The state plans to add one lane in each direction to a seven-mile section of Interstate 24, which is one of the most congested freeways in the country.
The purchase of right of way for the project is included in TDOT’s annual three year transportation program.
Right of way is listed for 2022 in a section between the Georgia state line and Brown's Ferry Road and another section from Browns Ferry Road to US 27.
Also, another section of Apison Pike is to be widened.
The new work will go from Ooltewah-Ringgold Road through Collegedale to Layton Drive.
It is a 3.1-mile project and the road will be widened to five lanes. The project also includes a large bridge over the railroad tracks.
The new work features approximately $2.1 billion in infrastructure investments for 139 individual project phases. The program provides support for Governor Bill Lee’s first Executive Order by funding work on 86 highway and bridge projects in economically distressed and at-risk counties, it was stated.
“Investing in infrastructure is an important part of driving economic opportunity throughout our state,” Governor Lee said. “This funding, particularly for rural Tennessee, will help to keep Tennesseans safe.”
The program places a high emphasis on the repair and replacement of bridges, with activities beginning on 91 structures in 44 counties. Seventeen of those bridges are on the state highway system, with the other 74 on local roads.
The comprehensive program also continues to build on the progress of the IMPROVE Act, which provides for infrastructure investments in all 95 counties. This year’s program budgets dollars for 230 of the 962 projects listed as part of the 2017 legislation.
Construction will begin on several critical transportation projects across the state:
- Cocke County, Newport Bypass (SR 35/US 321)
- Davidson & Rutherford Counties, I-24 Smart Corridor Phase II
- Fayette County, Somerville Beltway (SR 460/US 64)
- Hamilton County, Apison Pike (SR 317)
- Madison County, I-40 from US 45 to US 70
- Maury County, I-65 Interchange at SR 99
- Obion County, I-69 from SR 3 to SR 21
- Rutherford County, Jefferson Pike (SR 266)
In addition to the 2020 budgeted program, partial plans for 2021 and 2022 are included, along with funding for 15 transportation programs including Rockfall Mitigation, Spot Safety Improvement, and the statewide HELP Program. The program also provides funding for transit agencies in all 95 counties, as well as Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations.
To view a complete list of projects and programs funded through the 2020-2022 three-year multimodal program, click here.