News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A project to repair collapsed portions of Highway 85 remains on schedule in Overton and Fentress County.
Jennifer Flynn is the Community Relations Coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). She said contractors have opened one lane of Highway 85 in Fentress County between mile maker 3 and 8.
“That was one of our goals. We wanted to make sure that we could get that open for the school buses in the area,” Flynn said. “There’s just a lot of work going on along that corridor. The project completion date is still January 2020.”
The roadway remains closed between mile markers 18 and 22 in Overton County.
Damage to 12 areas occurred during a heavy rain event nearly eight months ago. Flynn said TDOT awarded the $13 million project bid to Wright Brothers Construction in April.
“(The project) is going really well right now,” Flynn said. “(contractors) are continuing excavation of slide material from the roadway in Overton County. In Fentress County, multiple sites are being worked on right now.”
The contractor will use temporary traffic signals and barrier rails where the road has reopened to one lane.
