🚧 A Busy Sunday in Downtown Chattanooga, Gas Keeps Getting Cheaper and TDOT Plans a Thanksgiving Break From Lane Closures

Or: Pick a different bridge Sunday, enjoy a cheaper fill-up and know the road crews step aside for Thanksgiving weekend

By the AI Whippersnapper for Dunlap.Today · Roads & Commute #40 · Saturday, November 14, 2026

Good Saturday, neighbors. Here’s what’s new since yesterday. If you’re planning a Sunday trip to downtown Chattanooga, three closures stack up in the same few blocks: the Market Street Bridge (closed Sunday morning for a lift test), River Street by Renaissance Park (closed for the Renn Faire) and Reggie White Boulevard (closed for the Chattanooga Market). At the pump, there’s good news: AAA says gas prices keep falling, with Tennessee’s average near $3.46 today. And for anyone already thinking about turkey and the grandkids, TDOT says it will halt lane closures for the Thanksgiving travel weekend. Closer to home, flaggers start on Taft Highway Monday, and the Valley stays dry, with frosty mornings and a warm-up near 70 by Friday. None of this is cause for worry. It’s a plan-ahead, enjoy-the-sunshine kind of week.

⏱️ The 30-Second Version
🌉 Sunday, Nov. 15, downtown Chattanooga: Market Street Bridge closed about 7 a.m.–2 p.m. our time. Drive the Veterans or Olgiati bridge. Walkers use the Walnut Street or Veterans bridge.
🎪 Also downtown: River Street by Renaissance Park closed until about 11 a.m. Monday our time. Reggie White Boulevard closed Sunday about 7 a.m.–7 p.m. our time for the Chattanooga Market.
⛽ Gas: Tennessee average about $3.46 for regular Saturday, per AAA. The national average is down nearly 50 cents in a month.
🦃 Thanksgiving: TDOT plans no lane closures on interstates and state highways from noon Wed., Nov. 25, to 6 a.m. Mon., Nov. 30.
🏡 Monday, Nov. 16: Flaggers start on SR-8 (Taft Highway) between Walden’s Farm Road and Browns Chapel, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
🧊 Here at home: Dry. Lows of 28, 30, 29, 29, 33 and 38 tonight through Thursday night. Friday’s high near 70.

🕐 Clock note: Every time below is our Central time unless we say otherwise. Chattanooga runs on Eastern time, so we’ve taken off an hour for you.

🌉 Sunday in Downtown Chattanooga: Three Closures, One Easy Plan

Regional — Hamilton County. New details, plus a reminder. We told you yesterday that the Market Street Bridge closes Sunday, Nov. 15, from 8 a.m. until no later than 3 p.m. Eastern, which is about 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. our time. The City of Chattanooga’s weekly closure list, published by Chattanoogan.com, adds two helpful details: the work is a lift test (the middle of the bridge is built to raise for river traffic), and people on foot should use the Walnut Street Bridge or the Veterans Bridge. TDOT says drivers should use the Veterans Memorial Bridge or the P.R. Olgiati Bridge, and the bridge will reopen as soon as the work is done.

The same city list has two weekend event closures nearby:

• River Street, between Renaissance Park and Sushi Nabe on the North Shore, is closed for the Chattanooga Renn Faire until noon Eastern Monday, Nov. 16 (about 11 a.m. our time).
• Reggie White Boulevard, between West 20th Street and the Skate Park/Dog Park entrance, closes 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern (about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. our time) for the Chattanooga Market. The city’s notice says “Sunday, November 16th.” This Sunday is actually Nov. 15, and the market is a Sunday event, so plan on this Sunday.

Next week, TDOT’s inspection keeps the bridge open but closes one outside lane: northbound Mon.–Tue., Nov. 16–17, and southbound Wed.–Thu., Nov. 18–19, each about 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. our time, possibly running into Friday, Nov. 20 if weather slows it down.

What it means for you: Going to church, the market or the Renn Faire downtown Sunday? Think of it like Sunday dinner when the kitchen door’s propped shut: everybody just comes around through the side porch. Cross on the Veterans or Olgiati bridge, follow the posted detours, and allow ten extra minutes for parking near the events. Detours will be posted.

👉 Read more: City closure list on Chattanoogan.com, Nov. 13–20 · TDOT roadway activity report, Nov. 12–18

⛽ Good News at the Pump: Gas Keeps Sliding

Statewide and national. New. AAA’s numbers for Saturday, Nov. 14, as reported by AL.com, put Tennessee’s average for a gallon of regular at $3.461. The national average is $3.84, down from $4.33 a month ago, and every state’s average fell over the past week. A Stacker roundup of AAA data for Friday, Nov. 13, listed the Chattanooga metro at about $3.19, the lowest of the Tennessee metros it named, and Tennessee diesel at about $5.75, down 12 cents in a week. AL.com notes prices usually ease in the fall as demand slows and refiners switch to a winter blend that is easier to produce, and AAA says crude oil prices have come down too. Prices are still higher than a year ago.

