🚧 Rain and Snow at Tonight's Playoff Games, the Market Street Bridge Closes Sunday Morning and Flaggers Head to Taft Highway

Or: Pack a coat that can get wet, plan your Sunday Chattanooga trip around one bridge, and expect a short stop on SR-8 starting Monday

By the AI Whippersnapper for Dunlap.Today · Roads & Commute #39 · Friday, November 13, 2026

Good Friday, neighbors. Here’s what’s new since yesterday. Fans heading to tonight’s playoff games in upper East Tennessee should know the weather service now calls for rain and snow in Erwin, Elizabethton and Cosby tonight, with lows near 30. TDOT posted its new roadway report for our region this morning, and it brings two new items: Chattanooga’s Market Street Bridge closes Sunday morning for its regular check-up, and flaggers start work Monday on SR-8 (Taft Highway) here in Sequatchie County. The report also confirms next week’s tunnel cleanings. Back home it stays dry, with frosty mornings and a warm-up toward the mid-60s by Thursday. Nothing here is cause for worry. It’s mostly a dress-warm, plan-ahead kind of weekend.

⏱️ The 30-Second Version
🏈 Tonight, upper East Tennessee: Rain and snow forecast in Erwin, Elizabethton and Cosby, lows near 30. Kickoffs at 6 p.m. our time. Wet coat, warm hat, slow drive home.
🌉 Sunday, Nov. 15, Chattanooga: Market Street Bridge closed about 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. our time. Use the Veterans or Olgiati bridge.
🌉 Mon.–Thu., Nov. 16–19: One outside lane closed on the Market Street Bridge, about 7 a.m.–4 p.m. our time.
🏡 Starting Monday, Nov. 16: Flaggers on SR-8 (Taft Highway) between Walden’s Farm Road and Browns Chapel, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., through Dec. 18.
🧊 Here at home: Dry. Lows of 31, 28, 30, 30, 30 and 33 tonight through Wednesday night. Frost on bridges early.
🚇 Still on, per TDOT’s new list: Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel closed Wed. Nov. 18, Bachman Tubes closed Thu. Nov. 19, both 7 p.m.–5 a.m. our time.

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

🏈 Playoff Road Trips Tonight: Bring a Coat That Can Get Wet

Regional — upper East Tennessee. Update. Yesterday we told you about tonight’s long drives: Sequatchie County at Unicoi County (Gentry Stadium in Erwin), Bledsoe County at Happy Valley (Elizabethton) and Whitwell at Cosby, all at 7 p.m. Eastern, which is 6 p.m. our time. What’s new is the weather up there. The National Weather Service forecast, updated late this morning, calls for:

• Erwin: rain and snow tonight, a 90 percent chance, with a low around 30, then a chance of snow showers toward morning.
• Elizabethton: rain and patchy fog early, then rain and snow likely in the 9–11 p.m. Eastern hours, with a low around 29.
• Cosby: rain before 11 p.m. Eastern, then a chance of rain and snow, with a low around 30.

The weather service in Morristown also has a Winter Weather Advisory for the mountains, but only for elevations above 3,000 feet, with up to 4 inches of snow there through 1 p.m. Eastern Saturday. It names mountain roads like I-26 at Sam’s Gap and US-441 at Newfound Gap. Erwin’s stadium area sits at about 1,900 feet, well below that line.

What it means for you: This is a wet, chilly night, not a snowstorm, for the towns where the games are. Think of it like a cold November revival under a leaky tent: dress in layers, bring a rain poncho and a dry pair of socks for the ride home, and you’ll enjoy it just fine. On the drive back, watch for fog and slick bridges, leave extra room behind the car ahead, and don’t take any mountain shortcuts. Back here in the Valley it stays dry tonight.

