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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews re-opened the State Route 92 Bridge over the French Broad River in Dandridge today more than a month ahead of schedule. The $1.4 million project was schedule to be complete by May 15, 2010, however, after a final bridge inspection, the bridge reopened to traffic shortly after 11:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 14.  TDOT provided an incentive of $100,000 to reopen the bridge by April 17.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Traffic is once again flowing on U.S. 64 in Polk County after five months of work to clear and stabilize two rockslides along the route. Workers completed the work to stabilize and clear the two rockslides along U.S. 64 in the Ocoee Gorge at 11:15 a.m. ET today and traffic was allowed on U.S. 64 for the first time since November 10, 2009 when the road was completely closed by a massive rockslide at mm 17.6 near TVA Ocoee 2 Dam. Work to stabilize the first rockslide began on November 16 with the awarding of a $2.1 million emergency contract to Charles Blalock and Sons, Inc. from Sevierville, TN. 

 

“I am very pleased to announce the reopening of this vital roadway through Polk County,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “I want to thank the people of Polk County for being patient with us as we worked on this difficult and dangerous project.”

 

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Transportation is pleased to announce the early completion of a bridge replacement project on Chestnut Street in Nashville. A portion of Chestnut Street, which has been closed since the project began in August 2009, is now open to traffic.

 

The $2 million project, which was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, replaced the bridge that crosses over the CSX Railroad. The 80 year old bridge was classified in “Poor” condition and was on the state’s list of structurally deficient bridges. The bridge’s sufficiency rating was 37.6 out of 100.

NASHVILLE– The official 2010 Tennessee Transportation Map is now available to assist travelers in their planning efforts. The map is formatted in with large, easy to read information and includes a listing of Tennessee’s Biofuel Green Island Corridors, information about emergency reference markers, Tennessee 511 and attractions throughout the state.

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation will reopen an 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129/SR115 in Blount County known as “The Dragon” on Monday, April 12 at 8:00 a.m. The stretch of U.S. 129 from the Tabcat Bridge to the North Carolina state line will be open to traffic each day between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The section of U.S. 129 from just past the Foothills Parkway to the Tabcat Bridge will remain closed as crews work to remove a rockslide that closed the roadway in March. 

 

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will provide traffic enforcement and Graham County, North Carolina will provide emergency response along the open section of U.S. 129 during daylight hours. Motorists are advised that emergency response will be limited in the area.  Law enforcement will have zero tolerance for traffic law violations and will diligently enforce the area. U.S. 129 will be closed to traffic at the North Carolina state line at 8:00 p.m. each night until 8:00 a.m. the next day.  The roadway will remain closed to commercial traffic and large RVs. 

 

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, state House Agriculture Committee Chairman Stratton Bone and other agriculture industry groups are partnering with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee for Ag Day on the Hill. Visitors, exhibitors and legislative employees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items for donation on April 13.

 

NASHVILLE --- The winners for the 2010-11 Tennessee Wildlife magazine photo contest have been selected by the staff of Tennessee Wildlife. The selections will appear in the annual calendar issue of the magazine which will be available in the early summer.

 

Hundreds of entries were submitted, but the staff had the challenging task to narrow the entries to 13 photos that will appear in the calendar issue. The 2010-11 calendar issue will begin with the month of August.