ATHENS-A portion of one lane on U.S. 72 in a heavily traveled area of Athens will close on Thursday and remain closed 6 days a week for three weeks.
The outside westbound lane between the west Wal-Mart entrance and Champion Chevrolet will close at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 18, and remain 
closed until 5:30 p.m. This 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. closure will continue until Aug. 9.
“We will be working Monday through Saturday, but we will try to open the lane back up on Fridays around 3:30 p.m. when that area has its highest volume of traffic,” said Grayson Carter of Grayson Carter and Son Contracting. “On Sundays, the lane will be open.”
Police Chief Floyd Johnson
Grayson Carter and Son Contracting is overseeing construction of a new shopping center just west of Wal-Mart and Compass Bank, and road work for the center will be ongoing during this three-week period.
Carter said motorists will not be able to use John Hector Drive by Compass Bank to exit onto U.S. 72. Motorists will have to use the exit between Compass Bank and Wal-Mart at the traffic light.
A police officer with a patrol car will monitor the area.
“We ask motorists to use caution, be courteous to other drivers, and to plan on delays,” Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said.
