being completed as part of a $1.8 million dollar interstate resurfacing project that stretches from U.S. 64 to the Marshall County line. The entire project is expected to be complete by the end of July 2011.

TDOT will use portable message boards to alert motorists of the lane closures. Motorists are advised to plan ahead and expect delays. Law enforcement officers will be on site in the work zone to provide traffic control as the work is being completed. TDOT also asks drivers to use caution, reduce their speed and be alert to changing traffic conditions in work zones across the state.

For more information on TDOT construction project activity visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information or can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel information or www.twitter.com/Nashville511 for traffic information in the Nashville area. Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly. Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle. TDOT advises drivers to "Know before you go!" by checking traffic conditions before leaving for their destination.

Middle Tennessee Construction February 24 – March 2, 2011

• Road Closures

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The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced today that federal and state aeronautics grants totaling $309,249 have been approved for eight Tennessee airports.

Lebanon Municipal Airport received $89,010 in a state grant that will be combined with $9,890 in local money for $98,900 for repairing pavement cracks and sealing.

The grants are made available through the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Division.

The division administers federal and state funding to assist in the location, design, construction and maintenance of Tennessee's diverse public aviation system.

Except for routine expenditures, grant applications are reviewed by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission (TAC), which is a five member board charged with policy planning and with regulating changes in the state Airport System Plan. The board carefully reviews all applications for grants to ensure that the proper state and local matching funds are in place and that the grants will be used for needed improvements.