I-40 On-Ramp under Hall of Fame Drive

Technical Description:

• Span: 45 ft
• Rise: 11 ft
• Length: 198 ft

As part of a large highway renovation project in Knoxville, the Tennessee Department of Transportation planned to correct roadway deficiencies and improve traffic flow on I-40. A new tunnel was necessary to transport a new I-40 on-ramp beneath Hall of Fame Drive.

TDOT needed the tunnel constructed as quickly as possible under their SmartFIX initiative. SmartFIX is an accelerated construction process involving short-term road closure to allow around-the-clock work uninterrupted by traffic. The need for such a fast installation called for a total precast system consisting of CON/SPAN^® arch units, precast abutments and Rigidwall™ (originally known as MurEbal^®) retaining walls.

Installation of 128 precast pieces called for 87 tractor trailer loads to be delivered to the jobsite. Total precast installation took less than 13 days of crane time, helping Ray Bell Construction achieve an early completion goal and receiving a bonus of $6M. The tunnel stretches 198’ in length and also includes 700’ of Rigidwall wingwalls up to 34’ tall, supported by pile foundations. The structure included architectural formliner on the headwalls and wingwalls and is touted as one of the signature pieces of the I-40 SmartFIX project in Knoxville.

Technical Description:

• Span: 45 ft
• Rise: 11 ft
• Length: 198 ft