As a citizen of the state of Tennessee, I am horrified by the constant cuts the state has been making at TDOT..
The latest incident on 8/12/2024 on I-24 at the 184 Mile marker.
TDOT had issues with the drains located on I-24. The reason for the drainage issue was because a few months ago there was a vehicle that was traveling East bound on I-24 and their tire got the drainage grate and the grate collapsed. The solution was to cover the drain with a plate of steel which hindered this drainage. Which is what caused this issue.
This steel plate was overlooked. This was because the governor rolled out this epic program and the major components of the program is cuts.
Cuts in staff, forcing out state employees with years of public service, replacing them with undertrained independent contractors with little training. Training that used to be a year long is cramped into 2 weeks of training.
Cuts to project managers where current project managers have to juggle more projects.
That leads to mistakes where drains that where covered are probably overlooked.
I believe this is only the beginning of the trouble we are going to start to experience on the states roadways.
TDOT manages the fog zone on I-72 from the 25 mile marker to 45 mile marker and the truck run away ramps on I-24 on top of Mounteagle mountain. That has to be monitored 24/7.
With cuts to qualified staff, it only raises the risk of danger to the public. With the TMC (Traffic Management Center) located in key places in each region to maximize response time for emergency services.
Kimberly Posey Smith
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We appreciate the concern for public safety expressed in above, but several of the claims made are inaccurate and misleading and do not reflect the current practices or standards within TDOT. We respectfully request clarification on a few of the points below.
First, the suggestion that critical infrastructure, such as steel plates and drains are being “overlooked” due to staffing changes is misleading. Safety inspections remain a top priority, and all work follows rigorous state and federal guidelines. Independent contractors, engineers and technicians working on state projects undergo mandatory certifications and oversight, ensuring that they meet the same professional standards as staff employees. All personnel receive the required instruction, qualifications, and continuing education to perform their duties safely and effectively.
Second, the statement that project managers are forced to “juggle more projects” in a way that compromises safety is not accurate. Staffing levels are continuously monitored, and adjustments are made to ensure workloads remain manageable and that oversight responsibilities are not diminished.
Finally, the Traffic Management Centers (TMCs) are strategically located throughout the state to provide rapid response to incidents. Their effectiveness remains strong, and response times continue to meet performance standards.
During the flash flooding event last week, the drainage systems functioned as designed, and runoff from the site was properly channeled. Over six inches of rain fell in a short time, causing widespread flash flooding across East Ridge and surrounding areas in Hamilton County, which far exceeded the capacity of all these drainage systems. Safety is our top priority, so we are continuously looking for ways to make improvements on all of our projects.
TDOT