👉 Read more: NWS forecast for the Erwin area · NWS Morristown alerts · Dunlap.Today game details

🌉 Sunday Morning: Chattanooga’s Market Street Bridge Takes Its Check-Up

Regional — Hamilton County. New to our list. TDOT’s new roadway report says the Market Street Bridge downtown will be closed to all cars and walkers on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 8 a.m. until no later than 3 p.m. Eastern. That’s about 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. our time. It’s the bridge’s quarterly testing, inspection and maintenance. TDOT says to use the Veterans Memorial Bridge or the P.R. Olgiati Bridge instead, and the bridge will reopen as soon as the work is done.

Then, next week, an inspection closes one outside lane and its shoulder:

• Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 16–17: northbound outside lane, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern (about 7 a.m.–4 p.m. our time).
• Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 18–19: southbound outside lane, same hours.
• If weather slows things down, it could run into Friday, Nov. 20.

What it means for you: If you’re headed to church, brunch or the Aquarium area in downtown Chattanooga Sunday morning, plan to cross the river on a neighboring bridge. It’s like the preacher’s usual road being blocked for a funeral procession: you go one street over and still get there on time. On weekdays next week, the bridge stays open. Just be ready to merge left as you come onto it.

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

🏡 Close to Home: Flaggers on Taft Highway Starting Monday

Local — Sequatchie County. New to our list. TDOT’s new report lists utility work on SR-8 (Taft Highway), the road between Dunlap and Signal Mountain, between Walden’s Farm Road and Browns Chapel. Expect flagger-assisted lane closures in both directions from Monday, Nov. 16, through Friday, Dec. 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (the hours TDOT lists). TDOT says to slow down and be ready to stop for trucks, flaggers and cones.

Update: The four Sequatchie County “closeout” jobs we told you about last week are still on TDOT’s list, with intermittent single-lane closures and flaggers. TDOT doesn’t give exact days or hours for them:

• SR-111: near Lewis Chapel Road to near 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 the Grundy side, from SR-108 to our county line).
• SR-8: near Whitlow Road to near Sherman Road.

What it means for you: If you drive Taft Highway toward Signal Mountain or Chattanooga in the middle of the day, plan on a short wait at a flagger, like waiting your turn at the one-lane bridge on the back road. Early-morning and after-school drivers should mostly miss it, since the work runs 9 to 2. Leaving five minutes early covers it.

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

🧊 Weather at Home: Dry, Frosty Mornings, Then a Warm-Up

Local — Dunlap forecast from the National Weather Service, updated about 11 a.m. today. Update.

• Tonight: Partly cloudy, low around 31, light north wind.
• Saturday: Sunny, high near 50, then cooling to around 45 in the afternoon. Saturday night: low around 28, still the coldest of the stretch.
• Sunday through Tuesday: Sunny or mostly sunny, highs climbing from about 55 to 61. Lows around 30 each night.
• Wednesday: Sunny, high near 64. Wednesday night, low around 33.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 67. Thursday night, a milder low around 39.

What it means for you: Keep the scraper handy through about Thursday morning. Saturday morning and Sunday morning will be the frostiest. Bridges and overpasses frost first, like the birdbath that skims over before the pond does, so ease off on them early. Sunrise is about 6:16 a.m. and sunset about 4:36 p.m. Saturday, so both drives still land near deer time at dawn and dusk.

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

🚇 Tunnel Nights Confirmed for Next Week

Regional — Hamilton County. Update. TDOT’s new report keeps the same plan we shared yesterday. All are weather permitting, with detours posted:

• Wednesday, Nov. 18 — Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel (SR-8): closed 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. our time.
• Wednesday, Nov. 18 — McCallie Tunnels (SR-2): open but flagged, one side at a time, same hours. Expect delays.
• Thursday, Nov. 19 — Bachman Tubes (SR-8): closed 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. our time.

What it means for you: Daytime trips aren’t affected. If you’ll be in Chattanooga late those two nights, follow the detour signs and give yourself a few extra minutes.

