Interstate 181, from mile markers 31-38, is undergoing its first major resurfacing in 30 years, causing delays for commuting students.
Motorists can expect the road to be the most congested during peak hours from 7-9 a.m. and from 4-6 p.m.
“That road has a reputation of being bumpy and slick,” said Carroll Boone, Tennessee Department of Transportation project engineer.
Boone said work is being done to make the road safer by making it smoother and providing better traction when the road is wet. “Basically, it will be like a new highway,” he said.
The construction is being conducted in two phases. First, repair of all the old concrete along the main riding surface and second, repaving the shoulders with new asphalt.
Most of the work on the shoulders is now completed and currently TDOT workers are resurfacing the concrete roadway.
Boone said that ideally, this type of maintenance would be done once every 10-15 years, however, this road, for one reason or another, had not received this type of maintenance in quite a while.
The contract to do this job was formalized in June and construction began July 29. The deadline for completion is next June, but Boone thinks the job could be finished before the end of the year, barring any extremes in weather.
“We think we’ve got a legitimate shot at being done this year,” he said. “We’re ahead of schedule and if we keep good weather we’ve got a good chance to get done.”
All asphalt work must be done during warm weather and the deadline to complete such work is Dec. 1. “We have got to maintain a certain temperature of the asphalt and the surface has to be a certain temperature. Asphalt-type material has to be dealt with in warm temperatures,” Boone said.
Boone said he understands the problems projects like these cause motorists and TDOT tries to minimize the inconvenience.
“When you do construction there is always a sacrifice to make to get it done,” he said. “We’ve got to secure the safety of the workers and the motorists.”
Motorists are doing a good job of dealing with the situation, Boone said. Part of the reason is that TDOT has spent a lot of money putting signs on the road to give people plenty of advanced warning of reduced speed areas and lane closures.
Most of the accidents that have occurred have been minor collisions, nothing serious, Boone said.
To avoid this or other serious accidents Boone said to obey the speed limit and follow at a safe distance behind other vehicles.
According to Boone, right now, the posted speed limit in the construction zone is 50 mph due to the “floating work zones,” where workers repair one small section at a time and then move on.
“Considering traffic on I-181 it is moving as best it can,” he said.
TDOT encourages motorists to use alternate routes if at all possible to avoid problems or further delays in the work zone.
“We advise people to take alternate routes,” Boone said. However, TDOT does not recommend going through subdivisions or on non-state routes, he explained.
“We wanted to create better rideability and traction and that’s what we’re doing,” Boone said. “It’s going to be a major improvement and when we’re done it will be a lot safer.

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