🚧 Tunnels Tonight, Potholes Thursday and a Peek at Dunlap's Future Main Drag: Your Roads & Commute Report

Or: Two Nights to Plan Around in Chattanooga, a Two-Week Eldridge Road Closure, and What TDOT Has Sketched for U.S. 127 Through Downtown Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Hump day on the roads looks a lot like hump day in the kitchen: the big chores are done, and there are just a couple of things to remember before supper. The daytime drive is easy again, with sunshine and a high near 88. The action is after dark.

Here’s what’s in this report: tonight, the McCallie Tunnels close one direction at a time and the Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel closes outright, both from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday night brings the Bachmann Tubes plus TDOT pothole patching on I-24 eastbound and I-75. In Hamilton County, Eldridge Road is now closed around the clock through Oct. 30. Friday turns breezy, so keep an eye out for limbs. And for the long view, we take a calm look at TDOT’s plan to rebuild U.S. 127 through downtown Dunlap, which won’t break ground for years. Fuller Road, the I-24 Exit 117 ramp and our local flaggers are all still in place.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Tonight (Wednesday), 8 p.m.–6 a.m.: McCallie Tunnels close one direction at a time (use I-24 or Wilcox Boulevard). Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel on U.S. 127 closed with a detour.
• Thursday night, Oct. 15: Bachmann Tubes closed 8 p.m.–6 a.m. Pothole patching on I-24 eastbound (mile markers 179–183) and I-75 (mile markers 2–15.6), 9 p.m.–6 a.m.
• Hamilton County: Eldridge Road closed 24 hours a day through Friday, Oct. 30. Residents keep access to their homes.
• Friday: Northwest wind gusts up to 25 mph, and up to 30 mph Friday night. Watch for limbs.
• Downtown Dunlap: Nothing changes on U.S. 127 this year. TDOT estimates construction will start in early 2029.

🌙 Tonight: McCallie and Stringer’s Ridge Tunnels

The City of Chattanooga says the McCallie (Missionary Ridge) Tunnels will be cleaned from 8 p.m. tonight until 6 a.m. Thursday. Only one direction, eastbound or westbound, will be shut at any given time, and the city says the exact order hasn’t been set. It strongly suggests using I-24 or Wilcox Boulevard instead during the overnight work.

TDOT’s roadway report also lists the Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel on SR-8 (U.S. 127, the route north out of downtown toward Red Bank and Signal Mountain) as closed tonight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for cleaning, with a detour in place, weather permitting.

What it means for you: If you work late in Chattanooga and usually come home over Signal Mountain, either head out before 8 p.m. or follow the posted Stringer’s Ridge detour. It’s like the church parking lot on revival night: the way through is still there, it’s just around the side.

👉 Read more (City of Chattanooga) · TDOT roadway report

🕳️ Thursday Night: Bachmann Tubes and a Pothole Patch

On Thursday, Oct. 15, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., the Bachmann Tubes on Ringgold Road (SR-8) between Chattanooga and East Ridge close for cleaning, with a detour, weather permitting.

That same night, TDOT maintenance crews will patch potholes on I-24 eastbound between mile markers 179 and 183 and on I-75 in both directions between mile markers 2 and 15.6, from 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday. TDOT says the work covers all lanes, so expect crews to close lanes in turn as they move along.

What it means for you: Most of us will be sound asleep. If you’ve got a night shift or an early airport run toward East Ridge, Ooltewah or Cleveland, give yourself 10 to 15 extra minutes. One slow night buys a smoother ride for months.

👉 Read more (TDOT roadway report)

🛣️ Hamilton County: Eldridge Road Closed Through Oct. 30

The Hamilton County Mayor’s Office says Eldridge Road is closed 24 hours a day from Oct. 14 through Oct. 30 so crews can replace a box culvert. Residents keep access to their homes. Vehicles over 10 tons must come in from the north end of Eldridge Road, and through traffic should follow the posted detour.

Two shorter county closures were set for this morning only, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Roberts Mill Road for gate repairs (the county suggested the W Road or Signal Mountain Boulevard/Taft Highway instead), and Harrison Ooltewah Road for guardrail repairs (detour by Highway 58, Hunter Road and Garfield Road).

What it means for you: If your errands or a hauling job take you onto Eldridge Road in the next two weeks, plan on the detour, and if you’re driving something heavy, remember to use the north end. A box culvert is just a big concrete pipe that lets a creek run under the road, and a new one keeps the road from washing out down the line.

👉 Read more (WDEF) · NewsChannel 9

🏘️ Looking Ahead: TDOT’s Plan for U.S. 127 Through Downtown Dunlap

This one is for planning, not for this week. TDOT’s project page for the SR-8 (U.S. 127) Corridor in Dunlap describes a rebuild of the highway through downtown, from the SR-28 and Main Street South intersection up to Church Street. TDOT is handling it on behalf of the City of Dunlap, and it’s paid for by a federal RAISE grant the city applied for in 2022.

Here’s what the plan calls for:

• The signal at SR-8, SR-28 and Main Street South becomes a one-lane “peanut” roundabout. TDOT says it was designed so trucks and school buses can get through it safely.
• The bridge over Coops Creek, where the highway narrows to two lanes today, gets rebuilt wider so the center lane runs all the way through, with a crossing for people on foot.
• Curbs, bike lanes and pedestrian lighting are added, and on-street parking downtown stays.

