TDOT Breaks Ground on Recovery Act Project in Warren County

 

NASHVILLE – Construction is now underway on a project to widen US-70S (SR-1, Nashville Hwy.) in Warren County. The project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Tennessee Department of Transportation Chief Engineer Paul Degges joined Congressman Lincoln Davis and state and local officials in Warren County today to break ground on the project which will widen US-70S to four lanes between Spring Valley Road and Centertown.

 

“Recovery Act funds are allowing us to take this much needed next step in improving US-70S in Warren County,” said TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges. “When totally complete, this project will improve safety and reduce congestion on this heavily traveled route. What’s more, Tennesseans will work to improve this roadway, further assisting in our economic recovery."

 

The nearly 5.7 mile project is one of more than a hundred projects in Tennessee funded through the Recovery Act that are currently under construction. The phase one US-70S widening project was let to contract on May 8 and awarded to Highways, Inc. of Brentwood, Tennessee at a cost of $14.9 million. 

 

"I am very pleased to see economic recovery and reinvestment dollars being used here in Warren County to fund needed improvements to our transportation infrastructure," said Congressman Lincoln Davis. "The expansion of 70 will put Tennesseans to work, allow our families to travel safer, and will be a useful recruiting tool in bringing in new industry."

 

This project includes phase one construction of the segment US-70S from Spring Valley Road to Centertown. The road will be widened to four lanes with a depressed median and two bridges, one over Dog Branch and the other over Willow Creek, will be constructed. Once the phase one is complete, another contract will be let to complete paving on both this segment and the segment west to SR-281.  That western section, a 6.9-mile project that runs from Centertown to near SR-281 in Cannon County, is currently in the right-of-way phase.

 

“Many Tennessee families and small businesses are facing tough economic challenges and projects like this one, funded by the Recovery Act, are helping local citizens and local suppliers one job at a time,” said Senator Eric Stewart. “I want to thank Governor Bredesen, Congressman Davis, Commissioner Nicely and local leaders for their efforts to get this needed project underway to improve safety and access for Warren County citizens.”

 

Representative Charles Curtiss added, “The continued improvements to this vital corridor will provide many benefits for the people who live and work in this area. I’m pleased that Recovery Act funds could be used for this project.”

 

“When this corridor is complete, it will provide a safer alternative for those wishing to travel between some of Tennessee’s most economically important cities,” said Representative Judd Matheny. 

 

TDOT staff considered several factors in determining which projects would be funded by the Recovery Act. The most important was that a project be ready to go to construction by July. TDOT also gave consideration to projects that can be completed in three years and are in economically distressed areas. All but one of the ARRA funded projects have been let, with one remaining to be let in August, which means all ARRA funded projects will be underway this summer. Some 24,000 direct and indirect jobs are estimated to be created or maintained through Recovery Act infrastructure funding in Tennessee.

 

For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit www.recovery.gov or visit www.tn.gov/tdot and click on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act link in the middle of the page.

 

 

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