Gov. Lee Kicks Off “Build With Us Tour” At State Route 127 Construction Site

The state’s new $3.3 billion Transportation Modernization Act should speed up the widening of Highway 127 between Crossville and Jamestown.

Local and state leaders took a tour of State Route 127 construction as part of Governor Bill Lee’s “Build With Us Tour.” The tour kicked off in Clarkrange Thursday.

Senator Ken Yager said the funding will help expedite a project decades in the making.

“I know we’re getting $750 million in each of the regions and Region 2 is primarily affected here,” Yager said. “So that money coming in, some of it will find its way into this project I promise you that.”

T-DOT has a goal of widening the highway from two to four lanes by 2026. The project also includes the installation of a 1,425-foot bridge across Clear Creek. Region 2 Pre-Construction Director Rachel Gentry said this is one of five projects planned between I-40 and State Route 85, including Baxter’s new interchange.

Gentry said the state has invested some $230 million specifically into those projects. She said the goal is to connect people and places, as well as provide necessary infrastructure improvements to better facilitate economic development in rural areas.

“I see the hopes of people from Fentress County, the entire region, Cumberland County, their hopes are being realized we have needed this for some time,” Yager said. “But this illustrates the project that we are looking at today illustrates the magnitude and the reason for the time it’s taken. If you don’t mind this saying that we might use at home, ‘It’s been a long and difficult pregnancy, but the baby is beautiful.'”

Yager said the project is beautiful. He said he believes the state department will build awards for the work it is putting forth with this project.