The Cookeville City Council approved a resolution Thursday supporting a new railroad crossing at Oak Avenue to facilitate the realignment of a major intersection known as “Malfunction Junction.”
Cookeville City Manager James Mills said the proposed changes involve connecting the southern and northern parts of Oak Avenue. He noted that the city recently met with the Nashville-Eastern Railroad Authority to present plans for the infrastructure updates.
“A key component of that that we’ve discussed is the realignment of Malfunction Junction, which would include connecting the southern part of Oak Avenue with the northern part of Oak Avenue, which requires a railroad crossing,” Mills said. “So this resolution would request that RJ Corman approve said railroad crossing.”
Mills said the Nashville-Eastern Railroad Authority executive and full boards unanimously approved the request, subject to final approval from RJ Corman. He said the resolution demonstrates that the Council is unified in its support for the project.
“It also specifies that we will build this in compliance with all requirements from RJ Corman, whatever standards they have and any other standards that may apply, because once we get RJ Corman’s approval, we still have to get TDOT’s approval, so there’s still hoops to jump through on this,” Mills said. “This also commits us to the cost for this crossing and for other railroad safety improvements proposed in this plan, which, if this develops like we know it will, this is going to be a very busy area, lot of pedestrians through here.”
The proposal includes fencing the entire railroad right-of-way and installing gates at both the existing Cedar Avenue crossing and the proposed Oak Avenue site. Mills said narrowing the Cedar crossing is expected to improve safety in the area.
“We hope just based on all the many safety improvements we’re proposing that RJ Corman will see it our way and grant us this crossing, because this crossing is vital,” Mills said. “If we can’t get this crossing, then very little of this project’s going to be able to happen in this area right here.”
The city intends to alter Broad Street in front of local businesses to create an open area as part of the redevelopment. Officials are scheduled to meet with RJ Corman representatives on February 11 to present the resolution and plans.
“Obviously, it all kind of hinges on RJ Corman, so we’ll put our best foot forward on the 11th and see where we go,” ASA engineer Registered Landscape Architect and Senior Project Manager Kevin Tucker said.
The engineering team will present the council-approved resolution during the upcoming meeting with the railroad operator.
