The Tennessee Department of Transportation is currently working on two projects on Shallowford Road to accommodate better traffic flow in the East Hamilton area, but between the two projects, some closures and delays are expected.
Grading and paving processes are now under way on Shallowford Road from Gunbarrel to Jenkins roads as part of the Shallowford Widening Project. According to TDOT Regional Community Relations Officer Jennifer Flynn, utility work delayed the project, but it will be completely under way soon. Once under way, the project will include some road closures.
"We do not yet know what the closures will be, but we will do our best to keep traffic moving as well as we can while we construct this important and difficult project," she said. "We realize that many people live along this portion of Shallowford Road, and we want to work well with the community while the project is going on. There will be times that only local traffic will be able to use the road, but right now I don't know what those times will be."
Once completed, Flynn said the project will add a continuous turn lane on Shallowford Road from Olgetree Avenue to the roundabout on Jenkins Road.
"The turn lane should improve traffic flow because traffic won't have to come to a complete stop each time someone turns left, plus the bike lane and sidewalks will provide other transportation opportunities besides driving," she said.
The entire Shallowford Widening Project is planned to be completed in August 2013.
In addition to that project, bridge construction over South Chickamauga Creek on Shallowford Road is also under way. During the construction of the new bridge, some short-term lane closures may occur during non-peak hours, but according to Flynn, flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed.
"The bridge that is being replaced was a narrow two-lane bridge that occasionally flooded when South Chickamauga Creek rose because of rains," she said. "The new bridge is a much higher and wider bridge. It will be five lanes with sidewalks, and because it is higher over the creek than the previous bridge, the flooding problems will be alleviated."
This project is also slated to be completed by the end of August.