News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
T-DOT has approved funding for Cookeville’s North Willow Avenue widening project.
City Manager James Mills said the work would include adding a center turn lane between Broad Street and 12th Street. He said the project was approved for funding and the acquisition of right-of-way planned for 2025.
“Major need for North Willow is traffic accidents,” Mills said. “Most of the accidents we have are rear ends where someone has stopped going north or south to turn left because there is no center turn lane.”
Mills said the project is a want that is well over 10 years old. He said Tennessee Tech has been a huge proponent of the project and has partnered with the city to encourage T-DOT to prioritize the project.
Mills said this project has actually moved quicker than most T-DOT projects primarily because of support from the university and from Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He said the main access to the hospital from the north uses Willow.
“And the lack of a turn lane makes for a dangerous situation,” Mills said.
