Hwy. 321 overpass OK'd

BEN GREENE
LOUDON COUNTY NEWS-HERALD
AUGUST 3, 2005

Local officials are pleased at the recent announcement by U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. concerning the appropriation of several million dollars in a federal highway bill to needed Loudon County highway projects.

The funds include: $6.5 million to construct an overpass at U.S. 321 and U.S. 11 in Lenoir City, $920,000 to replace Unitia Bridge in Loudon County, $240,000 to improve streetscape and repair pavement in Loudon County, $200,000 to improve streetscape in Greenback and $200,000 to construct lighting on the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Loudon.

"That's great. I think we fared extremely well," said County Mayor George Miller. Miller said the most needed projects were the Highway 321 overpass and the Unitia bridge improvements.

Duncan said last week, "This bill will create thousands of jobs across East Tennessee while addressing some of our region's most serious transportation needs and ensuring the state gets a better deal when federal highway dollars are distributed."

Lenoir City City Administrator Dale Hurst agreed it was a victory for road improvements across the entire county and said it was something he and other county officials had been working for years to accomplish.

Miller and Hurst, along with Loudon County Economic Development Agency President Pat Phillips, Chamber of Commerce members Chip Miller and Dr. Howard Holmes and Harvey Sproul representing the Lenoir City Committee of 100, made a trip to the capital earlier this year to highlight some of the county's transportation needs.

During the two-day trip, they met with the respective staffs of Duncan and Congressman Zach Wamp as well as Senators Lamar Alexander and Bill Frist, who were co-sponsors of the bill.

George Miller praised the meeting and noted its value in bringing federal dollars into Loudon County.

"I think [the trip] was very good . very worthwhile," he said noting a trip should probably be made every year.

According to a press release from Duncan's office, the Senate approval is expected prior to the August recess and will then go to President Bush for his signature.

Funding for the projects will be appropriated directly to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. From there, according to Congressman Duncan's office, local governments will present their projects to TDOT, who is then responsible for the administering of the funds.

Other area funds appropriated include:

. $20 million for the University of Tennessee Joint Institute for Advanced Materials;

. $17.5 million for construction of the Foothills Parkway;

. $12 million for Tennessee statewide bus replacement and implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems;

. $11.027 million for construction of the Central Station Transit Center in Knoxville;

. $8 million for transportation research at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville/National Transportation Research Center, Inc.;

. $8 million for the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Highway Cultural and Visitors Center in Maryville;

. $6 million for improvements to the Blount/Sevier Corridor in Knoxville to support the South Waterfront Redevelopment project;

. $5 million to widen a railroad underpass and make access improvements to the Interstate 275 industrial business park in Knoxville;

. $5 million to construct and widen State Route 33 in Monroe County;

. $4.606 million to widen State Route 30 from Athens to Etowah;

. $3.6 million to construct a new exit on Interstate 75 and connect U.S. 11, U.S. 411 and State Route 30;

. $1.7 million to construct a transportation and heritage museum in Townsend;

. $1.6 million to construct streetscape improvements near the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville;

. $1.44 million to widen Campbell Station Road in Knoxville;

. $1.2 million to construct a shoulder and turn lane on State Route 35 in Seymour;

. $1 million to construct a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 129 in Alcoa;

. $753,600 to improve 11 railroad crossings in the Second District;

. $740,000 to improve streetscape and repair pavement in McMinn County;

. $548,560 to construct Second Creek Greenway in Knoxville;

.$395,440 to construct an underpass at Boyd Station, Harvey, and McFee roads in Knoxville;

. $240,000 to improve streetscape and repair pavement in Monroe County;

. $240,000 to construct park access and trails in Athens Regional Park;

. $80,000 to construct intersections in Niota;

. $80,000 to construct a visitors center on the Cherohala Skyway in Monroe County; and

. $16,000 to restore the historic L&N Depot in McMinn County.