Talk about traffic!
In anticipation of more than one million travelers hitting the state’s highways for Thanksgiving, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced Monday there will be no lane closures during the holiday.
Beginning Wednesday, TDOT will pause all construction-related closures through Monday, Nov. 27 for what the department’s commissioner, John Schroer calls the most-traveled holiday of the year.
“Over a million travelers in Tennessee are expected to drive to their holiday destinations this year,” Schroer said. “Halting road work during this busy time will provide maximum capacity on our highways and help alleviate congestion, especially during the predicted peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday. “
Additionally, in order to keep traffic flowing, TDOT’s regional HELP Trucks will be on the state’s interstates and highways assisting with any incidents .
Officials add that drivers should still adhere to the speed limits posted in construction zones, as some workers may still be present there.
TDOT, along with local law enforcement agencies statewide and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security also created the l-40 Challenge, aiming to have zero road fatalities during the holiday week.
On Wednesday and Sunday, “peak travel days,” Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers will be stationed every 20 miles on I-40.
In America, close to 51 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles for the Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA. About 1.2 million of those travelers will be Tennesseans, and 1.1 million are expected to travel via automobile.
