Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer along with a large group of TDOT officials and staff were in Montgomery County Wednesday, July 16 as part of the statewide “2014 TDOT Projects Tour”.
Schroer was joined by Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers, Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan and State Representative Curtis Johnson as they traveled the county and viewed TDOT projects either under construction or under development.
The first project toured was U.S. Highway 41-A and State Route 112 which is currently under construction with utility work going on from McAdoo Creek Road to near the Highway 76 intersection on Madison Street.
The roadway which is around three miles in length will be widened from two lanes to five lanes. The cost of the project cost is $23.6 million and it’s expected to be finished in the spring of 2016.
Improvements to the intersection of Highway 76/41-A and Highway 112 on Madison Street is another project under development. That project, with an estimated cost of $4.8 million, is a result of a TDOT Road Safety Audit. Planned safety improvements include the addition of an access road, turn lanes and traffic signal improvements.
The area around exit 8 on Interstate 24 and Highway 237 is also being proposed for improvements with bids scheduled for October of this year and the project, costing an estimated $17.8 million, to be finished in the summer of 2016.
The project is due to Hankook Tire opening in the Industrial Park. Highway 237 will be widened from near I-24 to International Boulevard and modifications to ramps on I-24. The project also includes turn lanes and traffic signals as needed at exit 8.
Another proposed TDOT project is extending the 5-lane portion of Highway 79/13 near Cracker barrel drive to International Boulevard which would also serve Hankook Tire. Public meetings on the planned project are scheduled to begin soon with work estimated at $20.6 million and scheduled completion by the summer of 2018.
Commissioner Schroer said this about the work on Highway 41-A and 112. “It’s a big road for you all with a lot of safety issues on that road. It’s a heavily traveled road for Clarksville-Montgomery County and it’s been needed for a long time,” said Schroer.
About the work around exit 8 on I-24 Schroer said Hankook Tire will be a great addition to the community and it will bring 1,800 jobs and the project is a partnership between Clarksville-