Could it be true?

State officials say I-69 announcement is near

By Greg Little, Managing Editor, The Covington Leader
April 28, 2006

Many people probably won’t believe it until they see it for themselves.

But state officials say an announcement about the Dyersburg to Millington route of Interstate 69 is just around the corner.

“I have been looking forward to this for 15 years,” said Dyersburg Mayor Bill Revell, chairman of the Tennessee I-69 Committee.

“A lot of plans have been held up by not knowing,” said Covington Mayor David Gordon.

State officials earlier this week said the announcement is being finalized.

Kim Keelor, public information manager for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), told The Leader the wheels have been turning on the announcement.

Keelor confirmed that TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely recently met with Gov. Phil Bredesen to finalize the decision about the route.

“Commissioner Nicely met with Gov. Bredesen and it went well and the decision is moving forward,” Keelor said this week.

State officials recently promised Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, the announcement would be made by the end of April. Norris is the chairman of the Tennessee Senate Transportation Committee, which has oversight of TDOT.

“I think it is good they are getting on with it,” said Norris. “They may have needed some additional time once the governor decided where he wanted the road to go.”

Keelor said TDOT officials are presently “fulfilling the final requirements” of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). That act requires close study of the environmental impacts of the interstate and can have a bearing on the route placement.

Keelor said once that is finalized, state officials “will make an announcement by putting a news release out mid-May, probably the second week of May.”

“Whenever a route is announced, I have to call people immediately who want to build motels and restaurants,” said Revell. “They are not going to do these big investments until they know the route.”

That route has been a point of contention and controversy for many years. It came to a head late last year during a series of public meetings.

The main question appears to be whether the route will be located east or west of Highway 51. Both routes have been proposed and presented. Also presented were “hybrid” routes which would have the interstate crossing Highway 51 in various locations.

Revell said the increased traffic on Highway 51 is one of the main reasons he feels the interstate is needed.

“It is getting awfully congested,” said Revell.

Revell said he thinks cities like Dyersburg and Covington will see great economic impact from the interstate. He said you have to look no further than Jackson and Cookeville to see what impacts an interstate can have on a community.

“What it is going to do is bring more industry to us,” said Revell. “Industry likes to be located next to an interstate.”

Norris said he thinks the announcement should put to rest any doubt the road will be constructed.

“There were people who thought I-69 would never be built,” said Norris. “The federal allocation comes close to assuring that it will be built.”

During the last federal budget cycle, there was $124 million allocated for the interstate in Tennessee. It will take more than $800 million to complete the Tennessee portion of the road.

However, Revell said once construction starts on the interstate, it puts it higher on the federal priority list. Construction around Union City is expected to begin as early as next year.

Norris agreed, but said other circumstances could cause delays for I-69.

“The timing could be affected by everything from terrorist activities to the bird flu, quite frankly,” said Norris.