The completion of the roundabout under construction at Hwy. 70 E. and Peavine Rd. has been delayed.
The drainage structures and catch basins for the project need changes, Rae Anne Bradley, community relations officer with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, told the Chronicle.
“The changes have been completed and the contractor is back at work,” Bradley said.
The project had been slated for completion in October. Bradley said the project should be done by the end of the year, despite the delay.
The most recent update notes paving is scheduled and will create more frequent traffic in and around the roundabout.
The project began in May. A $4.1 million contract was awarded to Mack Construction LLC of Cookeville.
Bradley said the roundabout was intended to reduce the potential for angle crashes and the severity of other crashes while also moving traffic more efficiently. An angle crash is the term for traffic accidents resulting from a collision at an angle somewhere between 90 degrees — a side-impact collision — and 180 degrees — a rear-end or head-on collision.
While the intersection had reported higher-than-average crashes, it did not meet traffic volume requirements for a traffic signal.
Work is continuing on the project to widen Hwy. 127 north from Interstate 40 into Fentress County. Traffic has moved onto a new portion of the road in the section from I-40 to Potato Farm Rd. in the areas of Tabor Loop and Whittenburg Rd.
On the north end of the project, work continues on the new section of road that will cross Clear Creek. The contractor is performing utility work along the existing alignment, with flaggers used to control traffic through the work zone.
Work continues on Hwy. 127 south of Crossville, as well. Grading activities are in progress on Hwy. 127 and Hwy. 68. Traffic has been shifted to a temporary traffic pattern while construction continues.
Bridge replacement is underway at the Obed River on Hwy. 70 W. The area is closed to all traffic at this time, with a detour using Northside Dr. to Hwy. 70 E. The left turn lane from Sparta Dr. onto Miller Ave. will also be closed for the duration of this project.
Motorists are urged to use caution in all work zones. In addition to major construction projects, TDOT has also been paving on various roads and performing maintenance.