Sinkhole Repairs Prompt Lane Closures on SR 1 in White County

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will begin repair work tomorrow on a sinkhole adjacent to SR 1 in White County. The work will take place just east of the Crickett and Thacker Road intersection.

The sinkhole is part of a larger system in the area that TDOT has been monitoring and repairing over time as dollars and schedules allow. Immediate repair work is needed to address a ground slide in the median that has reached the shoulder of the left lane in both directions.

While the sinkhole is not located on the roadway itself, the repair excavation will be close enough to travel lanes that the left lane in both directions must be closed during the work. Closing these lanes will protect drivers and TDOT maintenance crews performing the work, while also allowing space for necessary construction equipment.

Beginning at 7:00 am local time on Monday, August 24, 2026, SR 1 will be reduced to one lane in each direction at this location. These lanes will remain closed continuously through 5:00 pm local time on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

Message boards are in place to alert drivers of the upcoming lane closures. All traffic control will follow TDOT and MUTCD safety standards. Drivers traveling in the area should remain alert to trucks entering and exiting the work zone to deliver rock and other materials throughout the repair period.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. Get the latest construction activity traffic updates from the TDOT SmartWay Map. Travelers can also call 511 for statewide travel information.

The Move Over Law was passed in 2006. The penalty for violating the law in Tennessee carries the possibility of up to 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of up to $500.

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**TDOT is adjusting the start date for sinkhole repair work on SR 1 in White County. The lane closures and repair activities originally planned to begin on Monday, August 24, 2026, will now begin on Monday, August 31, 2026. All other details of the repair operation will remain the same. SR 1 will be reduced to one lane in each direction at the work location beginning at 7:00 a.m. local time on Monday, August 31, with lanes remaining closed continuously through 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2026. Message boards and traffic control measures will remain in place, and drivers should continue to use caution in the area.