Governor & Commissioner Identify Transportation Projects in TDOT’s Region One for Funding

NASHVILLE— Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Transportation Commissioner John Schroer today released the three-year transportation program, which includes the completion of several major strategic corridor projects and the state’s Better Bridges bonding program. The three year program includes $1.7 billion for highways and bridges to fund more than 152 individual project phases in 59 Tennessee counties. The proposal, which has been presented to the Tennessee General Assembly, includes significant highway and bridge projects in TDOT’s Region One. 

 

“A quality transportation system is vital to the continued growth of the state’s economy and increasing job opportunities for our residents,” said Governor Haslam. “The commissioner and I believe this three-year program balances the needs of communities across the state and makes solid investments in Tennessee’s infrastructure.”

 

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.

 

“Taking a multi-modal approach to transportation planning allows TDOT to be responsive to the citizens of this state, tailoring projects to provide the greatest benefits in both our urban and rural areas,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. “The department will address a number of needs through this three-year program, including congestion relief, improving access to communities, and the replacement or repair of dozens of aging bridges.”

 

Transportation projects in TDOT’s Region One will be funded through TDOT’s state and federal aid programs, including a project to relieve congestion along one of Tennessee’s busiest tourism corridors, and several other projects to improve access to communities. 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. Other projects to relieve congestion in Region One include the widening of State Route 33 in Knox County from Temple Acres Drive to the Union County line, and the design of major improvements to State Route 93 in Sullivan and Washington Counties, the construction of a new interchange on U.S. 11E in Sullivan County at U.S. 19E, and Right-of-Way acquisition for a widening project on U.S. 129 in Blount County.

 

In addition to the highway projects listed above, the total replacement of the State Route 92 bridge over the French Broad River is funded through the final year of TDOT’s Better Bridges bonding program. The program will also fund the repair or replacement of nine other structurally deficient bridges across Region One.

 

To view a complete list of projects and programs funded through the 2011-2014 three-year multimodal program visit http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/mediaroom/documents.htm.  Video and audio clips with TDOT Commissioner Schroer regarding the three-year program are also available for download at http://www.youtube.com/user/TDOTnews and http://www.tn.gov/tdot/mediaroom/audio.htm. Project photos are available at http://www.flicker.com/photos/tndot/.