T-DOT set to begin the Jefferson Avenue resurfacing project this week.
T-DOT Regional Communications Officer Rae Anne Bradley said the project ranges from I-40 to East Spring Street. Bradley said the work is scheduled for completion by the end of August and includes significant infrastructure upgrades beyond simple paving.
“We just ask drivers to be patient with us and with our contract crews while we work to get this very, very important, very, very high profile resurfacing project completed as quickly and as safely as possible,” Bradley said. “So, you know, kind of in that same vein, if you do have to travel through this area while this work is taking place, we just encourage drivers to please drive carefully, don’t drive distracted, pay attention.”
Bradley said the project includes nightly lane closures from 7pm to 6am to minimize the impact on local traffic. Bradley said one lane will remain closed in each direction during those hours while contractors maintain traffic flow through the work zone.
“We want all of our folks to get home safe to their families at the end of the day, we want all of the drivers driving through this area to make it to their destination safely,” Bradley said. “So, for the driver’s safety and for the safety of our crews, please be careful when you’re driving through this area.”
Bradley said the department coordinates these schedules specifically to mitigate delays for drivers during high-profile construction. Bradley said the improvements will benefit both motorists and pedestrians using the sidewalks and crosswalks along the corridor.
“So it’s going to be easier to navigate, it’s going to be a smoother ride, it’s going to be a safer ride,” Bradley said. “And so those are the things that we’re very confident this project’s going to accomplish once all of the improvements have been completed.”
Bradley said the initial phase of the project focuses on removing existing curb ramps to replace them with ADA-compliant ramps and crosswalks. Bradley said crews will also upgrade the curbs from Stevens Street to East Spring Street before the paving begins.
“Over the next several weeks, the contractor’s going to focus on removing some existing curb ramps throughout the corridor, we’re going to upgrade them to be ADA compliant, ADA compliant ramps, crosswalks, things of that nature and then as part of that effort they’ll also be upgrading the curbs from Stevens Street up to East Spring Street,” Bradley said. “Uh, so once all of those ramps and curb improvements have been completed, the project will move into the milling and paving phase.”
Bradley said the milling and paving portion of the project is currently scheduled to begin in mid-June. Bradley said this specific phase is expected to last approximately six weeks, though the timeline remains subject to weather and roadway conditions.
“A new concrete island is going to be constructed and added between the I-40 West overpass and South Walnut Avenue,” Bradley said. “And then for drivers traveling north on South Jefferson Avenue, a second turn lane is going to be added for those turning from South Jefferson Avenue turning left from South Jefferson Avenue onto Interstate Drive.”