Governor Bredesen Awards Enhancement Grant to City of Friendship in Crockett Co.

NASHVILLE - Governor Phil Bredesen joined state and local leaders on Main Street in the city of Friendship today to award a transportation enhancement grant totaling $415,200 for the Friendship Streetscape project in Crockett County.

 

“It’s important for our downtown areas to be accessible to all citizens,” said Governor Bredesen. “This grant will help improve access to downtown Friendship and increase safety for both pedestrians and motorists. I’m pleased the state is able to assist with this enhancement project.”

 

The grant funds will be used for a combination sidewalk and streetscape project. The sidewalk project will repair and construct 1,100 feet of sidewalk along Depot, Poplar and College Streets, including the addition of ADA compliant ramps. The streetscape portion of the project begins on Main Street at the south end of the business district to just north of Church Street and includes landscape islands, traffic realignment, and aesthetically compatible lighting. The project includes the addition of ADA compliant ramps to sidewalks along Main Street. In addition, the project will provde a safe route for motorists traveling on Main and Depot streets by removing utility poles and “parking spaces” that currently bisect Main Street. Presently, business owners and residents park between two utility poles that divide north and southbound traffic on Main Street. Parking will be relocated to the sides of the street and the utility poles will be placed behind the Main Street businesses to provide a safe environment for pedestrians and motorists. 

 

“This project will improve the openness of downtown Friendship,” said Representative Craig Fitzhugh. ”The old sidewalks are in need of repair and the downtown parking situation can be hazardous to both motorists and pedestrians. I’m pleased the state is helping Friendship become even friendlier.”

 

Senator John Wilder added, “The Friendship Streetscape project will help improve the look and feel of the downtown area. I’m pleased to support these improvements.”

 

The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

 

“TDOT has funded more than $189 million in transportation related projects through our Enhancement Grant Program,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “This program provides funds to cities, counties and state organizations to fund activities such as the restoration of historic facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping, streetscaping and other non-traditional transportation projects.” 

 

The federal grant program was established by Congress in the early 1990’s to fund activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation’s transportation system.

 

 

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