Major closures for I-40 Bridge over Mississippi River begin August 3rd

Exit 1 Ramp to Close for 3 Weeks

Memphis, TN – Crews are preparing to conduct the first of several months of major lane closures as work to seismically retrofit the Interstate 40/Hernando DeSoto Bridge over the Mississippi River continues.

• August 3rd, 2010 through mid-September – The I-40 Eastbound exit one off-ramp to Front Street, Riverside Drive and the Tennessee Welcome Center will be closed.  All traffic will be detoured to Exit 1B at Danny Thomas Blvd. to Poplar Avenue, Front Street, and Jefferson Avenue.  A detour map is attached.

This is the first of three phases of major lane closures on the bridge through the mid-November.  Crews will be replacing a large seismic joint on three bridge piers.  During the second phase, which begins September 7th, crews will reduce I-40 to one lane in each direction until the week of November 15th.  In addition, phase three will require crews to close the I-40 westbound entrance ramp from Front Street and Riverside Drive in mid-October through mid-November.

TDOT has created a project website, http://www.tn.gov/tdot/i40hd/, to keep the public informed about the upcoming project and will distribute brochures and posters to area businesses to further spread the word about the upcoming closures.

For more information on travel conditions across the state visit the TDOT SmartWay website at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/ or dial 5-1-1 from any land-line or cellular phone.  TDOT is also on Twitter.  For up to date travel information for the Memphis area follow Memphis511 on Twitter or follow TN511 for statewide updates.