November 18, 2015
Bridge Construction Update
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has provided an aerial photograph with an overlay drawing of the new intersection of Highway 321 and Highway 444.
Click here to view the Highway 321 intersection picture (v Nov 2015)
In the photograph you will notice that the entrance ramp from Highway 444 to Highway 321 going toward Lenoir City will be a merge and accelerate lane. There will be a Yield sign not a Stop sign. This should improve traffic flow and minimize wait time for accessing the highway.
Similarly, the ramp going to Maryville will have a merge and accelerate lane.
The HOA – TDOT Liaison Committee has made a number of proposals to TDOT to improve the safety of merging onto Highway 444 coming from Lenoir City including an acceleration lane, a street light and additional signage.
The earth work necessary to carry traffic on the new alignment once the bridges are complete is nearly finished. Once the traffic is switched to the new alignment over the new bridges there will be additional grading required on the slopes and at the Elm Hill/City Park Drive intersection.
The concrete cap for Pier 2 on Bridge 2 over the Tennessee River is complete and work on the cap for Pier 1 (closest to Lenoir City) will begin within the next few weeks. The steel beams for Bridge 2 are ready to be set between Abutment 2 (Tellico Village side) and Pier 3. That work will begin shortly after the first of the year. TDOT tells us that the steel beams change in length with the increase or decrease in temperature. This bridge is designed to have 8 inch expansion joints at each end to accommodate this expansion and contraction. Despite this, changing temperatures are not a significant factor in scheduling the installation of the beams. The decking on Bridge 3 (over the canal) will begin within the next few weeks.
The new estimated completion timeframe for the new bridges and highway is early 2017.
The Liaison Committee will continue to meet with the TDOT Project Managers periodically and we will provide more updates.