November 18, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
New traffic patterns!
State Highway 56 is not what it used to be and motorists traveling from Smithville to the Warren County line are noticing that with new traffic patterns.
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, traffic in recent days has been diverted from more portions of the old highway to the new highway alignment.
In its weekly update on state highway construction projects, TDOT reports that “Motorists should use caution at the intersection of State Route 56 and Ferrell Road, and State Route 56 and Williams Road as these are all newer traffic patterns utilizing the new alignment. There are multiple traffic shifts and detours in place throughout the project to allow the contractor to complete work for the new alignment.
The contractor has made major traffic shifts this week. Traffic has been shifted onto the newly constructed alignment South of Webb Lane through North of State Route 288. Motorists using Magness Road, Webb Lane, private drives, State Route 288, and Blue Springs Road should be vigilant at those intersections to the new alignment”.
“The contractor will also shift traffic from South of Douglas Road through North of College Street onto the newly constructed alignment. Motorists utilizing Douglas Road, County House Road, South Tittsworth, private drives, and College Street should be vigilant at those intersections to the new alignment.
Motorists should use South Tittsworth and the newly constructed Jacobs Pillar Road to access State Route 56 once traffic is shifted onto the new alignment. Work will be on-going near College Street and Douglas Road to complete grade work. The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone.
Motorists should expect delays, watch for flaggers, and use caution when traveling through the work zone”.
“The contractor will continue grade work and paving operations on the new roadway alignment. Paving operations will be on-going at multiple locations through the project. The contractor is utilizing flagging operations in multiple areas for grading and paving operations,” TDOT said in its weekly update.
TDOT reported last month that the State Highway 56 construction project was running behind schedule and the contractor, Jones Brothers, LLC had asked for more time to complete the work without penalty.
The bid was awarded in 2019 for the project which extends almost 8 miles from south of the Warren County line in DeKalb County to East Bryant Street in Smithville. The state is building largely two lanes with 10-foot shoulders along the route.
The original bid amount was $43,691,948 and the current contract bid amount including change orders is currently at $44,047, 150. The current approved adjusted completion date was August 17, 2022.