Traffic on Interstate 81 has been narrowed to two lanes for several weeks, for repairs to the bridge over U.S. Highway 11E at exit 23.

Weather permitting, normal traffic could be restored soon.

Travis Brickey, a spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, said a single $1.2 million contract covers repairs to the two interstate highway bridges, plus separate work on the bridge on Gap Creek Road over Interstate 81.

Signs and barriers have narrowed traffic to a single lane in each direction for more than a mile approaching the bridge for several weeks, and TDOT has also advised motorists of the work ahead on signs directing motorists to radio broadcast alerts.

The work at exit 23 calls for bridge deck repairs on both bridges, replacement of expansion joints, resealing of the bridge deck, and painting.

"Weather permitting, we should have both lanes open" on each side of the interstate in the next few days," Brickey said Tuesday. "If we can dodge rain" for the next few days, Brickey said, the work, except for painting, should be completed.

However, only one lane in each direction on U.S. Highway 11E will remain open for the next six to eight weeks, as painting under the overhead bridges continues, he said.

In addition, Brickey said motorists headed northbound (toward Greeneville) on U.S. 11E should soon see signs of installation of an "overheight protection device" to warn trucks that are too high to pass under the interstate bridges.

The device will include a height sensor that will trigger an alarm and a sign when trucks approaching the bridge are too high to pass under it.

Brickey said the bridge over 11E carrying southbound traffic on the interstate "has been hit a couple of times" by trucks that were too high to go under it.

The majority of the work is at exit 23, he said, as maintenance on the Gap Creek Road bridge is relatively minor.