First Steps To Burgess Falls Intersection Approved

The City of Cookeville will begin the process of improving a dangerous intersection, West Cemetery and Burgess Falls Road.

Step one: moving gas lines in the area. Cookeville Gas Department Director Jeff Mills said the city has entered into a $160,000 contract to begin that process.

“What that has included in us is the gas facilities in that location are going to be in conflict with the design of the road,” Mills said. “We’re going to typically relocate them to get them out of the conflict area.”

Mills said by entering into a contract with TDOT, the state will handle most of the work.

“We will put it in their bid process,” Mills said. “They will determine the contractor, and they will come in and actually relocate some gas mains that are in that area. Then we have one district regulator station that sits at that intersection, and they will relocate that, too, to be in a safer location.”

Mills said the upgrade of the intersection is a priority because of its danger to motorists.

“TDOT has determined that this was a safety issue at that intersection,” Mills said. “I think they’ve had several incidents down there over the years, and so they had determined to do a project down there. It has evolved into the state installing turning lanes and signalization.”

Mills said the bid process will begin in June.