The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced that the Summit Hill Drive entrance ramp to James White Parkway will close November 29, 2005.

The ramp scheduled for demolition, is part of the SmartFIX40 downtown accelerated construction project. The ramp closure and demolition will facilitate construction of the new Hall of Fame Drive Bridge.

The new Hall of Fame Drive will be a new four lane city boulevard with six foot bile lanes and sidewalks that will stretch from Summit Hill Drive to Broadway and provide access to both James White Parkway and Interstate 40.

To help ease the inconvenience this project has causes for many people, TDOT has made it an accelerated construction project. Part of the acceleration process includes completely closing roads enabling the contractor complete access to work areas, which cuts construction time in half, making it more convenient for travelers in the long run.

TDOT estimates that an average of 10,000 vehicles uses the ramp per day. Many of these travelers are commuters traveling to and from work downtown. Message boards will be placed to alert drivers of the closure.