Transportation upgrade dilemma
Tennessee has an infrastructure funding problem, and as a result members of the Transportation Coalition of Tennessee. are traveling across the state to raise awareness of the issue. “Tennessee’s current transportation and infrastructure funding approach no longer meets the state’s needs,” said Susie Alcorn, Executive Director of the Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance. “Our deteriorating infrastructure drives up the cost to motoring public and hinders the State’s ability to take advantage of growth and economic expansion," says Executive Director Susie Alcorn. The Coalition was formed to shed light on the growing transportation issues and educate the public about these issues. The coalition is made up of 33 member organizations, including businesses, community leaders, public officials and other organizations. Alcorn said there are three major Cocke County transportation projects that are languishing due to lack of funding; I-40 Interchange at O'Neil Road with a construction cost of $14.5 million South Highway321 to Wilton Springs Road, costing $55 million. Newport Bypass costing $56 million Twenty-two other new projects in Cocke County have total price tags of more than $31 million. 01326 MORRELL SPRINGS RD. BRIDGE OVER I40 PE, ROW, CONST $3,064,000 02513 BRIARTHICKET RD. BRIDGE OVER KNOB CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $488,000 02570 OLD STATE HWY. 32 BRIDGE OVER COSBY CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $1,492,000 0A055 CHEMWOOD DR. BRIDGE OVER SINKING CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $1,018,000 0A136 ST. TIDE HOLLOW RD. BRIDGE OVER CLEAR CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $262,000 0A238 OLD LONG CREEK RD. BRIDGE OVER LONG CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $458,000 0A261 TOMS CREEK RD. BRIDGE OVER TRAIL FORK BIG CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $511,000 0A264 SPICEWOOD FLATS RD. BRIDGE OVER TRAIL FORK BIG CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $431,000 0A276 STOKLEY CEMETERY RD. BRIDGE OVER TRAIL FORK BIG CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $473,000 0A277 STERLING RD. BRIDGE OVER TRAIL FORK BIG CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $613,000 0A407 CANEY CREEK RD. BRIDGE OVER COSBY CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $122,000 0A408 LIBERTY RD. BRIDGE OVER COSBY CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $43,000 0A445 MIDDLE CREEK RD. BRIDGE OVER COSBY CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $1,097,000 0A447 BALL PARK RD. BRIDGE OVER COSBY CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $230,000 0A495 OLD SR-35 BRIDGE OVER CLEAR CREEK PE, ROW, CONST $569,000 0A909 BRIARTHICKET RD. BRIDGE OVER NOLICHUKY RIVER PE, ROW, CONST $2,887,000 I-40 BRIDGE OVER GREEN CORNER RD (1321) PE, ROW, CONST $1,934,000 I-40 BRIDGE OVER SR 9 PE, ROW, CONST $4,472,000 I-40 ITS RURAL DEPLOYMENT ON I-40 TO STATE LINE PE, ROW, CONST $2,000,000 I-40 "HARTFORD" WELCOME CENTER RENOVATION PE, ROW, CONST $3,000,000 SR-160 HWY. 160 BRIDGE OVER NOLICHUCKY RIVER PE, ROW, CONST $1,054,000 US-25/70 (SR-9) E. BROADWAY BRIDGE OVER PIGEON RIVER PE, ROW, CONST $4,847,000 State and local transportation projects in Tennessee are funded primarily by state and federal fuel tax revenues. These projects include maintenance, repair and new construction. Tennessee’s fuel taxes have not changed since 1989, yet the state’s population has increased 14 percent since 2000, bringing more traffic to roads and highways. Transportation experts have identified the unfunded transportation tab required to clear Tennessee transportation plight as $6.1 billion in backlog projects and $5.3 billion for identified new projects. Tennessee is a pay-as-you-go state, with transportation projects funded primarily by state and federal fuel tax revenues. The dollars are apportioned for state and local projects, which include maintenance, repair and new construction.
|