NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen joined House Speaker Kent Williams, TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely, Senator Rusty Crowe and officials from Carter County today to break ground on a local bridge replacement project funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The Carter County project will replace a steel truss bridge along Steel Bridge Road at Wilbur Dam Road.

 

"This project is a great representation of how the Recovery Act benefits local economies,” said Bredesen. “This one-lane bridge is in a dangerous curve, is nearly 70 years old and carries close to 100 vehicles a day. By replacing this bridge with 100 percent Recovery Act funds, the county government saves more than $300,000 in matching funds, but more importantly this project will create jobs and provide Carter County residents with a better bridge and a safer roadway.

 

 

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen joined Congressman John Tanner, TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely, State Senator Lowe Finney, State Representative Curtis Halford and officials from Gibson County today to break ground on Tennessee’s first transportation project funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The Gibson County project will replace three aging timber bridges along McMurry Road in Trenton.

 

“The McMurry Road bridges have served the citizens of Gibson County well for more than 37 years, but are clearly in need of replacement,” said Bredesen. “This project will save the county government close to $200,000 in matching funds, will employ more than 150 Tennessee workers and, most importantly, will give the residents of Gibson County peace of mind as they travel this roadway.”

 

 

NASHVILLE— Governor Phil Bredesen today released a final list of projects to be funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (Recovery Act), proposed bridge bonds and TDOT’s regular funding mechanisms. The three-tiered program represents more than 450 projects statewide touching every county in Tennessee. Included in the proposal, which has been presented to the Legislature, are 132 highway and bridge projects in TDOT’s Region One alone. 

 

NASHVILLE—Governor Phil Bredesen today released a final list of projects to be funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (Recovery Act), proposed bridge bonds and TDOT’s regular funding mechanisms. The three-tiered program represents more than 450 projects statewide touching every county in Tennessee. Included in the proposal, which has been presented to the Legislature, are 78 highway and bridge projects in TDOT’s Region Two alone.

 

 

NASHVILLE—Governor Phil Bredesen today released a final list of projects to be funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (Recovery Act), proposed bridge bonds and TDOT’s regular funding mechanisms. The three-tiered program represents more than 450 projects statewide touching every county in Tennessee. Included in the proposal, which has been presented to the Legislature, are 122 highway and bridge projects in TDOT’s Region Three alone.

 

 

NASHVILLE— Governor Phil Bredesen today released a final list of projects to be funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (Recovery Act), proposed bridge bonds and TDOT’s regular funding mechanisms. The three-tiered program represents more than 450 projects statewide touching every county in Tennessee. Included in the proposal, which has been presented to the Legislature, are 128 highway and bridge projects in TDOT’s Region 4 alone.

 

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all interstate construction work this Easter weekend in anticipation of increased holiday travel.

TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely informed TDOT crews and contractors to stop all road construction work which requires lane closures beginning on Thursday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. and ending at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13.  This will provide maximum roadway capacity to motorists expected to travel across the state this holiday weekend.

 

Jackson, TN – A Tennessee Department of Transportation worker from Shelby County suffered minor injuries after the vehicle he was in was struck from behind on Highway 70 in Arlington Tuesday, April 7. The maintenance worker was traveling behind a piece of mowing equipment at the time of the accident. While the employee was not seriously hurt, the incident serves as an serious reminder about the importance of slowing down and using caution while traveling through work zones.

 

“This accident could have been absolutely tragic, not just for our employee but for the motorist who struck him,” said TDOT Region 4 Director Chuck Rychen. “We need drivers to be responsible when they encounter a work zone so that everyone can go home safely at the end of the day.”

 

Nashville, TN — Governor Phil Bredesen today proclaimed the week of April 6 – 10, 2009 as Work Zone Awareness Week, joining states across the nation to remind motorists to be safe in work zones. TDOT will hold events across the state this week in an effort to improve safety in Tennessee’s interstate and highway construction and maintenance work zones.

 

“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will bring hundreds of new transportation projects to counties across the state,” said Governor Bredesen. “This will mean an increase in highway work zones and increased dangers for motorists and for workers. I hope by proclaiming this week Work Zone Awareness Week in Tennessee we can bring greater attention to the importance of work zone safety.”

 

NASHVILLE – Students at Halls High School in Lauderdale County gathered this morning for a special assembly to congratulate 18 Halls High students for winning top prize in the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s first ever Project Orange Video Contest. The teens’ 25 second winning video entitled “Halls High Safety Video: Between the Barrels Video Contest” was chosen from among 76 video entries by students across the state. The video shows the tragedy that can unfold when a group of teenagers makes a bad decision while traveling through a work zone. The video began airing today on television stations across the state to spotlight the importance of safe driving in work zones during Work Zone Awareness Week, April 6 – 10.