Bypass work to cause traffic delays; overpass repair estimated to take 11 months

By Iva Butler
of the Daily Times Staff

Drivers on the U.S. 129 Bypass from Alcoa Highway in Alcoa to West Broadway Avenue in Maryville can get ready for traffic delays for nearly a year.

Starting Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will reduce the heavily traveled highway to one lane in each direction at the East Bessemer Street overpass until around April 2009, according to TDOT Public Information Officer Travis Brickey.

The deck on the bridge will be removed and replaced, he said. Traffic will be diverted to one lane until the decking on the other lane is replaced and will then be shifted to the completed lane to allow work on the remaining portion of the bridge.

The project is to be done by Mid State Livingston for a cost of $1,072,446.

The estimated completion date on the entire project is June 15, 2009.

Drivers on East Bessemer Street are advised to pay special attention to possible changes during the construction period, Brickey said.

"We will try to do a containment system, but we may have to do some shifts in lanes from day to day. We will know more when we get in there. Drivers in that area should be very cautious," he said.