Cookeville City Council voted Thursday to approve several resolutions allowing for land acquisition negotiations in order to begin several street improvement projects.
City Manager Mike Davidson noted one of the resolutions includes constructing additional turn lanes at the South Willow Avenue and West Jackson Street intersection.
“That particular intersection is the busiest intersection the city has,” Davidson said. “Council authorized a project there using the city’s STBG (Surface Transportation Block Grant) funds to make some improvements there for some turn lanes… and the state is going to match that. We’re using city STBG funds and the state agreed to match that. There’s a 20 percent match required for that grant, and the state agreed to match that on the city’s behalf.”
The resolutions allow the city to acquire the land rights through donation, negotiation, or eminent domain.
The widening of East 10th Street was also included among the resolutions approved Thursday. Davidson said that motion helps begin the process of widening East 10th as part of a larger commercial development.
“As a potential phase one of potential improvements and widening to 10th Street, we have an agreement in place that Council previously approved with development out along 10th Street for a widening project,” Davidson said. “That widening project extends from just west of Wilson Avenue back towards [Highway] 111.”
That project would widen East 10th Street to five total lanes including a center turning lane into the approved development site.
Davidson said the resolutions also include sidewalk improvements along East Spring Street, South Jefferson Avenue, and Interstate Drive, North Willow Avenue, and West 12th Street.
Council voted unanimously to approve all five of the resolutions presented.
