News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Bids will be going out this month to start moving dirt at the new fairgrounds at Tennessee Avenue.
Mayor Randy Porter said finding a contractor may be difficult, so the county is getting ahead by sharing information to interested companies.
“We’re looking at 160 acres on one-side and 35 on the other side, so if we build both projects, thousands of yards of dirt,” Porter said. “Looking at somewhere between the 2.5 to $3 million dollars of dirt moving.”
Porter said the bid will be more than just dirt work. Porter said preliminary measures will be taken to lay out roads and create building pads. Porter said the goal is to have the site ready for construction by the time the old fairgrounds sell.
“We’ve heard several are interested, so hopefully if we get a go head start on it before the other projects start happening this summer so that we can get a good company,” Porter said.
The 160-acre location will house an expo center, a conference building, and venues for concerts and tournaments. Porter said there would be a 300-stall barn, 3,500 new parking spaces, and an arena with the capacity for 7,500 covered seats.
“We’re looking at the bid going out somewhere in January, and then as soon as weather breaks in March, we will be looking to start moving ground,” Porter said.
