Interstate 40 through Knoxville closes on May 1

Beginning May 1, a short section of Interstate 40 in downtown Knoxville will be closed for reconstruction as part of the SmartFIX 40 program.

The section is located between James White Parkway (exit 388A) and Hall of Fame Drive (exit 389). This closure will affect anyone coming to Children's Hospital from east of Knoxville (motorists traveling west on I-40).

However, the Children's Hospital campus will be easily accessible via an alternate route. Visitors coming to the hospital from east of Knoxville on I-40 are asked to take I-640 west and then I-275 south during the closure, which is estimated to last 14 months (until about July 2009). Signage along this route will help direct travelers to the Children's Hospital campus.

Visit www.smartfix40.com for specific details on the SmartFIX 40 program and maps provided by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

According to www.smartfix40.com, SmartFIX is an accelerated construction process used by the Tennessee Department of Transportation to speed up the construction and repair of highways and bridges. The SmartFIX process involves a short-term, total road or bridge closure during a project. This provides ample space for work crews to do their jobs and the freedom to work around the clock without time limitations. This also reduces the time it takes to finish a project and the long-term inconvenience to motorists.

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