Proposed Willow Roundabout Brings Questions

A T-DOT proposal to construct a roundabout at the intersection of University Drive and North Willow Avenue, drawing mixed reviews from local leaders.

The proposal discussed at Thursday’s Joint Economic Development Board meeting. Cookeville City Manager James Mills said it may be the biggest roundabout he has ever seen.

“It’s going to have, of course, all of this is preliminary, but it’s got eight-foot sidewalks on both sides of the streets from Broad to 12th to be multi-use, I believe,” Mills said. “It’s bike and pedestrian.

Oldham said he does, however, have reservations about a bypass lane featured in the designs.

“I’m going to try to get them to nix that bypass lane turning into campus, because people’d be flying down through there with that,” Oldham said.

Cookeville officials are set to meet with T-DOT Friday to offer feedback. Oldham said he hopes to get a chance to talk through his thoughts with TD-OT as well.

“I want to have somebody get with you and make sure T-DOT talks to you and gets your comments on it,” Mills said. “Because that’s what they’re doing right now, is getting comments on it.”

T-DOT will acquire right-of-way from Tennessee Tech as it passes by campus, but Mills said they will have to get it from the many properties between 7th Street and Broad Street. Oldham and Mills agreed the project is still likely some five years out, at least.