Utility Easements Next Step In Jefferson Widening

The City of Cookeville will take the next step in the widening of South Jefferson Avenue by relocating utilities.

Ronnie Kelly, Director of the Water and Sewer Department, said the $95,000 dollar project will involve Consolidated Technologies working to obtain new easements. Kelly said the city is looking to acquire easements from 14 properties along Jefferson Avenue.

“This is a TDOT project, and this is some easements we need to obtain to locate our utilities out of the construction zone,” Kelly said. “It will be a reimbursable expense.”

Kelly said the state began accepting bids on the widening project late last year.

“My last conversation with TDOT, they were planning to let bids open in December,” Kelly said. “I haven’t spoken to them here recently, so I’m not sure if that’s still on with everything else that’s going on.”

TDOT plans to widen South Jefferson Avenue between the Interstate 40 interchange and Highway 111.