by Allison McLean
posted November 6, 2009
Rep. Jim Cobb on Thursday night urged members of the Soddy Daisy City Commission to support the construction of a toll bridge over the Tennessee River, saying a new study shows it may be feasible.
"The state of Tennessee needs to build a toll bridge because there’s not the money in that area for a regular bridge," Rep. Cobb said.
The proposed bridge would be built across the Tennessee River starting somewhere off the Sequoyah Access Road and connecting U.S. Highway 27 with I-75.
The bridge is part of a Tennessee state pilot project that allows for the construction of one road and one bridge, or two of each. Currently, state officials are looking into building two of each, according to Rep. Cobb.
TDOT officials originally did a study that showed the current amount of traffic in the area proposed for the toll bridge would not earn enough revenue to pay for itself.
However, TDOT conducted a second, more recent study that factored in the projected traffic increase as a result of the Wacker Chemical Corporation plant, which will be built near the Hiwassee Industrial Park in Bradley County, and of the new Volkswagen factory. This study showed that it is more likely that the bridge would pay for itself, Rep. Cobb said.
"It's all about the money. Will they pay their way? Will many people use it? These are the questions that TDOT is asking," Vice Mayor Bob Privett said.
According to Rep. Cobb, the bridge will cost somewhere in the $300-400 million range.
"Both (Volkswagen and Wacker) are billion dollar industries," and the traffic caused by these businesses will likely cause enough traffic to warrant the bridge's construction, Rep. Cobb maintained.
According to Vice Mayor Privett, if the bridge is built where proposed, the city of Soddy Daisy would see benefits, such as community growth.
The route, which would be more direct than the current options, would help to conserve energy as well, Vice Mayor Privett said, especially for those who will use it in their daily commute to and from the Volkswagen factory.
"I've received hundreds of e-mails and phone calls in support of this bridge," Rep. Cobb said about the amount of positive feedback he has received from his constituency.
The key now is for TDOT to find a toll that is "high enough to pay for the bridge and low enough that people will want to use it," Rep. Cobb said.
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