👉 Read more: TDOT roadway activity report · Chattanooga Journal’s closure roundup

📋 Still on the Calendar (Quick List)

• Jasper Veterans Day Parade: Saturday, Nov. 14, 1–2 p.m., with a ceremony after, 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.
• SR-108 in Marion County: one lane with temporary signals for slide repair.
• US-41 in Grundy County: flaggers between Bells Cove and West Main Street, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., through Tuesday, Nov. 17.
• I-24 toward Nashville: Exit 111A at Manchester is still closed (use 111B), and nightly bridge demolition continues at Exit 117, 7 p.m.–6 a.m., with one lane shifted onto the ramps. Next week’s overnight lane closures near mile 58–59 (Mon.–Thu.) and mile 70 (Thu.) are still on.
• St. Elmo Avenue, Chattanooga: new flaggers between 54th and 55th streets, Nov. 16–24, about 8 a.m.–1 p.m. our time.

👉 Read more: TDOT roadway activity report · TDOT Middle Tennessee lane closures

✅ Your Front-Porch Checklist

• 🏈 Playoff trip tonight? Kickoff 6 p.m. our time. Rain gear, warm hat, dry socks, full tank. Slow and steady home.
• 🌉 Sunday in Chattanooga: Market Street Bridge closed about 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Cross on the Veterans or Olgiati bridge.
• 🏡 Taft Highway (SR-8): flaggers 9 a.m.–2 p.m. starting Monday. Leave five minutes early.
• 🧊 Frosty mornings through about Thursday. Saturday night’s 28 is the coldest.
• 🚇 Tunnels: Stringer’s Ridge Wed. Nov. 18, Bachman Thu. Nov. 19, 7 p.m.–5 a.m. our time.
• 📱 Before any long trip: check SmartWay or dial 511.

The practical rule: when the road is wet, white or new to you, slow down and leave room.

— Dunlap.Today

📖 Words Worth Knowing

• Winter Weather Advisory: A weather service heads-up that snow or ice may make travel slippery. It’s a “be careful” notice, a step below a warning.
• Bridge inspection: A regular check-up where crews look over a bridge’s steel, concrete and moving parts to keep it safe.
• Flagger-assisted lane closure: One lane is closed and a worker with a sign takes turns letting each direction through.
• Closeout activities: The final touch-ups at the end of a paving job, like striping and cleanup.
• Utility work: Crews working on power, water, phone or similar lines along the road.

❓ FAQ

Will it snow at tonight’s playoff games?

The weather service calls for a rain and snow mix tonight in Erwin, Elizabethton and Cosby, with lows near 30. The heavier snow advisory is only for mountain elevations above 3,000 feet. Dress for wet and cold.

When is the Market Street Bridge closed?

Sunday, Nov. 15, from about 7 a.m. to no later than 2 p.m. our time (8 a.m.–3 p.m. Eastern). Use the Veterans Memorial or P.R. Olgiati bridge. Next week, Nov. 16–19, only one outside lane closes during the day.

Where is the new Taft Highway work, and when?

On SR-8 in Sequatchie County, between Walden’s Farm Road and Browns Chapel, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, through Dec. 18. Flaggers take turns letting each direction through.

Is it going to freeze here at home?

Yes, lightly. Lows are around 31 tonight, 28 Saturday night and 30 Sunday through Tuesday nights. It stays dry, so expect frost, not ice storms.

Are the Chattanooga tunnel closures still on?

Yes. TDOT’s new report keeps Stringer’s Ridge closed Wednesday night, Nov. 18, and the Bachman Tubes closed Thursday night, Nov. 19, each 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. our time, weather permitting.

🔗 Other Resources

• TDOT SmartWay map: live closures and cameras (or dial 511)
• NWS forecast for Dunlap
• NWS Morristown: forecasts and alerts for upper East Tennessee
• NWS winter weather safety
• TDOT newsroom: new notices and the weekly roadway report
• City of Chattanooga road closures map

🚗 Steady Wheels, Calm Mind

Here’s the short list to remember: rain and snow at tonight’s playoff games, so dress for wet and cold; the Market Street Bridge is closed Sunday morning; flaggers start on Taft Highway Monday, 9 to 2; and the tunnel nights are still Nov. 18 and 19. Back home it’s dry, frosty mornings and a warm-up by Thursday. 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.