Near APSU, the intersection of North Second and College streets is closed while the Tennessee Department of Transportation continues sewer repairs. This is scheduled to last six to eight weeks. If driving to campus from Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, College Street can be accessed up to Fourth Street and Home Avenue.

A view of the excavation at the intersection of North Second Street and College Street. The intersection is closed while the Tennessee Department of Transportation continues sewer repairs.

Repairs on Jackson Alley near the Kimbrough Building and the Music/Mass Communication Building should be complete before the start of the fall semester.

A road paving project is planned for sometime between now and October at North Second and Kraft streets. More details will be announced as they become available.

Some of the campus parking lots have been added, paved or improved. These include Ninth Street next to the Hemlock Semiconductor Building (paved student parking lot), University Avenue and Main Street (student parking lot) and a student housing gravel lot at the former Faust House site. Parking at the Trahern lot might not be ready by the time the semester begins.

Future updates will be communicated to the campus and public as they become available.

NASHVILLE, TN – Road construction won’t slow motorists down as they travel Tennessee’s highways this Memorial Day weekend. The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes beginning at 12:00 noon on Friday, May 28th through 6:00 am on Tuesday, June 1st. This will provide maximum roadway capacity for motorists expected to travel in the state this Memorial Day weekend.

“Motorists traveling on our roadways this holiday weekend will have no construction-related lane closures impeding their travels,” said Commissioner Nicely. “We want to keep traffic flowing so everyone can have a safe and enjoyable trip through Tennessee.”

Motorists will still encounter some long term lane closures on construction projects and for emergency repairs due to recent flooding and rockslides in the state. Reduced speed limits will be in effect. Slower speeds are necessary in work zones due to the temporary layout of the roadway and will be enforced. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500.00, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.

“Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to summer and we want everyone to arrive at their destination safely,” said Governor’s Highway Safety Office Director Kendell Poole. “If you’re traveling this Memorial Day weekend, be sure to buckle up and obey all the traffic laws.”

AAA estimates 32.1 million people will travel more than 50 miles this Memorial Day holiday, reflecting a nationwide increase of 5.4% from 30.5 million in 2009. Of this number, AAA predicts that 28 million Americans will travel by car. In Tennessee, AAA projects 617,329 will travel by automobile and 37,601 by air, which is a 5.4% increase over Tennessee’s 2009 travel numbers.

For up to date travel information, visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/ or call 5-1-1 from any land-line or cell phone. TDOT is also on Twitter. For statewide travel information follow @TN511 (www.twitter.com/TN511). TDOT has multiple Twitter accounts including interstate specific accounts.

Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly. Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle. TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for your destination.

NASHVILLE- Governor Phil Bredesen yesterday released a final list of projects to be funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (Recovery Act), proposed bridge bonds and TDOT’s regular funding mechanisms. The three-tiered program represents more than 450 projects statewide touching every county in Tennessee.

“The Recovery Act is fundamentally about creating and retaining jobs during one of the toughest economic times our nation and state have faced since the Great Depression,” said Governor Bredesen. “This three-tiered program represents a record investment in Tennessee’s transportation system. The Recovery Act, along with the bridge bonding and TDOT’s regular program, will put thousands of Tennesseans to work rebuilding and strengthening one of Tennessee’s largest economic drivers, our transportation system.”

The Legislature is currently considering the transportation budget for approval. TDOT will let to contract all Recovery Act projects in May and June of 2009.

“Not only will these transportation projects help create or save tens of thousands of jobs for Tennesseans, the end result of this investment will be a more reliable transportation system,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “This three-tiered program represents a responsible, balanced and community based approach to transportation. Years of planning and study have gone into each of the projects funded for construction.”

Press Releases for each individual TDOT Region are attached to this email along with a complete listing of all projects and programs identified for funding. The list and releases are also posted on the TDOT web site, http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/Chief_Engineer/transadmin.htm.

For more information on Tennessee’s transportation portion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act visit www.tn.gov/tdot/recovery.

Last month, the Tennessee Department of Transportation let the first projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to contract. In May and June, more than a hundred other projects will move into the construction phase, bringing valuable transportation improvements and jobs to communities across the state. This means that a large majority of Tennesseans, no matter where they live, will find themselves traveling through a work zone in the near future.

Although there will be a noticeable increase in road construction this year, TDOT has made and will continue to make every effort to minimize the impacts of this work on motorists, residents, and businesses. Much thought goes into the selection of projects well before they are ever let to contract. Our construction personnel take great care in looking at traffic control, possible detours and alternate routes, as well as direct effects on homes and businesses located within the project limits. We also work very closely with local governments in the months and weeks before a project begins, especially when a community has more than one project under construction. Our ultimate goal is to keep traffic moving and maintain emergency services, while ensuring the safety of both the motoring public and the construction workers. Once a project is underway, our construction project supervisors will maintain those open lines of communication with local agencies to address any issues that may arise.

In recent years, TDOT has altered the work schedules on most of its construction projects in an attempt to minimize traffic tie-ups as much as possible. Some work may be performed during daytime hours, but outside of the heavy morning and afternoon commute times. Most interstate work, especially in urban areas, will be completed during evening and overnight hours. However, the complexity of some projects may require around the clock lane closures and traffic shifts. Despite our best efforts, we realize that construction projects will cause delays and can be difficult areas to drive through. In taking the long view, we know these short-term inconveniences are the price we pay for maintaining one of the nation’s best highway systems. As we head into National Work Zone Awareness Week April 6 through 10, we ask for your patience.

Please slow down, be mindful of the distractions inside your car, and be prepared for the changing conditions inside a work zone. Our first priority is your safety and the safety of our workers. Together – we can keep Tennessee in motion.