Stevens Street Widening Project Design Being Modified Slightly

The original design for Cookeville’s Stevens Street widening project will undergo some slight modifications after the construction of two developments in the area.

Cookeville City Manager James Mills said the design was complete but did not include the new development. Mills said once it is finished, the project will enhance one of the few direct, continuous, east-to-west routes through the city.

“Residential typically goes out in the morning and comes in in the evening, so it reduces the need for significant street widening,” Mills said. “But in particular, in this phase of Stevens Street, it’s a fairly narrow street, so we will widen the existing lanes.”

Mills said the same engineering firm that made the original design will complete the modifications. He said the project will also add turning lanes at Willow Avenue and other major intersections and install pedestrian facilities. He said he does not expect a major change to the primarily residential land use alongside the street.

“We’ve been working towards this project for a couple of years now,” Mills said. “We initiated, have initiated the acquisition of easements and right of ways that we’ll need to do the improvements.”

He said when finished, Stevens Street will look like Cedar Avenue downtown by Cookeville Regional, minus the bike lanes.

“Another reason for doing this is a beautification effort,” Mills said. “We’ll have underground utilities, enhanced street lighting, and again, sidewalks on both sides.”

Mills said Stevens Street runs from Maple Avenue and turns into Buffalo Valley Road, stretching to Tennessee Avenue.