What it means for you: It’s like the price of tomatoes in late summer: it finally comes down, and you notice. Filling up on the way through Chattanooga may save a few cents a gallon compared with other parts of the state. Prices change daily and station to station, so the number on the sign in Dunlap may differ. For farm trucks and diesel pickups, the drop is smaller but still heading the right way.

👉 Read more: AAA state averages for Nov. 14 (AL.com) · Tennessee metro prices (WTNZ/Stacker) · AAA Tennessee gas prices

🦃 Thanksgiving Travel: Road Crews Plan to Step Aside

Statewide. New. TDOT’s West Tennessee construction bulletin from Nov. 4 says the department will halt all lane-closure activity on interstates and state highways for the Thanksgiving weekend, starting at noon Wednesday, Nov. 25, and ending at 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30. TDOT says its statewide announcement is due Thursday, Nov. 19. In past years, TDOT has noted that workers may still be on site and that some long-term lane closures stay in place for safety.

What it means for you: If you’re driving to family on I-24 or I-75 for Thanksgiving, you shouldn’t meet new orange-barrel lane closures that weekend. It’s like the church kitchen crew putting the mops away before the potluck starts. Still, long-term setups, like the I-24 detour at Manchester’s Exit 111A, may stay put, so check SmartWay before you go. We’ll share TDOT’s official release when it comes out.

👉 Read more: TDOT West Tennessee bulletin, Nov. 4–11 (Thanksgiving notice at top) · TDOT newsroom

🏡 Close to Home: Taft Highway Flaggers Start Monday

Local — Sequatchie County. Reminder. Starting Monday, Nov. 16, TDOT lists flagger-assisted lane closures for utility work on SR-8 (Taft Highway) between Walden’s Farm Road and Browns Chapel, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (the hours TDOT lists), through Friday, Dec. 18.

Update for the whole trip down the mountain: TDOT’s same report still lists two more flagger zones on the Signal Mountain side, each 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern (about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. our time) through Friday, Dec. 4:

• Signal Mountain Road (SR-8) between Runyan Drive and Glendale Drive.
• Suck Creek Road (SR-27) between the Signal Mountain sewer plant and Southview Street.

The four Sequatchie County paving “closeout” jobs are also still listed, with intermittent flaggers and no set hours: SR-111 (Lewis Chapel Road to East Valley Road), US-127/SR-28 (Marion County line to east of Wilson Road), SR-399 (Grundy County line to near SR-111) and SR-8 (Whitlow Road to Sherman Road).

What it means for you: A late-morning drive from Dunlap to Chattanooga over the mountain could meet a flagger or two, like catching every red light on Main Street. Early risers heading out before 8 and folks coming home after school time should mostly miss them. Leave five to ten minutes early on weekdays.

👉 Read more: TDOT roadway activity report, Nov. 12–18 · TDOT SmartWay map

🏙️ Next Week in Chattanooga: A Few New Weekday Closures

Regional — Hamilton County. New to our list.

• Gadd Road (Hixson), between Kimbro Street and Hunter Trail: closed Mon.–Fri., Nov. 16–20, about 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. our time, while city crews remove dead trees and limbs. Detours posted.
• East M.L. King Jr. Boulevard, between Lindsay and Houston streets: closed Thursday, Nov. 19, about 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. our time, for the Gratefull event.
• Lee Highway (SR-2), between St. Stephens Place and Robin Drive: flaggers Tue.–Fri., Nov. 17–20, about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. our time.
• Tunnel nights still on: Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel closed Wed., Nov. 18, and the Bachman Tubes closed Thu., Nov. 19, both about 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. our time. The McCallie Tunnels are flagged one side at a time Wednesday night. All weather permitting.

What it means for you: If a doctor’s visit or shopping trip takes you to Hixson or downtown midweek, peek at the detour signs and give yourself a little cushion.

👉 Read more: City closure list on Chattanoogan.com · TDOT roadway activity report

🧊 Weather at Home: Sunny, Frosty Mornings, Then Nearly 70

Local — Dunlap forecast from the National Weather Service, updated about 11 a.m. today. Update. No weather alerts were posted for Tennessee when we checked.

• Tonight: Clear and calm, low around 28, the coldest night of the stretch.
• Sunday: Sunny, high near 55. Sunday night, low around 30.
• Monday and Tuesday: Sunny, highs near 58 and 62. Lows around 29 both nights.
• Wednesday: Sunny, high near 64. Wednesday night, low around 33.
• Thursday and Friday: Mostly sunny, highs near 67 and 70, with milder nights near 38–39.

What it means for you: Keep the scraper by the door through about Wednesday morning. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday mornings will be the frostiest, and bridges glaze first, like the porch rail that’s frosty when the yard isn’t. Sunrise Sunday is about 6:17 a.m. and sunset about 4:35 p.m., so the drive home after work is in the dark, when deer are on the move.

