News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
New Cookeville gateway signage project awaiting T-DOT approval.
City Manager James Mills said that the partnered project with Tennessee Tech must meet specific guidelines from T-DOT. He said that guidelines are even more specific when the project is on a T-DOT right-of-way.
“They do this for any type of community that has these signs,” Mills said. “So that what we plan is going to be safe in terms of traffic that we’re not going to create something that will cause a collision, or does damage to a vehicle that runs off the side of the road. So there are several things they look at to make sure there is a clear recovery zone, that there is enough clearance when you put one of these signs up.”
Mills said that the exact location has not been determined, but they submitted the project with a location off of the I-40 interchange on Willow in mind. He said they also submitted for a potential location at the South Jefferson Avenue intersection and a location along I-40 in between South Willow and South Jefferson.
Mills said that gateway signage can be a positive for both the city and the university.
“Just being able to promote your community so people who are on Interstate 40, which carries through the city nearly 50,000 cars a day, hopefully, it will encourage more people to stop and spend money,” Mills said. “Of course, we also want to promote and are very proud of Tennessee Tech University, and it would act as a directional sign in particular for Tennessee Tech. When they have visitors and when they direct people off the interstate, in particular on Willow, it would provide a direct route to the university.”
Mills said that the next steps are to get T-DOT approval and then to get the exact location, the design, and then funding.
