The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced Monday that Thanksgiving travelers would not be delayed by construction on Tennessee roads during this year’s holiday.
In a press release, TDOT said that the department will halt “all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state.”
All construction-related lane closures in the state will be stopped from noon on Wednesday, November 22 through 6:30 a.m. next Monday, November 27, according to TDOT.
“Thanksgiving is typically the most traveled holiday of the year,” Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley said in a statement. “Halting road work during this time will provide maximum capacity on our highways and help alleviate congestion, especially during the predicted peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday.”
Eley added, “TDOT’s regional HELP Trucks will also be working throughout the holiday weekend to assist with incidents that may occur along the interstates. Watch out for them – move over, slow down. It’s the law.”
Despite the holiday lane closure activity, workers will remain on-site in some construction zones.
In addition, some construction projects throughout the state will also require long-term lane closures to remain in place to ensure the safety of motorists, according to TDOT.
As such, drivers should obey the posted speeds in work zones and drive safely. Speeding in work zones with workers present can result in a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and higher insurance rates, TDOT notes.
TDOT’s construction halt comes as the American Automobile Association (AAA) projects that more than 1.3 million Tennesseans will travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, with 1.25 million expected to drive to their destinations.
Nationwide, AAA projects that a total of 55.4 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
