Reconstruction on Interstate 440 was supposed to begin this summer and last three years, keeping lanes open to traffic throughout the process. However, a new idea is on the table which would drastically cut the construction time.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation released details Wednesday on a different option for the massive reconstruction work on I-440 and they hope it will lead to less traffic problems by only closing segments of the roadway.
The original plan was slated to start this summer and would reduce I-440 to two lanes in both directions.
This plan would have I-440 east and west closed from the I-65 junction to the I-24 junction as early as January 2019 – that would last about three months.
The second segment would close 440 from the 65 junction to the 40 junction. Contractors would be required to have the roadway open to traffic by November 2019 or they would face a fine.
Currently four design-build teams are coming up with plans to be submitted in July. TDOT hopes to award a contract by August.
