TDOT Commissioner’s Update: SmartFIX40 “Progressing Exceedingly Well”
Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) commissioner Gerald Nicely feels SmartFIX40 is going as well as can be expected. He says the project’s success can be attributed to everyone in the region and he offered his appreciation to the Knoxville community and to those in attendance at a recent Premier Partner breakfast.
“TDOT wouldn’t have been able to get this project off to the great start it’s off to without the support we’ve received from city of Knoxville officials, Knox County officials, the Knoxville business community, and local citizens,” he said.
Commissioner Nicely credited the organization’s community and outreach team for its extensive public awareness campaign that helped educate citizens about impending changes.
“In order for projects as large as these to be successful, you have to have a major public outreach program in place,” said Nicely. “Quite frankly, I think people in this area are sick of hearing about the changes.”
But that’s good. It means that the public is well aware of the project and how to travel to and through downtown Knoxville.
Bell and Associates Construction, L.P., sponsored the breakfast. Bell is overseeing the reconstruction project, the largest project in the state’s history.
“One of our main objectives when we began looking into construction companies to complete the project was making sure we had a construction team capable of doing the job,” Nicely said. “I think Bell and Associates very well may finish ahead of schedule due to the extensive preliminary work completed.”
The SmartFIX40 project, with its shutdown of two and a half miles of interstate 40 in downtown Knoxville, is expected to save two to three years of construction compared to traditional projects. The entire project entails road improvements to Hall of Fame Drive and I-40, the reconfiguring of James White Parkway, the addition of new interchanges and exit ramps, and the widening of I-40 from four lanes to six.
In addition to updating members of the Chamber on reconstruction efforts, Nicely addressed state allocated funds for TDOT that have been cut $237.7 million since December 2005. Stagnating state revenues and increasing costs, about three times revenue, are to blame. Nicely says TDOT will look into the use of toll roads throughout the state as potential remedies. The proposed “Orange Route” beltway that would connect interstate 75 (I-75) southwest of Knoxville with I-75 north of the city would be a candidate. Without a toll system the project would take 25 years to complete. Making it a toll road would allow for completion in seven to eight years.
“We are going to have to find new ways of financing our infrastructure, somehow, some way,” Nicely said. “There are 20,000 plus bridges in Tennessee that are continually aging. We are at work on studying options for alternative financing.”
Commissioner Nicely did report, however, the state is positioned better than most states because it is not in debt.
Mike Edwards, president and CEO of the Chamber, said that East Tennessee’s interstate system needs to be developed and maintained properly.
“It is very important that this region capitalizes on the fact that I-40, I-75, and I-81 converge here,” Edwards said at the event. “The interstates offer businesses the ability to conveniently ship goods and serve clients. There are cities and locations that would love to have a location similar to ours.”
To find out more about Premier Partner events, contact Michelle Kiely at 865.637.4550
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