Governor Identifies 45 Transportation Projects in TDOT’s Region One for Funding

NASHVILLE— Governor Phil Bredesen today released the final three-year transportation program of his administration which includes completion of several major strategic corridor projects and the state’s Better Bridges bonding program. The three year program includes $1.5 billion for highways and bridges to fund more than 175 individual project phases in 70 counties in Tennessee. Included in the proposal, which has been presented to the Legislature, are 45 highway and bridge projects in TDOT’s Region One. 

 

“TDOT’s three-year multimodal work program for 2010 to 2013 represents a responsible, balanced approach to transportation that includes a number of projects identified as top priorities by the state’s planning organizations,” said Governor Bredesen. “One of the priorities I set when I became Governor was to see TDOT become a more open and responsive agency. There have been many changes since then, including the shift to multi-modal planning and creation of a new 25-year multi-modal transportation plan, new programs to better protect the environment, and a renewed focus on listening to the citizens of the state. I'm pleased this final three-year program accomplishes many of the goals I set forth for this administration."

 

TDOT’s Region One includes the 24 county area of Anderson, Blount Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union and Washington counties.

 

“Through this three-year multimodal program, the department will complete the Better Bridges bonding program in three years rather than the four originally planned, will address a number of strategic corridors identified in the 10-year program  and includes several projects to address congestion in both urban and rural areas,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “Years of planning and study have gone into each of the projects funded for construction.”

 

45 bridge and highway projects in TDOT’s Region One will be funded through TDOT’s regular program, including a project to relieve congestion along one of Tennessee’s busiest tourism corridors, State Route 66 in Sevier County. A widening project on SR-66 from SR-338 W (Boyds Creek Hwy.) to SR-139 (Douglas Dam Road) is funded for construction in Fiscal Year 2012/2013. Other projects to relieve congestion in Region One include the construction of a railroad over pass in Unicoi County on SR-107 (Main St.) (FY 2010/11), widening of U.S. 321 (SR-73) in Loudon County from SR-2 (U.S. 11) to east of the Little Tennessee River (Fort Loudon/Tellico Canal) (FY 2010/11), and widening SR-131 in Knox County from SR-9 (U.S. 25W) to south of Gill Road (Winwood Rd. in Powell) (FY 2010/11). Funds for right of way appraisal and acquisition on an interchange project on U.S. 37/11E in Sullivan County and for the widening of SR-115 (US129) in Blount and Knox Counties from Pellissippi Parkway to south of Little River (FY2011/12) is also included in the plan. Safety improvements for SR-362 (Gap Creek Rd.) in Carter County from SR-361 (Dry Creek/Gap Creek Rd.) to SR-67 (U.S. 321) are funded for construction in FY 2010/11.

  

In addition to the highway projects listed above, the total rehabilitation of the Henley Street Bridge in Knoxville and the replacement of the SR-73 (US-321) Bridge over the Tennessee River in Loudon County are both funded through TDOT’s Better Bridges bonding program in FY 2010/11. 19 bridge repair or replacement projects in Region One in this three-year multimodal program are funded through the Better Bridges bond program.  

 

A complete listing of all projects identified for funding is attached to this release and is posted on the TDOT web site, http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/mediaroom/documents.htm. 

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