Governor Identifies 55 Transportation Projects in TDOT’s Region Four 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-tiered 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 54 highway and bridge projects in TDOT’s Region Four.

 

“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 Four includes Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton and Weakley 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.”

 

54 Region Four projects are funded through TDOT’s regular program, including the remaining work to seismically retrofit the I-40 Bridge over the Mississippi River in Tennessee, which is funded in Fiscal Year 2010/11. Several projects to relieve congestion in Memphis and Jackson are also funded including widening I-240 from Poplar Avenue (State Route 57) to Walnut Grove Road (SR-23) (FY-2010/11), an Interchange Modification project on I-40 at Canada Road in Memphis (FY-2011/12), and the completion of widening work along the U.S. 64 strategic corridor in Hardeman and Hardin counties (FY 2010/11, 2011/12). Also included in the plan is the widening on SR-22 in Lake County from Tiptonville to the Lake county Port (FY 2012/13), and widening of U.S. 412 (SR-20) in Henderson County from east of Lone Elm Road to the Decatur County Line (FY-2010/11).

 

In addition to the highway projects listed above, the replacement of the SR-57 (Poplar Ave.) Bridge over SR-23 and the CSX & ICG railroads in Shelby County (FY-2010/11) and the replacement of six bridges along SR-424 (Clarksburg-Yuma Rd.) in Carroll County (FY 2010/11, 2011/12) are funded through TDOT’s Better Bridges bonding program. A total of 27 bridge repair or replacement projects in Region Four 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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For More Information Contact:
Julie Oaks
TDOT Public Information Officer
615-741-9930
Julie.A.Oaks@tn.gov