TDOT Closes I-40 Shoulders in Decatur County for Storm Debris Removal

Storm debris from recent severe weather has prompted the Tennessee Department of Transportation to close shoulders along I-40 through Decatur and Henderson counties, with the bulk of the cleanup work stretching from April 7 through April 26.

TDOT's West Tennessee construction bulletin, published April 1, outlined two phases of shoulder closures in both directions along the I-40 corridor. The first phase ran Monday, March 30 through Thursday, April 2. The second and longer phase begins Tuesday, April 7 and runs through Sunday, April 26, giving crews the better part of three weeks to remove limbs, dirt, and other highway obstructions deposited on the shoulder by the storms.

Because I-40 serves as the primary east-west artery through this stretch of West Tennessee, shoulder closures carry consequences beyond inconvenience. Disabled vehicles have fewer safe pulloff options when shoulders are blocked, and the restriction requires additional coordination with local law enforcement and first responders who rely on that corridor for emergency access. Trucking operations and freight haulers moving goods connected to Decatur County's river industry logistics should factor the April 7-26 window into dispatch and routing plans.

TDOT's bulletin urges motorists to obey posted signage, reduce speed through active work zones, and allow for extra travel time. The agency also advised against roadside stops near crews working the right-of-way. Flagging operations are possible during active debris removal, meaning brief, rolling slowdowns could occur at any point along the affected stretch through late April.

The I-40 shoulder work is the specific entry in TDOT's regional construction listing that names Decatur County for this period. If storm damage proves more extensive than initially assessed, the agency could extend the cleanup window, and residents and commercial haulers are encouraged to monitor TDOT's West Tennessee construction postings for any updates before the second phase opens Tuesday.