Cookeville officials approved a resolution Thursday authorizing a partnership with T-DOT to construct a dedicated right turn lane on South Willow Avenue at Interstate Drive.
The city committed up to $500,000 to accelerate the construction process. T-DOT has already prepared design plans. The city must manage utility relocation and right-of-way dedication. CIty Manager James Mills said he commended T-DOT.
“They followed through with their word because I remember at the meetings we had, they told us if we had skin in the game, that they would they would speed up a project,” Mills said. “This is proof of that. We put $500,000 in and they’re picking up the rest.”
Council Member Eric Walker said the city has developed a direct one-on-one relationship with the state department over the last several years. .
“We’ve been able to get some meetings and a lot of work starting to funnel down in that area,” Walker said. “And that’s very important for the city, and I’m just proud of our city council for making those pushes and direct work.”
Officials said the project has moved from its initial presentation to the draft plan stage in approximately two years. The city’s public works, energy, and water quality control departments have already completed a review of the line-and-grade plans.
“It’s been a great TDOT project,” Mayor Laurin Wheaton said. “I said, if you want to do something, look at what Cookeville did. So the fact that we presented this two years ago, wasn’t even on their radar and we’re here doing this resolution is just testament to, yeah, that partnership.”
