Cookeville Officials Present Priority Projects To TDOT, Includes I-40 Widening

City of Cookeville presented its priority project to T-DOT officials which includes the widening of I-40 throughout city limits.

City Manager James Mills said included in that would be revamping the on and off ramps for I-40. He said perhaps the most important component for local traffic would be overpass installation on I-40, which would allow the city to run South Walnut through the interstate and connect south of I-40.

“So you’re looking at a project that could cost anywhere between $250 to $300 million so we’re shooting high here,” Mills said. “But this is a project we believe would have positive impacts on the traffic flow of the City of Cookeville for generations to come. And like I said, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with this kind of money.”

Mills said in Governor Lee’s $3 billion transportation modernization act, some $750 million will be available to T-DOT’s Region 2, which includes Cookeville.

At the meeting with T-DOT officials, Mills said their presentation received a positive response. He said it was a big deal to get those officials to Cookeville so they can discuss and see firsthand the needs for the city’s infrastructure.

Mills said Cookeville is one of the three biggest cities in T-DOT’s Region 2, which also includes Cleveland and Chattanooga. He said they believe that this project would have significant positive change on not just the city itself but the region.

“This will provide a major corridor for North-South traffic, it would alleviate, we believe, a lot of the traffic concerns we have on Jefferson and Willow,” Mills said. “The project would also include improvements to the intersection of Jefferson and Willow at I-40 and hopefully where they also intersect with Interstate Drive.”

Mills said the city will continue to submit information to T-DOT, including a letter from the city council as well as State Representative Ryan Williams and State Senator Paul Bailey affirming this is a top priority for the city. He said to his understanding, they will hear back about this at the end of the year.