posted February 26, 2004
CLEVELAND, Tenn.— The city of Cleveland will receive $891,510 in federal surface transportation program (STP) funding for use in upgrading the fiber network for traffic control along several major corridors, according to Tom Grant, the city’s transportation director.
The city applied for program funding last year after a study conducted by a consulting firm and the Tennessee Department of Transportation recommended the city implement an advanced traffic management system. City officials received the proposed contract from TDOT this week, and the Cleveland City Council will consider a resolution authorizing Mayor Tom Rowland to sign the contract at Friday’s 3 p.m. called City Council meeting.
The city will use the funds to implement an intelligent transportation system by installing fiber-optic cable and video technology for incident management and to monitor traffic flow when Interstate 75 closes for any reason. The city will be able to monitor traffic flow from a traffic management center located at its engineering office.
“Once complete, motorists can expect reduced travel time on these major routes,” Grant said. “This project will also improve safety by reducing the likelihood of rear-end accidents and will also likely reduce the number of accidents caused by motorists attempting to beat a red light.”
Added Grant, “This project will provide the city with the means to better monitor and control traffic flow when I-75 closes,” Grant said, “although it will benefit the city and motorists all of the time.”
The project will also benefit Cleveland Utilities, according to CU General Manager Tom Wheeler.
“The fiber-optics system will give Cleveland Utilities a state-of-the-art communications system that we can use to help control our electric distribution system,” Wheeler said. “The reliability of communications with our remote substations will be greatly enhanced with this new system. In addition, this system will allow us to eliminate several leased phones lines, resulting in cost savings for our company.”
Cleveland Utilities will install fiber-optic cable along the Keith Street/Paul Huff Parkway corridor beginning at the intersection of Keith Street and 20th Street and ending at I-75. CU’s participation in this project will expand the TDOT project to other areas.
The TDOT project includes 25th Street, Keith Street between 20th Street and South Lee Highway, Inman Street between Linden Avenue and East Street, and Wildwood Avenue/Dalton Pike to APD-40/McGrady Drive. The cameras, to be installed at key intersections, will monitor traffic flow and will not be used for enforcement purposes. The key intersections included in the TDOT contract are:
I-75 at Exit 25
I-75 at Exit 27
North Lee Highway and Paul Huff Parkway
Keith Street and 25 Street
Keith Street and Inman Street, and
APD-40 and McGrady Drive
There are 25 intersections involved in the project, and once complete, 48 of the city’s 55 traffic signals will be coordinated.
“We will place cameras in key locations for traffic control,” Grant explained. “They will be used for video monitoring so signals can be manually adjusted when needed.”
The city expects TDOT to begin design work on the project as soon as it receives a signed copy of the contract. It will take an estimated 18 to 24 months to complete the project.
Said City Manager Joe Cate, “Tom Grant is the person primarily responsible for development of the plan and securing the funding for this project. This project is significant because the city has limited funds to address traffic problems, and the project will be financed with 100 percent federal funding. Synchronizing the traffic signals is a cost-effective way to address our traffic problems.”
Grant explained that I-75 handles nearly 43,000 vehicles per day south of 25th Street, and when these vehicles are added to existing local traffic when I-75 closes, it can create serious congestion. However, improvements made from a traffic management system would benefit all Bradley County residents who travel city streets.
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |
