When Volkswagen builds its first car in Chattanooga in 2011, some of the road work at Interstate 75’s nearby Exit 11 may be ongoing — years after federal budget constraints snarled progress there, according to state transportation officials.

The state plans on widening and adding an additional connector to highways near the Ooltewah I-75 interchange to ease an already congested area, said Wes Hughen, Tennessee Department of Transportation project manager.

“Do we wish it was further along? I think everyone does, but it’s just not,” Mr. Hughen said. “We have what we have, and now Volkswagen says they are coming.”

The state will construct a road to extend from the Enterprise South interchange at Interstate 75 to where Apison Pike meets Old Lee Highway. That’s in addition to a separate project to widen Apison Pike between Old Lee Highway and Little Debbie Parkway. There are plans to eventually widen Apison Pike to Ooltewah-Ringgold Road.

For complete coverage see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.

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