Yellow Brick Road work near VW gets OK

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

photo Enterprise South Industrial Park

The last leg of the so-called Yellow Brick Road through Enterprise South industrial park on Tuesday cleared a key hurdle.

The city's Industrial Development Board gave the state a pair of easements to enable the Tennessee Department of Transportation to take bids to build the $7.5 million road from Highway 58 to the rear of Volkswagen's supplier park.

But the two-lane road, which could later be expanded to four, will not provide a direct link from Highway 58 to Interstate 75 for the general public, officials said.

Steve Leach, the city's public works administrator, said part of the connection near the VW plant is slated to remain private at this time.

Officials have said a four-lane connection eventually will be provided from I-75 to Highway 58 in a project under design by the city to improve Discovery Drive and Hickory Valley Road.

Paul Parker, manager of Hamilton County real property, said the road from Highway 58 to the supplier park will travel about 1.4 miles. He said the state will fully fund the project.

Leach said a change in the proposed route of the road was needed so it wouldn't go over an extensive wetlands.

"We've moved the road further to the south for environmental reasons," he said.

The road, which will come into Highway 58 near Clark Road, also will provide access to a site for a possible new elementary school for the Harrison area, Leach said.

The roadway likely would be finished in mid-2014.

The Yellow Brick Road was so dubbed years ago because it was seen as opening up the then mostly vacant 6,000-acre Enterprise South site to a major industrial employer.

Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.