News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville City Manager James Mills said he is disappointed to hear there are delays in the Jefferson Avenue widening project.
However, Mills said this is to be expected with a major project like this. Mills said that with project pushed 2022, he will be happy just to see work begin.
“The planning process started more than 20 years ago,” Mills said. “It was identified as the highest priority in the city at that time and went through the RPO to get into the planning process with the Rural Planning Organization, Transportation Planning Organization.”
Mills said the complications come from the number of moving pieces for widening, like moving utilities and acquiring right of ways. Mills said that when you’re working on a project through the state, going with the flow is the only choice Cookeville has.
“I’ve always worked closely, planning has with the other departments, in particular public works and the utilities,” Mills said. “We knew it was a complicated project and we’re just glad to see this getting close to being started. We are disappointed that it’s been delayed but that’s not unexpected.”
T-DOT said in May that they are still in the right of way acquisition phase. T-DOT said that bids could open in late-summer or fall, then utilities will be moved, which could take up to six months.
