News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County has completed two capitol projects, an expansion to its health department and the bridge replacement for Robert Matthews Highway.
The commission approved the remaining appropriations for both projects Monday to balance the budget. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said about 1,500 square feet of examination rooms were added to the health department to accommodate more patients.
“Actually, this project started pre-COVID,” Robinson said. “We did not know it was coming then, but it has worked out to be a good timing, and we are closing it out. What that budget amendment was is when at the end when this is done, you got to clean up the lose ends.”
Robinson said the $1.8 million dollar bridge is now open. The bridge replacement caused a road closure for over eight months. Robinson said paperwork with TDOT made the project last longer than anticipated.
“When the actual work started, it did not take long but a couple of months, and it was done” Robinson said. “Now, the process of getting it all ready to go and the paperwork. That was probably a year.”
The previous bridge was built in 1936, and Robinson said was in dire need of replacement. The bridge is located adjacent to Highway 111 near the White County-Putnam County line on a stretch of road that becomes South Jefferson Avenue.
TDOT paid for majority of the bridge project with a 10 percent match from White County. During Monday’s meeting, the commission approved $62,300 of appropriations for the health department expansion and $300,000 for the bridge project.
