By Jeremy Z. Young

Aside from a traffic signal snare and expected rush hour traffic, the downtown I-40 closure hasn’t caused that many problems in it’s first week.

“The contractor hit it real hard inside the closure,” said TDOT spokesman Travis Brickey.

Brickey said that in the contract, Blalock & Sons Construction had 17 days to re-open James White Parkway traveling east onto I-40. The company managed to open the parkway May 2, just one day after the closure started.

“We started placing detours two weeks in advance,” Brickey said. “Traffic is going well. It’s gone as we hoped.”

“James White Parkway was open 15 days ahead of schedule, excavation is moving quickly on First Creek,” Brickey said. “It’s full steam ahead.”

One unexpected snag happened early when the traffic light at Hall of Fame Dr. malfunctioned during the first morning rush of the closure.

Brickey said that the signal was quickly repaired and that the device’s timing had been adjusted to better accommodate any back-ups.

Traffic moved smoothly May 2 after the signal had been repaired, however, May 5 morning traffic saw a more extensive backup.

Engineers said there were no changes made to traffic signals at Hall of Fame drive between Friday and Monday morning, and couldn’t give explanation as to why it was more congested that particular day.

“We’re learning and looking at the traffic patterns and adjusting for that,” Brickey said.

Brickey said that TDOT expects downtown drivers to take a week or two to find what routes work best.

In addition to the roads already closed, TDOT also closed Fifth Ave. May 7 between Hall of Fame Dr. and Lamar St. Fifth Ave. will remain closed until June 2009 for bridge demolition and reconstruction.

To detour Fifth Ave., take Hall of Fame Dr. to Magnolia Ave. to Central St. then onto Fifth Ave.

Intermittent lane closures will also occur on:

•Cherry St. near the I-40 overpass.
•Broadway in the area of I-40 overpass.
•Gay St. from Magnolia to Fifth Ave.
•Boruff St. near the I-40 overpass.
•Central St. from Magnolia to Fifth Ave.

Brickey said there are “lots of things going on” and was optimistic that things will continue to run smoothly.

“Obviously, during some parts of the day traffic gets heavier on I-640,” Brickey said. “But we expect to continue with very little problems.”