State Rep. Kevin Brooks, right, discusses Exit 20 modifications Monday afternoon with TDOT Project Supervisor Billy Curtis, left, and District 29 Operations Manager Victor Weddle
TDOT Commissioner John Schrorer said Monday during an impromptu visit with State Rep. Kevin Brooks that construction of the new bridge and ramps at Exit 20 on Interstate 75 is still on schedule for completion in December.
“We’ve just poured the last deck of the bridge section and we’re on time and hope to have it open in November,” he said. “As we watch the trucks go by, it’s easy to see how this will help traffic get through this really, really busy intersection.”
Comm. Schrorer brought with him a report detailing TDOT’s investment of $118.2 million in Bradley County since Jan.
15, 2011. Exit 20 modifications and the new interchange between Exit 20 and SR-2/US-11 represent $12.9 million and $22.6 million respectively of the total obligated amount.
Rep. Brooks said, “Today, we visited the amazing progress at Exit 20 — and the $35.5 million investment there. I am very grateful for the past, present and future TDOT commitment in the 24th District. The progress we now enjoy would not be possible without great commitment from the State.”
Comm. Schroer said bridges are built with a 20 to 25-year horizon, “but we’ve got an industrial park going, we’re building a new interchange at the entrance of the industrial park. If it blossoms and blooms and other things happen at this intersection, there’s a possibility you might have to take another look at it, but we’ll be in good shape for a while.”
“When I first came to office in 2006, this Project was still in discussion from my predecessors, Sens. Dewayne Bunch, Jeff Miller and others. I am so grateful that those visions are now a reality,” said Rep. Brooks, whose intense lobbying for Exit 20 modifications earned him the nickname of “Mr. Exit 20” around Tennessee Department of Transportation offices in Nashville.
The new five-lane bridge is 100 feet wide with two through lanes in each direction, a dedicated center turn lane and shoulders. The current bridge is 24-feet wide with one travel lane in each direction.
“Soon — Exit 20 will be state-of-the-art interchange and bridge crossing, opening the ‘Gateway To The Smokies’ for everyone to enjoy. We welcome this much needed improvement to our community,” Rep. Brooks said.
According to the TDOT report, the dollars invested in Bradley County include: work at the SR-308/Exit 33 interchange, $619,000; SR-60/Exit 25 interchange modifications, $2 million; and resurfacing with Open Graded Friction Course from north of the weigh station exit in Hamilton County (LM 12. 78/MM 12. 78) to north of Bancroft Road in Bradley County (LM 2.98/MM 18.58), $3.6 million.
Major projects under development are: location and environmental study for four-lane north of 1-75 (Westlake Dr.) for 7.9 miles to SR-58 in Hamilton Co., reconstruction of 3.2 miles from the four-lane north of 1-75 (Westlake Dr.) to SR-306, signalization at King.Street, and miscellaneous safety improvements along 5.3 miles from the Hamilton County line to near Quill Drive.
The city of Cleveland was awarded a Transportation Alternative Grant in July 2013 for $495,978 for a greenway connector and a Multimodal Grant in 2014 for $961, 624 for the SR 311/SR 74 Sidewalk and Bus Shelters Project.
State Rep. Kevin Brooks, left, and TDOT Commissioner John Schrorer stand on the new bridge across Interstate 75 at Exit 20. The new five lane bridge is 100 feet wide. Once completed in November, it will replace the existing 24-foot wide bridge.