🚧 First Frost Tonight, Paving Around St. Elmo and an I-24 Ramp That Reopens Monday: Your Roads & Commute Report

Or: Frosty Windshields Sunday and Monday Mornings, City Paving and Daytime Flaggers on the Lookout Side of Chattanooga, Manchester’s Exit 117 Ramp Reopening and the Last of Nashville’s Big Weekend Closures

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, October 17, 2026

Saturday is the day we sit on the porch with a second cup of coffee and look over the week ahead, the same way you’d look over the garden before the first cold snap. And there is a cold snap. The weather service says tonight could bring the first frost of the season to parts of our region. After that, the forecast is about as friendly as it gets: sunny and dry every day next week, which is good news for road crews trying to finish jobs on time.

Here’s what’s in this report: frost likely tonight and possible again Sunday night, so plan a few extra minutes for the windshield. In Chattanooga, city paving crews work the St. Elmo and Alton Park area Oct. 19–23, and TDOT has daytime flaggers on St. Elmo Avenue. Out I-24, the Exit 117 westbound ramp in Coffee County reopens at 6 a.m. Monday, while night crews prepare the SR-55 bridge at Exit 111 in Manchester. Paving starts Monday on SR-15 near Winchester, and Nashville-bound drivers get I-65 back by 5 a.m. Monday. We’ll finish with the night crews you may pass on the interstate and a short list of Monday reminders close to home.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Sunday and Monday mornings: Dunlap lows near 38 and 39 under clear skies. Frost is likely in colder spots and on the mountain. Clear the whole windshield before you go.
• All next week: Sunny and dry, with highs warming from the upper 60s Sunday to the upper 70s by Wednesday. Sunrise comes a little before 7 a.m. Central, so expect low sun glare on the morning drive.
• St. Elmo, Oct. 19–23: City paving with flaggers on Tennessee Avenue, Old Mountain Road and nearby streets. Old Mountain Road may close completely while crews work. TDOT flaggers on St. Elmo Avenue, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
• I-24 toward Nashville: The westbound entrance ramp at Exit 117 (Coffee County) reopens at 6 a.m. Monday. Night lane closures at Exit 111 in Manchester, with one lane open each way.
• Nashville: I-65 reopens by 5 a.m. Monday. In Smyrna, two eastbound I-24 exit ramps at Sam Ridley Parkway are closed until 5 a.m. Sunday.

🥶 First Frost Tonight, Then a Sunny, Warming Week

The National Weather Service office in Morristown wrote this morning that much cooler, drier air is moving in and that the first frost of the season will likely occur tonight across portions of the area, with frost possible again Sunday night. Forecasters expect lows from the low 30s on the higher ground to the upper 30s and low 40s in the lower valleys, with winds dying down overnight. That’s the recipe for frost.

For Dunlap, the forecast calls for a clear night tonight with a low around 38, then a sunny Sunday near 67 and a clear Sunday night around 39. After that, it’s sunny day after day: near 71 Monday, 73 Tuesday and 77 to 78 Wednesday through Friday, with nights in the 40s.

What it means for you: If you’re out the door before daylight Sunday or Monday, expect a frosty windshield, especially if you park in a low spot or out in the open, and expect more frost if you drive up onto the plateau. Start the car, run the defroster and clear all the glass, not just a peephole. Bridges and shaded curves cool off first, so ease up there. Then enjoy the dry week ahead. Sunny weather is like a good stretch of hay weather: the crews can get a lot done, and you can plan your trips with confidence. With sunrise a little before 7 a.m. Central, keep the sunglasses handy for east-facing drives.

👉 Read more (National Weather Service, Morristown forecast discussion) · Dunlap forecast

🏙️ Around St. Elmo: City Paving and Daytime Flaggers Next Week

St. Elmo sits at the foot of Lookout Mountain, near the lower Incline Railway station, and plenty of Valley families pass through on fall outings. Next week it’s busy with road work. The City of Chattanooga says paving crews will work these streets Monday through Friday, Oct. 19–23, weather permitting:

• Tennessee Avenue from W. 40th Street to the Tennessee/Georgia state line
• Old Mountain Road between Roy Street and St. Elmo Avenue (may require a full closure because the lanes are narrow)
• Fagan Street, Fairoak Place, Ohls Avenue and W. 37th, W. 45th, W. 46th and W. 53rd streets
• W. 14th Street between Market Street and Cowart Street, and 4th Avenue between E. 24th Street Place and E. 28th Street

The city says crews will pave one lane at a time with flaggers, driveways and intersections may close briefly as machines pass, and street parking is restricted on paving days.

