A portion of Ditty Road between Baxter Road and the entrance to Portobello America will be closed starting Monday as T-DOT will begin work on the Portobello Industrial Access Project.
T-DOT Regional Communications Officer Rae-Anne Bradley said the closure is necessary to safely complete drainage upgrades, grading, resurfacing, and road widening for the new alignment of Ditty Road. Bradley said the closure is expected to last six months.
“Local traffic, drivers that just need to get around the closure, are going to use Baxter Road,” Bradley said. “They are going to head south to Academy Road and then continue to Ditty Road to reach their desired destination.”
Bradley said the main entrance to Portobello will remain open throughout construction, as delivery trucks are advised to take Willow Avenue to Ditty Road. Bradley added that it is a full closure and advised drivers to plan ahead.
“This is going to be a full closure, so there is a detour required,” Bradley said. “So just keep that in mind when you’re planning your route. And just use caution when traveling through the area. There’s going to be a lot of equipment coming in and out of the site. Our workers are going to be out there, so just be mindful and watch out for them if you’re in the area.”
Bradley said a majority of the work will be completed during the six-month closure.
“This new roadway is going to include two 12-foot travel lanes and then four-foot shoulders on either side,” Bradley said. “And then crews are also going to install two new box culverts along the new alignment, and they are going to extend an existing box culvert on Baxter Road to support the roadway widening of Diddy Road, and then the addition of a left turn lane onto Diddy Road. So once construction of all of that is complete, the road will receive new pavement markings and permanent striping. So those are kind of like next steps.”
Bradley said the project is being delivered through the State Industrial Access Program, which provides funding and assistance to support highway access to new and expanding industries in Tennessee. Bradley said the project will enhance industrial growth and economic development.