--- title: "Chattanooga Traffic" url: https://www.herechattanooga.com/traffic-chattanooga-tn/ date: 2026-07-11T17:48:44+00:00 modified: 2026-07-11T18:02:05+00:00 author: "" site: "HERE Chattanooga" attribution: "HERE Chattanooga" --- # Chattanooga Traffic *Source: [HERE Chattanooga](https://www.herechattanooga.com/traffic-chattanooga-tn/) — July 11, 2026 by * Public Safety # Chattanooga Traffic & Road Conditions Live cameras, road conditions, accident reports, and construction alerts for Hamilton [SCDOT Cameras](#ht-cameras) [Accidents](#ht-accidents) [DUI Reports](#ht-dui) [School Zones](#ht-school) [Report an Issue](/contact/) [MAACO Sponsored · Paint & Body Since 1972 Chattanooga's bumpers take a beating. Uncle Maaco puts them back together — America's #1 Bodyshop. See How This Spot Works →](/section-sponsorship/) Roads & Traffic Patterns ## How Hamilton County Moves: Highways, Commutes & Freight A driver's-eye reference to the interstates, US highways, commute corridors, and freight infrastructure that define how Chattanooga gets where it's going. ### Major Highways in Hamilton County Hamilton County sits at the convergence of Interstate 24, Interstate 75, Interstate 59, US-27 / State Route 27, and US-41 / Lee Highway. Together these routes carry essentially every commercial truck, commuter car, and out-of-state visitor that touches Chattanooga in a given day — which is why a single closure or rolling backup on any one of them ripples across the rest within minutes. - Interstate 24 East-west primary corridor; enters downtown from the northeast via Missionary Ridge; continues southwest through Lookout Valley to Nashville. - Interstate 75 North-south primary corridor; east side of Hamilton County through East Ridge and Collegedale; links Atlanta to the south and Knoxville to the north. - Interstate 59 Southwest corridor connecting Chattanooga to Birmingham, Alabama. - US-27 / State Route 27 North-south corridor through Hixson and Red Bank; primary north county access road. - US-41 / Lee Highway East connector through East Ridge and into Georgia; suburban commercial spine. ### Commute Patterns & Regional Drives Chattanooga commuters operate on a regional grid, not a city grid. Here is how long the most-driven trips actually take from Chattanooga: Nashville, TN 134 mi · ~130 min Atlanta, GA 118 mi · ~115 min Knoxville, TN 111 mi · ~105 min Birmingham, AL 150 mi · ~145 min Huntsville, AL 90 mi · ~85 min Charlotte, NC 293 mi · ~270 min The volume comes with a cost. Hamilton County recorded **52 traffic fatalities in 2024** — roughly 14.2 per 100,000 residents, per the TN Department of Public Safety fact book. ### Freight, Inland Port & Airport Traffic Add **Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field) (CHA)** to the picture. It is the region's primary commercial airport, and the drive in from Chattanooga is a short hop. Transit fills a smaller share of the picture. **CARTA (Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority)** runs the city's fixed-route bus and microtransit service; basic fare is 2. All figures sourced from state DOT traffic counts, the state Department of Public Safety fact book, the regional ports authority, and the local airport district — refreshed as new annual reports drop. Live conditions, accidents, and lane closures are above; this section explains the system those incidents move through. SCDOT Live Feeds ## SCDOT Traffic Cameras — Hamilton Camera thumbnails link directly to 511SC.org — no SCDOT API key required. [View all cameras on 511SC.org →](https://www.511sc.org) [LIVE *HERE*Chattanooga Traffic Cam SCDOT Live SCDOT Live Traffic — Hamilton Area Live camera feeds for the Hamilton area are being curated. View all SCDOT cameras on 511SC.org. View on 511SC →](https://www.511sc.org) Official Links ## Real-Time Resources Road Conditions & Closures - [511SC.org](https://www.511sc.org) SC DOT official traffic info portal - [SCDOT Road Conditions](https://www.scdot.org/travel/travel-conditions.aspx) Statewide conditions & alerts - [Hamilton Road Department](https://www.chattanoogacountysc.gov/163/Roads-Bridges) County roads, bridges & maintenance - [SCHP Incident Reports](https://scdps.sc.gov/schp) SC Highway Patrol incident log Emergency & Commute - Dial 911 Emergency — police, fire, EMS - *HP (*47) SCHP Non-Emergency — highway patrol - (864) 596-2038 Chattanooga PD Traffic Unit - [GSP Airport Traffic](https://www.gspairport.com) Greenville-Chattanooga International Airport - [Waze Chattanooga Live Map](https://www.waze.com/live-map) Crowd-sourced real-time traffic routing Latest Updates ## Chattanooga Traffic News Traffic news and road updates are published here daily. Check back soon or follow us for alerts. Crash & Accident Reports ## Chattanooga Accidents & Crash Reports Stay informed about crashes, closures, and road safety in Hamilton. Accident and crash reports for Hamilton will appear here as they are published. Our team monitors SCHP, WSPA, and local sources daily. DUI & Impaired Driving ## Chattanooga DUI Reports & Checkpoints DUI enforcement updates, checkpoint alerts, and impaired driving data for Hamilton DUI reports, arrest data, and checkpoint alerts for Hamilton will appear here as they are published. ### Hamilton DUI Data - **1,127 monitored DUI cases** in Hamilton (MADD Court Monitoring, 2019–2024) - **65% conviction rate** — the highest of all 7 monitored SC counties - **SC is #5 nationally** for drunk driving fatalities — 474 deaths in 2022 - **BAC limit**: 0.08% for drivers 21+, 0.02% for under 21 - **First offense penalties**: $400–$1,000 fine, 48 hours–90 days jail, 6-month license suspension - **Refusing a breathalyzer** results in automatic 6-month license suspension under SC implied consent law ⚠ DUI Checkpoints SC Highway Patrol conducts regular DUI checkpoints throughout Hamilton. Checkpoints are legal and must follow strict protocols. [SCHP Info →](https://scdps.sc.gov/schp) 📞 Report a Drunk Driver If you see an impaired driver, call 911 immediately. Note the vehicle description, tag number, and direction of travel. [Call 911](tel:911) 🚗 Sober Ride Options Uber and Lyft operate in the Chattanooga area. Many local bars and restaurants offer designated driver programs. School Zone Safety ## Chattanooga School Traffic & Zone Safety School zone speed limits, pickup/dropoff schedules, bus route alerts, and safety tips for Hamilton parents and commuters ### School Zone Speed Limits South Carolina law requires drivers to reduce speed to the posted school zone limit during designated hours. Fines are doubled in active school zones. Watch for flashing beacon signals near all Chattanooga schools. ### Pickup & Dropoff Hours Peak school traffic: **6:30–8:30 AM** and **2:00–4:00 PM** on school days. Allow extra commute time during these hours. Obey no parking and no stopping signs near school entrances. ### School Bus Safety SC law requires all vehicles to stop for school buses with extended stop signs and flashing red lights. Passing a stopped school bus carries fines up to $1,000 and potential license suspension. Children should wait in a safe place away from traffic. ### Back-to-School Alerts Each August, traffic patterns shift across Hamilton as 9 school districts resume classes. Watch for new traffic patterns, construction near schools, and increased pedestrian activity at intersections. ### Hamilton School Districts - Hamilton County Department of Education By the Numbers ## Chattanooga Commute Facts Key statistics for Hamilton commuters Data: US Census Bureau ACS • SCDOT Traffic Reports Alerts ## Active Construction & Closures Major construction and road closure alerts will be posted here as they are reported. Our team monitors SCDOT and county notices daily to keep Hamilton commuters informed. 🚧 SCDOT Press ReleasesJul 10, 2026 • Traffic Engineering[SCDOT to Implement New Traffic Pattern at Myrtle Beach Highway Intersection in Sumter County](https://www.scdot.org/inside/SCDOTPress/2026/scdot-to-implement-new-traffic-pattern-at-myrtle-beach-highway-i.html)The South Carolina Department of Transportation will shift traffic at the intersection of Myrtle Beach Highway (US 378) and Brick Church Road (SC-527) in Sumter County on Thursday,…Jul 10, 2026 • SCDOT Commission[SCDOT Commission to Meet July 16th, 2026](https://www.scdot.org/inside/SCDOTPress/2026/-scdot-commission-to-meet-july-16th--2026.html)Jul 9, 2026 • Bridges[SCDOT Receives $23.5 Million Federal Grant for Statewide Bridge Replacement Initiative](https://www.scdot.org/inside/SCDOTPress/2026/scdot-receives--23-5-million-federal-grant-for-statewide-bridge-.html)Following an announcement from the US Department of Transportation, the South Carolina Department of Transportation announced today that it has received a competitive $23.5 million…Jul 8, 2026 • Interstate Highways[I-95 Northbound Rest Area Closure for Lake Marion Bridge Replacement Project](https://www.scdot.org/inside/SCDOTPress/2026/i-95-northbound-rest-area-closure-for-lake-marion-bridge-replace.html)The South Carolina Department of Transportation will close the I-95 northbound rest area at mile marker 99 beginning Monday, July 13.Jul 7, 2026 • Traffic Advisories[SCDOT to Implement Traffic Change at John Nunn Highway and Salley Road Intersection in Orangeburg County](https://www.scdot.org/inside/SCDOTPress/2026/scdot-to-implement-traffic-change-at-john-nunn-highway-and-salle.html)The South Carolina Department of Transportation will convert the John Nunn Highway / Ninety-Six Road (SC-389) and Salley Road (SC-394) intersection from a two-way stop to a tempora…Source: [South Carolina Department of Transportation](https://www.scdot.org/inside/SCDOTPress.html) For real-time closure information, visit 511SC.org — the official SCDOT traffic portal for Tennessee. [View Closures on 511SC.org →](https://www.511sc.org) ![Rocket Lawyer logo — sample legal services placement](https://www.herechattanooga.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rl_logo_2x.png) Available in 15 Days Legal help when it matters — for Chattanooga drivers Ticket questions, accident questions, ask-a-lawyer access, and DIY legal documents from Rocket Lawyer — trusted by millions of Americans. [Get Legal Help Now →](https://track.flexlinkspro.com/g.ashx?foid=1.43086.2000000093&trid=1530781.198254&foc=16&fot=9999&fos=6) Sample placement shown. Rocket Lawyer link is an affiliate partner of HEREChattanooga; we may earn a commission at no cost to you. More from HEREChattanooga [Crime & Public Safety](https://www.herechattanooga.com/public-safety-chattanooga-tn/) [Politics](https://www.herechattanooga.com/politics-chattanooga-tn/) [Sports](https://www.herechattanooga.com/sports-chattanooga-tn/) [Business](https://www.herechattanooga.com/business-chattanooga-tn/) ITS ALL HERE! 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