News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A new state report shows the Upper Cumberland with some $2.7 billion in infrastructure needs over the next five years.
Putnam County led the region with infrastructure needs of $1.07 billion. The majority of that money was for facilities on the Tennessee Tech campus. Transportation upgrades ranked second. The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations ranked infrastructure needs in six categories, beginning with transportation and utilities.
Cumberland County infrastructure needs totaled some $516 million. Jackson County ranked third at $296 million with transportation improvements the top category. Dekalb County improvements tallied some $195 million with law enforcement and schools the top needs. A new jail and elementary school are in the planning stage.
The money to build the new TCAT/Roane State campus and the continuing upgrades to Highway 127 lead Fentress County’s total of $173 million in needs. Pickett County infrastructure needs in transportation, recreation and law enforcement brought the county total to over $122 million.
Transportation infrastructure led the way for White County, with needs at some $93 million.
Clay County infrastructure needs estimated at some $71 million over the next five years with transportation needs the biggest cost. Van Buren County saw the biggest infrastrutture needs in recreation, a total of some $42.5 million. The overall total for the county over the next five years, some $58.3 million.
Overton County and Warren County both saw infrastructure needs total some $45.4 million.
The state’s total infrastructure needs during the next five years total 77.8 billion, a 14 percent increase from last year. The categories include economic development, education, general government, health, and recreation.
