Monterey Starts Exit 300 Water And Sewer Project

Monterey broke ground this week on its water and sewer line project off exit 300.

The aging water line running from South Holly Street to the Bee Rock Overlook will be replaced. Mayor JJ Reels said sewer lines are also being added.

“Right now, they are cutting the pavement from Bee Rock up to about the Hardee’s, where we are going to tie into it,” Reels said. “So, it is just a long process. It is about a quarter mile area they are replacing. So, it is just taking a while to cut that cause the ground is frozen, as well.”

Reels said the project would also allow for more businesses to move in at the exit. Before, the area did not have the appropriate utility connections.

“That is not the main idea. The main idea was just to replace the line, because it was old,” Reels said. “We are looking in the future to develop those properties out there. There are several properties that have been looked at by developers to put some businesses out there, but there were just not the utilities needed.”

The $453,000 Appalachian Regional Commission funded endeavor has a spring completion date. Ironwood Construction Inc. was awarded the bid this summer. Reel said working with T-DOT caused some delays.

“It took a long time to get the approvals through T-DOT, because there were a lot of right of way issues going underneath the bridge,” Reels said. “You had to think about the base of the bridge. We are taking advantage of putting a sewer line in there, as well.”

Reels said it would be about three or fours years before commercial developments begin since all sewer lines have to connect to the city’s plant.