News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville City Council passed a motion to allocate grant funding that would help improve the South Willow Avenue and West Jackson Street intersection.
Economic Development Coordinator Melinda Keifer said funding from a Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) from TDOT will cover most of the costs.
“I’m happy to report to you that you will be approving a project tonight that will basically have no capital outlay for the city of Cookeville,” Keifer said. “We’ll use our allocation of federal funds, and then TDOT will provide a match for that.”
The project stems from the Putnam County Transportation Committee’s survey this summer and was named the committee’s number-one project. Plans indicate a second left-hand turn lane will be installed from South Willow northbound onto West Jackson eastbound. Meanwhile, a specific right-turn lane will be installed from West Jackson eastbound onto South Willow northbound. Other areas of the intersection will not be effected.
Keifer said the estimated cost of the project comes in around $1.4 million, with approximately $1.1 million being covered by the STBG.
“That whole program will run through the city of Cookeville,” Keifer said. “It will be a locally-managed project through our Public Works Department, through our Planning Department, etc. [It’s] a reimbursable grant. We just get reimbursed 100 percent.”
Despite the approval, motorists who travel through the intersection won’t see any changes for about two years.
“I will tell you (City Council), from the day you sign the contract today, we have to go out and provide a timeline,” Keifer said. “We won’t begin construction before 2020. Then, if we’re lucky, we’ll have it done in two years.”
Statistics provided during the council meeting Thursday show the South Willow and West Jackson intersection is one of the busiest in the city of Cookeville. Stats also indicate the intersection also features one of the highest crash rates.
