State Route 30

Overview

The project on State Route 30, from State Route 29 in Dayton to west of the Tennessee River in Rhea County, involves improving the existing roadway for approximately eight miles.

The Highway 30 Economic Development Coalition and the Southeast Tennessee Development District Rural Planning Organization (RPO) began planning for the proposed project in 2006. The following year, work began on a Transportation Planning Report (TPR), which TDOT approved in February of 2008. The TPR identified the subject area of SR 30 and sections to the east of the Tennessee River as the primary east-west route for travel between the cities of Dayton and Athens and for travel to and from I-75. The TPR also identified five study corridors to serve as the basis for the development of alternatives in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. A sixth corridor was developed as a result of public support at public meetings and local officials’ briefing held in May and June 2011.

Proposed Design

Following a Tennessee Environmental Streamlining Agreement (TESA) Interagency Meeting and TESA Agency Field Review in July and November 2011, four build alternatives previously identified for the SR 30 project were eliminated, leaving two alternatives for consideration.

Build Alternative 1 – follows existing SR 30 for the length of the project, from SR 29 to west of the Tennessee River

Build Alternative 2 – follows White Oak Road, from SR 29 to the intersection of New Union Road, then follows existing SR 30 to the end of the project at the Tennessee River Bridge approach

A No-Build Option will also be considered during the NEPA process. This option would provide no improvements to existing SR-30 beyond routine maintenance and repairs.

An Environmental Assessment is currently underway to evaluate the two Build Alternatives. Because the project is in the Environmental phase, and has not yet progressed to the Design phase, there are no design documents available for the project.