Bonnaroo Begins Today — What 423 Drivers Should Know Before Heading West |
Bonnaroo’s opening day could mean heavier I-24 traffic for Chattanooga-area drivers heading toward Manchester, Murfreesboro, or Nashville this weekend. |
 |
MANCHESTER, Tenn. — Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival begins today in Manchester, bringing four days of music, camping, and heavy regional traffic to the I-24 corridor between Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee.
The festival runs Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, June 14, on Bonnaroo’s 700-acre farm in Manchester. TDOT says more than 45,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event.
For Chattanooga-area residents, the biggest takeaway is not the lineup — it is the traffic. Manchester sits along I-24, the same route many 423 drivers use for trips toward Murfreesboro, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee. TDOT says the area around Manchester sees increased traffic during Bonnaroo and that crews will focus on keeping I-24 moving while directing festival traffic safely to the site.
TDOT says Exit 111 / SR-55 will be used as the main festival exit, with alternate exits available if interstate congestion builds. The agency also says HELP trucks and Rural Service Patrol units will be on site, variable message signs will warn drivers of delays, and no construction-related lane closures are planned on I-24 near the festival from 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 10 through 7 p.m. Monday, June 15.
Drivers heading west from Chattanooga should expect the heaviest slowdowns near Manchester, especially during festival arrival and departure windows. Even non-attendees traveling to Nashville, Murfreesboro, or the airport may want to check TDOT SmartWay before leaving, build in extra time, and avoid cutting it close for appointments or flights.
TDOT says festival traffic will be kept in the right lane or on the shoulder where possible so through traffic can continue using the left lane. Drivers who need roadside assistance can dial 511, while motorists needing a state trooper can dial *THP, or *847, from a cell phone. Emergencies should still go to 911.
The practical advice for 423 drivers: treat I-24 westbound as a weekend travel zone, even if Bonnaroo is not your destination. Quick reader note
Heading west this weekend? Bonnaroo starts today in Manchester and runs through Sunday, June 14. Expect heavier traffic on I-24 near Manchester, check TDOT SmartWay before leaving, and allow extra travel time if you are headed toward Murfreesboro, Nashville, or Middle Tennessee. |