by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Anyone who travels north and south on I-24, which is probably nearly everyone in the Monteagle area, can expect some big changes. Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) plans call for replacing the two bridges crossing the interstate at Exit 134 (the exit closest to Sewanee) with a single bridge; reducing the number of traffic lanes; and routing traffic through a roundabout and peanut roundabout. At a Sept. 11 TDOT community meeting at Monteagle City Hall, project managers Mike O’Donnell (TDOT) and Heather Dean (Alfred Benesch, transportation infrastructure consultants) explained the reason for the changes, the benefits to the community, and what residents can expect during the three-year construction expected to begin just over a year from now.

TDOT planned on replacing the two bridges for several years, O’Donnell said. Governor Lee’s 2023 Rural Interchange Improvement Program made additional funds available to expand the project to facilitate an interstate crossing for the Mountain Goat Trail and address frequent vehicle collisions at the Wren’s Nest intersection. Dean described the hazardous intersection as “a sea of pavement.” Design plans were based on a 20-year forecast of traffic increasing from 9,990 vehicles per day to 14,000 vehicles per day. According to these projections, two lanes of traffic on the bridge and one lane of traffic on the roundabouts are adequate. The 12-foot-wide lanes will have a six-foot shoulder to allow for passing stalled vehicles and to accommodate truck traffic and cyclists who choose not to use the Mountain Goat Trail. Entering and exiting the roundabouts on State Route 15, motorists will travel two lanes with a center turn lane. The bridge span will allow I-24 traffic to increase to three lanes in the future, if necessary.

The Mountain Goat Trail will cross the interstate on the north side of the bridge, Dean said, tying into the existing trail at Village Wines and Spirits and a planned trail extension connecting the Dubose Street section of trail on the east. Pedestrian activated flashers at interchange crosswalks will notify motorists someone is crossing without stopping traffic.

Another new feature will be high-mast lighting throughout. The lights will be designed “to point down and broadcast a large area,” O’Donnell noted. Reflective striping and signage will aid motorists during fog, Dean added. The interchange flashers will be removed.

Tackling the question of why roundabouts, O’Donnell stressed roundabouts reduced vehicle crash injuries by 76 percent and reduced fatalities by 90 percent by decreasing speed to 20-25 mph and by making it necessary for motorists to only look left when entering the interchange. The Wren’s Nest intersection has more traffic than the interstate ramps, O’Donnell pointed out. “We cannot backup traffic on I-24. The [peanut roundabout] handles all the traffic.”

Asked about landscaping, Dean said at present plans called for grass. Motorists “need to be able to see,” O’Donnell insisted. Plans for landscaping initiated by the town of Monteagle need to be submitted to TDOT six months before construction begins in early 2027.

Throughout construction, motorists will continue to travel through Monteagle on SR 15. Dean gave a chronology of the process: routing traffic onto the north bridge and removal of the south bridge; construction of the new bridge and roundabouts; removal of the north bridge and railroad bridge which has under-clearance and width issues.

During construction, interstate traffic will continue to flow, O’Donnell said, with temporary closure of Exit 134 during bridge demolition when interstate traffic will be routed to Exit 135, increasing travel time by six minutes. Interstate traffic will not be detoured to Highway 41. A resident observed motorist would use that route regardless. “We can’t control where people choose to go,” O’Donnell acknowledged.

Commenting on the project’s current status, O’Donnell said, “We’ve received FHWA, federal highway, approval and completed our environmental documents. Our preliminary engineering is 75 percent complete. The right-of-way process started in July. We have 19 tracts of right-of-way total and no relocations.” TDOT welcomes questions and suggestions. Direct them to O’Donnell at <Michael.Odonnell@tn.gov>.

For more information go to <https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/region-2/i-24-interchange-sr15-monteagle.html;.