by Jim Ashley
posted September 5, 2008
) Photo by Jim Ashley |
Although TDOT did not find an answer to the question, it did take one giant step in the right direction, fielding questions from the audience and passing out a questionnaire that included space for comments on the issue.
Hosted by Rep. Cobb and TDOT, the 6 p.m. meeting was attended by well over 100 people, mostly from northern Hamilton County.
Most folks were all for constructing a bridge over the Tennessee River near Soddy-Daisy as a means of cutting the distance by more than half for area residents to reach Harrison and I-75.
Some of them, however, appeared less enthusiastic about building a toll bridge. Former state Rep. Arnold Stulce said he was all for building a bridge but preferred that it not be a toll bridge. He was also concerned that a toll bridge would always be a toll bridge because of maintenance costs.
Kenneth Morgan, pastor of Cross of Calvary Community Church in Hixson, asked how long it would take to make such a bridge become a reality and also wanted to know if a toll was absolutely necessary for its construction.
Ed Cole, chief of environmental planning at TDOT, noted that the project was not part of any long-term plan and said that if a toll is not used, a bridge may never be constructed. It is one of several projects that TDOT is considering for a pilot toll road, he said.
Estimated costs for building a bridge to connect Soddy-Daisy to Harrison range from $239 million to $354 million.
State law stipulates that TDOT must develop one bridge project and one road project funded via tolls. TDOT will determine if the projects can pay for themselves and if residents in the construction area are for or against them being built.
Bill Hullander, county commissioner, attended the Thursday meeting and asked the audience if they were interested in having a toll bridge built. Most folks in the audience raised their hands.
However, one Soddy-Daisy resident, Jesse Kukier, formerly of New York, said some of the proposed routes for the bridge were troublesome.
Most of the proposed routes, he noted, begin at Sequoyah Road and lead to I-75, with some routes exiting at mile marker 13 and others exiting at Enterprise South, where the Volkswagen plant will be built.
“It sounds like this is a private project for the Enterprise South area,” Mr. Kuiker said, adding that driving to the bridge from the Enterprise South exit to reach North Hamilton County would be an inconvenience for many people.
To which Mr. Cole replied, “If that bears out, the recommendation will be, this doesn’t work.”
Rep. Cobb noted that Volkswagen’s decision to use Enterprise South to build a plant has, indeed, increased the need for such a bridge.
Soddy-Daisy Commissioner Jim Adams said he supports building a bridge connecting I-27 to I-75 but stressed to TDOT that traffic from a bridge, wherever it is built, should not be “dumped” out into residential areas.
Also, he said he is concerned if there would be enough traffic to pay for building a toll bridge.
Consulting firm Wilbur Smith Associates will conduct a study of the environmental impact and financial feasibility of a toll bridge.
Elizabeth Beeching of TDOT said after the meeting that it could take seven years to begin building the bridge and another three years to complete it.
A toll cost per vehicle, she said, has not yet been determined.
) Photo by Jim Ashley |
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |