The closure of I-40 in downtown Knoxville begins in just fifteen days on May 1 and tonight the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will begin the first of six major traffic shifts in conjunction with the ongoing SmartFIX40 project.

"Travelers will be noticing a number of changes along the interstates in Knoxville as we move closer to the I-40 closure on May 1," said TDOT Region One Director Fred Corum.  "These traffic shifts are necessary to ensure the I-640 and I-275 interchanges are reconfigured and restriped to accommodate larger volumes of traffic that will be generated once the interstate is closed on May 1."

The first major work will begin now to expand the I-40 westbound exit ramp to I-640 west (exit 393) to three lanes.  This work will help accommodate higher traffic volumes in this area.  All work is weather dependent.

Scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 22, crews will work to complete a number of traffic shifts up to the May 1 closure, including:  restriping the I-40 eastbound ramp to I-275 northbound (exit 387)  to carry two lanes of traffic; reducing traffic to one lane at the Henley Street exit (exit 388); reducing I-40 eastbound to one lane past the I-640 westbound exit ramp toward Asheville Highway; and restriping the I-640 eastbound exit to I-40 eastbound (exit 393) to carry three lanes.

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