TDOT begins planning for Phase 2 of I-75/I-24 modification project

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – The I-75/I-24 Modification Project has been underway for the last two years. Now Phase one is almost complete while Phase 2 is just entering the planning phase. 

Currently TDOT is still in Phase 1 of the modification project which involves an entirely new design for the traffic pattern of the interchange. 

Planning for Phase 2 has begun and is awaiting funding to be granted during the 2022 fiscal year, which officially starts in July. 

“The next phase will be more of a widening project. It will be a hassle and complex but it won’t be as complex as the one that’s going on right now. They are having to do a lot of work in a very limited area so the other one will be more of a traditional widening project,” says Jennifer Flynn, TDOT Spokesperson. 

Phase 2 will involve the widening of the interchange with an addition of at least one lane,   while also improving the on and off ramps.

“It’s going to include improving the I-24 corridor from the Spring Creek Road Bridge to west of Belvoir Avenue. Also some additional work along I-75 near East Brainerd Road. We don’t have a final design yet but we have a concept of what’s going to take place,” says Flynn. 

The new project will be created using the design-build method. This means that thirty percent of the new plan will be devised by TDOT while the remainder will be finalized by the contractor that is awarded the project.

“Design Build is a project delivery method that combines all or some portions of design and construction phases of a project into single contracts so it enables us to get things finished quicker because there is one design build contractor doing several aspects of the work,” says Flynn.  

The timeline and price of Phase 2 is still in the works but Officials say Phase one cost $132.6 million.

TDOT wants to remind drivers about the interchange switch coming from I-75 North from Georgia to I-24 west. The Exits have been switched as part of the construction project.