👉 Read more: NWS forecast for Dunlap · NWS winter driving tips

📋 Still on the Calendar (Quick List)

• Jasper Veterans Day Parade: today, Saturday, Nov. 14, 1–2 p.m., per the Marion County calendar. Expect slow going around downtown Jasper.
• I-24 in Marion County (miles 152.2 to 156): closeout work Sunday through Thursday nights, 7 p.m.–6 a.m., with single-lane closures. One lane stays open.
• I-24 westbound, Marion County (miles 140.5 to 135): shoulder closures, 7 a.m.–5 p.m., through Nov. 24.
• US-72 / SR-27 in Marion County (log mile 21.2): westbound lane closed with temporary signals through Dec. 14.
• US-41 in Grundy County: flaggers between Bells Cove and West Main Street, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., through Tuesday, Nov. 17.
• St. Elmo Avenue, Chattanooga: flaggers between 54th and 55th streets, Nov. 16–24, about 8 a.m.–1 p.m. our time.
• I-24 toward Nashville: Exit 111A at Manchester still closed (use 111B), and nightly bridge demolition continues at Exit 117, 7 p.m.–6 a.m.
• East Valley Road at Barker Branch: the new bridge is open both ways, weeks early, per the Dunlap-Tribune. Mind the “bump” sign.

👉 Read more: TDOT roadway activity report · Dunlap-Tribune on East Valley Road

✅ Your Front-Porch Checklist

• 🌉 Sunday downtown: Market Street Bridge closed about 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Drive the Veterans or Olgiati bridge. Walk the Walnut Street bridge.
• 🎪 River Street closed until about 11 a.m. Monday. Reggie White Boulevard closed Sunday about 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
• ⛽ Gas is down. Tennessee about $3.46, Chattanooga lower. Shop around a little.
• 🦃 Thanksgiving: no TDOT lane closures noon Nov. 25 to 6 a.m. Nov. 30.
• 🏡 Taft Highway flaggers 9 a.m.–2 p.m. starting Monday. Leave a few minutes early.
• 🧊 Frosty mornings through Wednesday. Tonight’s 28 is the coldest.
• 📱 Before any long trip: check SmartWay or dial 511.

The practical rule: when one road closes, the next road over is usually just fine. Plan the detour before you leave the driveway.

— Dunlap.Today

📖 Words Worth Knowing

• Lift test: A check of a drawbridge’s lifting parts. The Market Street Bridge’s middle section is built to open for boats.
• Lane-closure halt: A stretch of time when TDOT tells crews not to close travel lanes, usually around big holidays.
• Flagger-assisted lane closure: One lane is closed, and a worker with a sign takes turns letting each direction through.
• Winter blend: The type of gasoline sold in colder months. It’s easier to produce, which helps prices ease in the fall.
• Closeout activities: The final touch-ups at the end of a paving job, like striping and cleanup.

❓ FAQ

When is the Market Street Bridge closed, and how do I get across?

Sunday, Nov. 15, about 7 a.m. to no later than 2 p.m. our time (8 a.m.–3 p.m. Eastern). Drivers can use the Veterans Memorial or P.R. Olgiati bridge. People on foot can use the Walnut Street or Veterans bridge.

What else is closed downtown this weekend?

River Street by Renaissance Park is closed for the Renn Faire until about 11 a.m. Monday our time. Reggie White Boulevard closes Sunday, about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. our time, for the Chattanooga Market.

How much is gas right now?

AAA put Tennessee’s average for regular at $3.461 on Saturday and the national average at $3.84. A Stacker roundup of AAA data listed the Chattanooga metro near $3.19 on Friday. Prices vary by station.

Will there be road work over Thanksgiving?

TDOT plans to stop lane closures on interstates and state highways from noon Wednesday, Nov. 25, to 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30. Some long-term work zones may stay in place for safety. TDOT’s statewide announcement is due Nov. 19.

Where are the flaggers between Dunlap and Chattanooga?

On Taft Highway (SR-8) between Walden’s Farm Road and Browns Chapel, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. from Monday through Dec. 18. On the Signal Mountain side, Signal Mountain Road and Suck Creek Road have flaggers about 8 a.m.–1 p.m. our time through Dec. 4.

🔗 Other Resources

• TDOT SmartWay map: live closures and cameras (or dial 511)
• NWS forecast for Dunlap
• AAA Tennessee gas prices: daily state and metro averages
• TDOT newsroom: new notices and the weekly roadway report
• City of Chattanooga road closures map
• Chattanooga Journal’s weekly closure roundup

🚗 Steady Wheels, Calm Mind

Here’s the short list to remember: Sunday downtown, skip the Market Street Bridge until about 2 p.m.; River Street and Reggie White Boulevard are closed for weekend events; gas is cheaper than it’s been in months; TDOT plans no lane closures Thanksgiving weekend; and Taft Highway flaggers start Monday, 9 to 2. Back home it’s sunshine, frosty mornings and a warm Friday. Nothing here is cause for worry, just good to know before you turn the key. For more calm, clear news about the roads you drive every day, keep reading Dunlap.Today.