News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A final decision for the Cumberland Historic Byway becoming a National Scenic Byway will be made once the United States Secretary of Transportation reviews the application.
The byway weaves through Clay, Cumberland, Fentress, Overton and Pickett Counties. Tennessee Scenic Roadways Coordinator Michael McClanahan said the results will be announced this fall.
“They are statutorily required to make the announcement by December 22nd,” McClanahan said. “They are going to let us know internally. You will probably see some news on Tennessee Scenic Routes coming from T-DOT in the coming weeks.”
National Scenic Byways are roads recognized for one or more intrinsic qualities such as natural landmarks or historical monuments along the roadway. McClanahan said if the Cumberland Historic Byway achieves national status, it will be placed on the Federal Highway Administration’s marketing program to promote driving the roadway.
“There has not been a round of new federal scenic designations since 2008,” McClanahan said. “It did take this amount of time back then, but it has been so long. There is new stuff in place. The application has new criteria and considerations.”
The application was submitted in June by different county municipalities. McClanahan said organizations that are near the byway also submitted letters of approval to help the application.
“We had a really good showing of support from the Army Corp of Engineers,” McClanahan said. “You had letters from T-DOT and the Big South Fork Natural River and Recreation area. As well as, local letters from Campbell County and Clay County.”
In all, 64 applications were submitted with seven coming from Tennessee. Today, there are about 150 National Scenic Byways across the country that you can drive and get a sense of the community and history of the area.
