A committee of local representatives is to meet with officials from the Tennessee Department of Transportation on Feb. 15 to set the route for a road project that would include a toll bridge connecting Soddy-Daisy and Harrison.

“I feel stronger every day about it,” state Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, said of the project. “We’re still in the top three in consideration.”

TDOT officials had said they would meet with the committee this month but postponed the meeting until February.

Julie Oaks, a spokeswoman for TDOT, said the February meeting will seek to find a consensus regarding where the road would begin and end.

“No tolling traffic and revenue studies have been undertaken thus far,” she said. “That will occur after a review of the corridor options.”

Ms. Oaks said TDOT has been working with Volkert and Associates Inc., a consulting firm, to analyze the possible route options.

Rep. Cobb said the later meeting date does not mean the project has gone off TDOT’s radar.

“That’s very much a favorable timeline for strong consideration,” he said.

The Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation in 2007 that allows TDOT to develop new toll roads but limits the department to two pilot projects. The Soddy-Daisy to Harrison project could be included, but TDOT officials have said it must prove cost-effective to get the green light.

Toll bridge projects in Davidson and Shelby counties are also in the running, Rep. Cobb said.

In December, Hamilton County Engineer Todd Leamon developed four possible routes for the project. Most started at Sequoyah Access Road and ended at Interstate 75 mile marker 13.

But other options have been discussed.

Jerry Bohannon, president and chief executive officer of the Cleveland-Bradley County Chamber of Commerce, has said he would prefer the road to come to I-75 exit 20. TDOT’s original draft plan for the project had the start point at state Highway 111.

Bill Hullander, chairman of the Hamilton County Commission, said he would like officials to consider stopping the road at state Highway 58 rather than having it go to I-75.

“It would be more feasible,” he said.

BY THE NUMBERS

* $350 million: Estimated cost of Harrison/Soddy-Daisy toll bridge project

* 15.8 miles: Length of shortest proposed route

* 21.1 miles: Length of longest proposed route

* 20,000: Estimated number of cars that would travel the bridge daily if opened in 2010

Source: Tennessee Department of Transportation