TDOT also lists daytime flaggers on St. Elmo Avenue (SR-17) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: between 43rd and 44th streets through Wednesday, Oct. 21, and between 56th and 57th streets through Dec. 18. Separately, crews are flagging at night for pavement markings on SR-17 between Campbell Street and SR-153, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., through Oct. 31. Up top, the daytime flaggers we told you about earlier this month are still on the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway (SR-148) between Crandell Avenue and Stonedge Road, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What it means for you: If a Lookout Mountain trip is on your list, go early or late in the day, follow the flaggers and allow a few extra minutes in St. Elmo. Think of it like the church kitchen before a homecoming dinner: a little crowded while the work gets done, but worth it when it’s finished.

👉 Read more (City of Chattanooga paving schedule) · Chattanoogan.com · TDOT report

🛣️ West Over the Mountain: Exit 117 Ramp Back Monday, Night Work at Exit 111

For anyone who takes I-24 toward Manchester, Murfreesboro or Nashville, here’s an update on a closure we’ve been following. TDOT says the westbound I-24 entrance ramp at Exit 117 (AEDC Road / Wattendorf Memorial Highway) in Coffee County is scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19. Until then, the signed detour sends traffic to Exit 114. A 12-foot width limit stays on all ramps at that interchange.

A few miles west, at Exit 111 in Manchester, TDOT is replacing the SR-55 bridge over I-24. SR-55 is down to one lane each way there, and TDOT lists nightly lane closures on I-24 in both directions as crews prepare for bridge demolition, with one lane open in each direction at all times. Night crack-sealing crews are also working on I-24 in Coffee County between mile markers 96.81 and 100.24 and between 125.75 and 126.97, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

What it means for you: Daytime trips through Coffee County should move along fine. If you drive I-24 after dark, watch for lane closures near Manchester and give the crews plenty of room. Monday morning, the Exit 117 ramp should be back in business, like a gate that’s finally been rehung.

👉 Read more (TDOT roadway report, Oct. 15–21)

🌄 Toward Winchester: Paving Starts Monday on SR-15

In Franklin County, TDOT says daily lane closures for resurfacing begin Monday, Oct. 19, on SR-15 from Belvidere Lane to Veterans Memorial Drive, with one lane in each direction kept open. Also in Franklin County, daytime flaggers will be on SR-130 (Old Tullahoma Road) between Audubon Road and Bible Crossing Road from Oct. 20 through Nov. 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What it means for you: If you head to Winchester for shopping, a doctor’s visit or a drive past Tims Ford Lake, add a few minutes and watch for crews. One lane each way stays open, so traffic should keep moving.

👉 Read more (TDOT report)

🚙 Nashville Trips: Smyrna Ramps and I-65 Reopen Soon

Two Middle Tennessee closures wrap up in the next couple of days:

• Smyrna (I-24, Rutherford County): For concrete repairs, TDOT has closed the eastbound exit ramps at Exit 66A and 66B (Sam Ridley Parkway) until 5 a.m. Sunday. Eastbound Exit 70 (Almaville Road) and westbound Exit 66 have lane shifts, and the westbound Exit 64 (Waldron Road) ramp is partly closed. The next two weekends, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30, bring nightly lane closures on I-24 between Exit 66 and Exit 70.
• Nashville (I-65): I-65 is closed in both directions between I-40 (Exit 210) and near I-440 (Exit 80) for the Hamilton Avenue bridge demolition and is set to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday. After that, expect occasional lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. while the new bridge deck goes in. The Hamilton Avenue bridge itself stays closed until December.

What it means for you: Headed to Nashville this weekend? Leave early, follow the detour signs and check SmartWay before you go. By Monday, the drive should be back to normal in the daytime.

👉 Read more (TDOT, Rutherford County ramps) · WSMV, I-65 closure

🌙 Those Flashing Trucks at Night: Guardrail, Sweeping and Fresh Paint

TDOT’s weekly report also lists the routine crews you may pass in our part of the state:

• Guardrail repair: on interstates Sunday through Thursday nights, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., with at least one lane open. On state routes, crews may work daytime hours Monday through Saturday, with flaggers.
• Sweeping: moving crews clean shoulders, at night (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) on interstates and busy routes, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on quieter roads.
• Cable barrier repair: daytime shoulder closures in the median of interstates, Monday through Friday.
• Fresh paint in Marion County: restriping on SR-422 (log miles 0 to 2.4). TDOT says to expect wet paint.

What it means for you: When you see a slow-moving truck with a big flashing arrow, slow down and move over if it’s safe, just like you’d give a tractor room on a back road. And if you spot a pothole on a state route, you can report it to TDOT at 833-TDOTFIX.

