Interstate 75 Project in Chattanooga, Ooltewah Area Months Ahead of Schedule

Chattanooga commuters suffering from a construction headache may be given a remedy, early.  Wes Hughen, TDOT's Project Manager, says "we're actually almost 80% complete with the project so we're ahead of schedule."

Crews just crossed the two-year mark on what's scheduled to be a three-year project.  And despite being slowed recently by rain, workers expect to finish long before the December 31st, 2010 deadline.  Hughen says "we hope to complete the project mid-summer 2010, so maybe 5 to 6 months early."

Why so fast?  That may have something to do with money.  TDOT offered a contractor incentive to relocate several local roads and widen the Interstate past exit-eleven to four lanes.  TDOT Spokesperson Jennifer Flynn says "the contractor could get a maximum of $1.8 million if he completed it 6 months early."  That figure drops every day, leading up to the official deadline.

So what's left at this point?  Mostly northbound bridge work.  Crews will work most of the winter finishing two overpasses, so that final paving and entrance and exit ramps can be completed when warmer weather returns.

One construction feature motorists like, may go missing once this project completes. Final designs don't include the slip ramp onto I-75 South, from Hilltop Road.  Flynn says "we've had a lot of community interest in keeping this lane and so we have suggested they contact their local legislators and the federal highway administration and they're the ones that will have the final say, not TDOT."

Flynn says about the time crews pull the orange barrels from this location, motorists will see work around the Enterprise South exit... although that shouldn't hinder traffic.