CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – As the Montgomery County Highway Department works toward reopening Salem Road, the timeline has been delayed because recent heavy rainfall revealed some potential for erosion and potholing. The project is now back on track.
The work began during the first week of October 2024 after a pipe collapsed in the existing culvert system across Salem Road adjacent to Blackwell Farm, MCHD spokesperson Joshua Peltz told Clarksville Now. The road, east of Highway 48/13 just south of the Cumberland River, has been closed from Ferry Road to Rocky Ford Road.
The culvert system previously consisted of two 18-inch concrete pipes, until a third corrugated steel pipe was installed in the 2000’s due to increased stormwater demand. However, that steel pipe had collapsed due to material fatigue, road usage and stormwater volume, Peltz said.
“It was decided to replace the entire culvert with a more robust solution, and we opted for concrete box culvert and retaining wall system to manage the volume of water,” he said.
With the size and design of the culvert implemented, Peltz said it handled the massive stormwater runoff successfully. However, the culvert solution revealed issues with some of the smaller culverts along Salem Road that direct water flow through the area, so those had to be replaced and upgraded ahead of repaving of the route.
Peltz said the repaving process started last week, and they expect Salem Road to be reopened by Wednesday, March 26.
The original timeline for construction called for 81 working days, corresponding to 120 calendar days, which didn’t include time for repaving and striping. While the Highway Department finished their construction timeline, the roadway had also been delayed in reopening due to TDOT’s inspection schedule. That was pushed back due to the severe weather the area received over the last couple of months.
The Highway Department also coordinated with CEMC and the Cunningham Utility District to align their closure so they could conduct planned utility work.
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