TDOT’s estimated timeline: the federal grant agreement in fall 2026, buying the needed right-of-way starting in January 2027, and construction beginning in early 2029. TDOT notes the right-of-way and construction phases depend on the federal grant money coming through.

What it means for you: Nothing changes on your drive through town for now. Think of it like a barn plan pinned to the wall: it’s drawn up, but nobody’s pouring footings yet. If you own property along that stretch, the project page lists contacts and the maps from last fall’s public meeting.

👉 Read more (TDOT project page)

💨 Friday’s Wind and a Cooler Weekend

The National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap calls for sunny, mid-80s weather through Thursday. Then a front comes through on Friday, with northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph, and north winds gusting up to 30 mph Friday night. Saturday’s high is only about 63, with a low near 39 Saturday night.

What it means for you: Breezy days can bring limbs down, especially on wooded stretches after dark. Slow down a little, use your high beams when no one’s coming, and if a tree blocks the road, pull off safely and call 911. Pickup owners, strap down anything loose in the bed before Friday’s drive. On the cold mornings this weekend, give the windshield a minute to clear before you pull out.

👉 Read more (National Weather Service, Dunlap forecast)

📌 Still in Place: Fuller Road, Exit 117 and Our Home Flaggers

• Fuller Road stays closed between East Brainerd Road and White Road, 24 hours a day, through Sunday, Oct. 18, for a water main move. Residents and emergency vehicles get in from the west end near Hurricane Creek.
• In Coffee County, the I-24 westbound entrance at Exit 117 stays closed until 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19. Use Exit 114.
• The P.R. Olgiatti Bridge (U.S. 27) inspection is on the southbound shoulder today and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The travel lanes stay open.
• At home, TDOT still lists flagger lane closures for resurfacing on SR-111, SR-399 and SR-8 in Sequatchie County.
• In Marion County, I-24 resurfacing between mile markers 152.2 and 156 keeps single-lane closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights.

What it means for you: Same detours as Monday. TDOT’s weekly report for Oct. 8–14 wraps up today, and the last two reports were posted on Thursdays, so check back for next week’s list.

👉 Read more (Chattanoogan.com, Fuller Road) · TDOT Exit 117 notice

✅ Your Valley Driving Checklist

• ✅ Tonight, 8 p.m.–6 a.m.: McCallie Tunnels one direction at a time (use I-24 or Wilcox), and Stringer’s Ridge closed with a detour.
• ✅ Thursday night: Bachmann Tubes closed 8 p.m.–6 a.m., and pothole patching on I-24 eastbound (mile markers 179–183) and I-75 (mile markers 2–15.6), 9 p.m.–6 a.m.
• ✅ Eldridge Road in Hamilton County is closed through Oct. 30. Heavy trucks use the north end.
• ✅ Friday and Friday night: gusty winds. Watch for limbs and strap down truck-bed loads.
• ✅ Fuller Road is closed through Sunday, and use Exit 114 instead of Exit 117 for I-24 westbound until Monday at 6 a.m.
• ✅ Expect flaggers on SR-111, SR-399 and SR-8 at home.
• ✅ Downtown Dunlap’s U.S. 127 rebuild is years away. Nothing changes this year.
• ✅ Check TDOT SmartWay or call 511 before longer trips.

Practical rule: Drive by day if you can this week. If you’re out after 8 p.m. in Chattanooga, check the tunnel first.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Roads Glossary

• Roundabout: A circular intersection where traffic flows one way around a center island. You yield to cars already in the circle, then go, with no waiting on a red light.
• “Peanut” roundabout: A roundabout stretched into an oval, a little like a peanut shell, so it can serve roads that meet at odd angles.
• Box culvert: A big square concrete pipe that carries a creek or ditch water under the road.
• Right-of-way: The strip of land a road sits on. Buying right-of-way means the state purchases any extra land a project needs.
• RAISE grant: A federal transportation grant that helps pay for local road and safety projects.
• Pothole patching: Crews fill holes in the pavement, closing one lane at a time as they move along.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Are the McCallie Tunnels fully closed tonight?

No. The city says only one direction will be closed at any given time from 8 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. Thursday. It suggests using I-24 or Wilcox Boulevard instead.

When does the Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel close?

Tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., with a detour in place, weather permitting.

Will Thursday night’s pothole work slow my Friday morning commute?

It shouldn’t. TDOT scheduled the work from 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday.

How long is Eldridge Road closed?

From Oct. 14 through Oct. 30, 24 hours a day. Residents keep access to their homes, and vehicles over 10 tons must enter from the north end.

When will construction start on U.S. 127 in downtown Dunlap?

TDOT estimates early 2029. Right-of-way buying is set to begin in January 2027, and both phases depend on the federal grant money coming through.

Will downtown Dunlap lose its on-street parking?

No. TDOT’s project page says on-street parking will remain downtown.

🔗 Other Resources

• TDOT SmartWay: Live traffic map and cameras
• TDOT: SR-8 (U.S. 127) Corridor in Dunlap project page
• TDOT news and weekly roadway reports
• City of Chattanooga: Tunnel and construction updates
• National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses and services

🚗 Two Night Notes, One Windy Day and a Long View

Here’s all you need to remember: tunnels tonight, potholes Thursday night and wind on Friday. Downtown Dunlap’s new look is a story for another year. In between, drive the way Valley folks always have: unhurried, eyes up and quick to wave the other fellow on.

Be safe out there, and give the road crews room to work. Read Dunlap.Today for road and weather updates as they come in.