Exit 111 on I-24 in Coffee County Closes This Weekend for Demolition

Traffic on Interstate 24 in Coffee County will be rerouted all weekend for a closure at Exit 111 for Manchester and McMinnville as crews demolish the first of two bridges. The closure between Chattanooga and Nashville began at 9 p.m. CDT Friday and is scheduled to lift at 6 a.m. Monday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The weekend work targets the Highway 55 south bridge at the interchange. State transportation officials confirmed that when Highway 55 reopens Monday, both directions of traffic will be funneled onto the existing north bridge with one lane in each direction.

Detours and the Monday Morning Commute

Motorists traveling on I-24 through the construction zone will be directed to the Exit 111 entrance and exit ramps to bypass the interchange work. Drivers heading to Manchester on Monday morning are advised by officials to use Exits 110 or 114.

In addition to the interstate ramp diversions, the related portion of Highway 55 will remain closed throughout the weekend. Electronic message boards along the interstate are alerting drivers to the changes, and physical signage will guide vehicles through the designated detours. Commuters can monitor real-time travel conditions via the TDOT SmartWay Map or by dialing 511.

Coffee countys i exit bridge replacement begins night work to minimize disruptions

Safety Enforcement and Construction Zones

State officials are reminding motorists to adhere to Tennessee’s Move Over Law. Passed in 2006, the law requires drivers approaching stopped emergency or stranded vehicles to move over if it is safe to do so, or slow down to a safe speed in construction zones.

Violating the law in Tennessee carries the possibility of up to 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of up to $500. This weekend’s closure involves the first of two bridges to be replaced at the interchange, with the demolition of the Highway 55 north bridge and a second interstate closure to be announced later.