Airport Road Project Requires Putnam, White County Approval

A project improving Airport Road leading to the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport still needs approval from Putnam and White Counties.

Airport Manager Dean Selby said TDOT needs right-of-way access to nearly 1,500 square feet of property in order to begin road improvements.

“The governing laws of the Airport require that the four governments that sponsor the Airport approve any capital releases or transfers,” Selby said. “[Putnam and White County] have it on their agendas for the next meeting, so we should be complete with that by the end of the month and be ready for our board to sign that release over to the department of transportation.”

The governing bodies of Cookeville and Sparta both approved items last month giving right-of-way access to TDOT.

Selby said the proposed improvements along Airport Road will benefit not only the airport itself but residents and industries in the area as well.

“It’s kind of dangerous. Someone’s going to get hurt there and we’ve been talking about it for a long time,” Selby said. “The traffic has increased not just to the airport, but with the industrial park, the increased housing and residential areas off the highway. That intersection is the biggest improvement in this whole project.”

Selby said recent discussions with TDOT indicate the project could begin as soon as next month with the project being completed later this year.

Putnam and White County commissioners will consider approving the easement during their respective meetings next Monday, May 20.