Why cant TDOT crews work 24 hours a day to finish projects like they do in California?
Response: Due to budget issues, we have reduced overtime to employees. However, highway projects are let to contract and therefore, working contractors 24 hours a day would result in costs rising considerably even though a project might finish sooner. There is a balance we must strike in funding and stretching a project out longer term. However, we do offer contractors incentives to work faster on projects that have major impacts which essentially results in their working some 24-hour days. These decisions are made on a case by case basis. TDOT also encourages, and often requires, night-time work, if it can be done safely for the workers and the motorists.
