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NEWS

I-75 will reopen before many spring breaks

Martha Elson
@MarthaElson_cj

With heavily-traveled I-75 still closed in both directions around the KY-TN border, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has announced specific dates for the expected reopening of interstate lanes.

Following a rock slide Feb. 26, southbound lanes are expected to be reopened on or before March 17, and one lane on the northbound side is expected to be reopen on or before March 24, according to Mark Nagi, a regional department spokesman in Knoxville.  The entire repair project is to be completed on or before April 15.

The interstate, which stretches from Michigan to Florida, has been closed nearly a week south of the state line in Campbell County, Tenn., in the vicinity of Jellico, as the busy spring break season approaches.  Spring break for Jefferson County Public Schools is April 4-8.  A $2.9 million emergency repair contract has been awarded for the repair work.

Southbound travelers should expect to add about 40 minutes to their trips going on the detour routes and northbound about 45 minutes, Nagi said.  The exact time depends on the time of day, with morning and afternoon rush hour periods being the busiest, he said.

"These roadways are seeing increased traffic," he said.  "Make sure to give extra time."

In an effort to improve detours for local motorists in and around Campbell County, Tenn., the highway department also announced Wednesday that Exit 141 (Huntsville/Oneida) has been reopened for drivers on local roads who want to get on I-75 at that exit.

All previously established detours for I-75 travelers are still in place, and drivers are still advised to plan ahead and find alternate routes.  Here are the detour routes from TDOT:

Motorist Detours (standard vehicles)

  • Motorists traveling I-75 South can take Exit 160 (Jellico). Follow US 25W / SR 297 West to SR 63 South, and then re-enter I-75 South.
  • Motorists traveling I-75 North can take Exit 134 (Caryville/Jacksboro/LaFollette). Follow US 25W north to LaFollette, continuing to Jellico, and then re-enter I-75 North.

Wide-Load and Alternate Motorist Detours

  • Wide-load traffic traveling I-75 South can take Exit 29 (Corbin) in Kentucky. Follow US 25E into Tennessee, and enter I-81 at Exit 8 (Morristown/White Pine) to get back to I-75/I-40.
  • Wide-load traffic traveling I-75 North can take I-40 East to I-81 North Exit 8 (Morristown/White Pine). Follow US 25E, and enter I-75 at Exit 29 (Corbin) in Kentucky.

Travelers can call 511 for updates in both Tennessee and Kentucky.  The Tennessee department also is posting information on Facebook and Twitter at @TN511, along with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at @KYTC.  See also www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic.

Reporter Martha Elson can be reached at (502) 582-7061 and melson@courier-journal.com.  Follow her on Twitter at @MarthaElson_cj.