News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Overhead message boards with traffic alerts and lane closures will be added to a section of I-40 from Baxter to Rockwood.
But T-DOT said do not expect the safety improvements to be above your head until at least 2023.
“I know 2022 and 2023 sounds like a long time away, but it’s really not,” TDOT Community Relations Officer Jennifer Flynn said, “And it should be a great improvement for the Cumberland Plateau area.”
The Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) has already been deployed in areas such as Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga. It consists of traffic cameras, speed sensors, and real-time dynamic message signs. Flynn said the entire system will work together for traffic mitigation and congestion on the Cumberland Plateau.
“When the cameras and the signs are installed, the cameras will feed into our transportation management center in Chattanooga,” Flynn said, “And it’s manned 24/7, and that’s where they will take care of putting what messages need to be put up on the signs.”
The project aims to aid commuters and keep motorists safe, while giving them options to avoid traffic delays. Flynn said that the signs will be placed strategically to allow people time to consider detour options due to anticipated delays.
“Anything that happens on I-40 in that area, it can snarl traffic for a really long time,” Flynn Said, “And this should help alleviate some of that.”
Securing the proper permits is the next phase of the project, Flynn said. That will not be complete until next year. Bids for the project will be taken in late 2022 or early 2023. Cost estimates will not be available until the project gets further into development.
