Cookeville Officially Accepts Tennessee Avenue As City Street

The Cookeville City Council approved first reading of an ordinance Thursday night accepting Tennessee Avenue, North of Interstate 40, as an official city street.

City Planning Director James Mills said the ordinance requires the city to maintain, repair, and restrict access to the 2.89 mile road that connects Buffalo Valley to the new Fifth Interchange at I-40.

“The idea is that this would be developed as parallel access streets in the future,” Mills said. “The intention is to avoid situation like we have on Jefferson, where you have so many driveways that it affects traffic flow. The intent here is to maintain the traffic carrying capacity of the street.”

Mills said Tennessee Avenue will have seven access points including Buffalo Valley, Highway 70, and Mine Lick Creek Road.

The road should be opened by the end of this month or the beginning of 2018.