👉 Read more (TDOT report) · TDOTFIX hotline info

📌 Monday Reminders Close to Home

These are the same jobs we covered in Friday’s report. No changes since then, just a quick refresher so they don’t sneak up on you:

• Home flaggers: resurfacing on U.S. 127 (Marion County line to Wilson Road), SR-111, SR-399 and SR-8.
• Sunday night: I-24 resurfacing in Marion County (mile markers 152.2 to 156) starts its week again, Sunday through Thursday nights, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Monday, Oct. 19: SR-27 (TVA Road) in front of the Love’s in Marion County closed 7 a.m.–4 p.m. for paving. Popular Springs Road closed 8 a.m.–3 p.m., Oct. 19–22.
• Starting Monday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., through Dec. 4: flaggers on Signal Mountain Road and Suck Creek Road.
• Tuesday through Friday: right-lane closures on the C.B. Robinson Bridge (DuPont Parkway), 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Next weekend: East Brainerd Road closed from Prosperity Lane to Vance Road, 5 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26.
• Downtown Chattanooga: the Tennessee Tow Show street closures end at noon Sunday.

👉 Read more (TDOT report) · SValleyNow, Popular Springs Road · City of Chattanooga closures

✅ Your Valley Driving Checklist

• ✅ Sunday and Monday mornings: plan 5 extra minutes to clear a frosty windshield. Take bridges and shady curves gently.
• ✅ All week: sunny and dry. Keep sunglasses in the truck for the low morning sun.
• ✅ Lookout Mountain or St. Elmo trip? City paving Oct. 19–23. Old Mountain Road may close completely while crews work.
• ✅ I-24 west: the Exit 117 westbound ramp reopens 6 a.m. Monday. Watch for night lane closures at Exit 111 in Manchester.
• ✅ Winchester: paving on SR-15 starts Monday, with one lane open each way.
• ✅ Nashville: I-65 reopens by 5 a.m. Monday. The Smyrna exit ramps reopen by 5 a.m. Sunday.
• ✅ Monday at home: the Love’s on SR-27 paving (7 a.m.–4 p.m.) and Popular Springs Road (8 a.m.–3 p.m.).
• ✅ Check TDOT SmartWay or call 511 before longer trips. Report potholes at 833-TDOTFIX.

Practical rule: Frosty glass? Clear all of it before you roll. A peephole isn’t a windshield.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Roads Glossary

• Frost: Ice crystals that form on cold surfaces like windshields, grass and sometimes bridges on clear, calm nights, even when the air stays a few degrees above freezing.
• Entrance ramp: The short road that takes you onto the interstate. An exit ramp (off-ramp) takes you off.
• Width restriction: A limit on how wide a vehicle can be to fit through a work zone. A 12-foot limit mostly matters for wide loads and oversized farm equipment.
• Bridge demolition prep: The work crews do before an old bridge comes down, like setting up barriers and protecting the road below.
• Crack sealing: Filling small cracks in pavement so water can’t get in and turn them into potholes.
• Log mile: TDOT’s way of marking a spot on a state route, counted from the county line. It works like a mile marker on the interstate.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Will there be frost in Dunlap tonight?

Possibly in colder spots. Dunlap’s forecast low is around 38 under clear skies, and the National Weather Service says the season’s first frost is likely tonight in parts of the region, especially on higher ground, with frost possible again Sunday night.

Will the roads be icy?

Nothing in the forecast calls for icy roads, and the lows are expected to stay above freezing in Dunlap. Frost mainly means scraping the windshield. Still, bridges and shady spots cool off first, so take them gently on the coldest mornings.

Is Old Mountain Road in St. Elmo closed next week?

It may be. The city lists Old Mountain Road between Roy Street and St. Elmo Avenue among next week’s paving streets and says it may require a full closure because the lanes are narrow. Paving is weather permitting.

When does the I-24 ramp at Exit 117 reopen?

TDOT’s schedule shows the westbound entrance ramp reopening at 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19. Until then, use Exit 114.

Is I-24 closed at Manchester?

No. TDOT says one lane stays open in each direction during the nightly lane closures at Exit 111.

When does I-65 in Nashville reopen?

By 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, according to TDOT. After that, expect occasional lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

🔗 Other Resources

• TDOT SmartWay: Live traffic map and cameras
• TDOT: Roadway report for our region, Oct. 15–21
• City of Chattanooga: Paving schedule for Oct. 19–23
• National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast
• Chattanoogan.com: Weekly Hamilton County road report
• SValleyNow: Sequatchie Valley local news
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses and services

🚗 A Frosty Start, a Sunny Week and a Calm Drive

Here’s all you need to remember: scrape the windshield Sunday and Monday mornings, enjoy a sunny week, plan a few extra minutes around St. Elmo, and know that the Exit 117 ramp and I-65 are back Monday morning. None of it is cause for worry. It’s just fall doing what fall does, and road crews making the most of good weather before winter, the way we get the woodpile stacked before the first hard freeze.

Bundle up, take it easy on those first cold mornings and give the road crews room to work. Read Dunlap.Today for road and weather updates as they come in.