The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has awarded a $31.99m contract to alter the Interstate 24 interchanges at State Route 2 (Broad Street) and State Route 58 (Market Street) in Chattanooga, the US, to Wright Brothers Construction Company.

Under this 1.6-mile project, the company will replace the loops and ramps that act as exits and entrances of I-24 East and US 27 to Broad Street, Williams Street, and Market Street with a new one-way ramp and frontage road.

Following the completion of the project, the new ramp and frontage road will exit I-24 west of the I-24 and US 27 interchange, between the old Wheland Foundry site and the Tennessee River, and run parallel to I-24.

The project will include the construction of a bridge and retaining wall, as well as the installation of new traffic signals and lighting.

The project is expected to be completed on or before 31 August 2023.

TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright said: “We are excited that this long-awaited project is beginning in Chattanooga.

“Once completed, this project will improve connectivity to the Historic Foundry District and South Broad commercial corridor and make it much easier for local and regional traffic to safely access this area.”

Construction signs have been installed and crews are in the initial stages of relocating utilities on the project.

This phase of the project is expected to last several months.

The majority of the work on this project will take place on the south (Lookout Mountain) side of I-24.