Tuesday, May 18, 2010 2:08 pm

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Emergency repairs are now underway on Interstate 24 at mile marker 127 near the Grundy/Coffee County line where a large sinkhole opened up in the eastbound lanes at around 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 18.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation awarded a $266,960 emergency contract to Highways, Inc. today at 3:30 p.m. to repair the damaged section of I-24 immediately. TDOT hopes to complete repairs and reopen the roadway by Saturday, May 22.

The sinkhole is located between mile marker 127 and exit 127 and is estimated to be 25 feet wide and 25 feet deep. Until repairs are complete, traffic will be detoured off I-24 at exit 114 to Highway 41 then to State Route 50 and back onto I-24 at exit 127.

Several alternate routes are available for motorists traveling from Nashville to the Chattanooga area including: I-65 south to U.S. 64, exit 14, east to I-24; I-40 east to State Route 111, exit 288, south to U.S. 27 to Chattanooga; or I-24 east to U.S. 231, exit 81, south/west to US-41A south/east to I-24 at MM-134.

Motorists heading to Atlanta may also take I-65 south to Birmingham then I-20 to Atlanta.