East Brainerd Road projects moving forward

IN OTHER BUSINESSDuring a recessed meeting and agenda session Wednesday, Hamilton County commissioners:• Heard a presentation designating part of Amnicola Highway as Richard Alexander Memorial Highway, after Chattanooga Police Department Officer Richard Alexander who died in an accident on duty in 2000.• Considered a resolution to pay $39,000 for a new truck cab and chassis for the Hamilton County Humane Educational Society.• Heard resolutions for the county to cede ownership of a 1992 Ford Crown Victoria and a 1999 Dodge Durango to the Mowbray Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department plans to scrap the vehicles to buy firefighting equipment.

A second part of the long-awaited expansion of Apison Pike will start soon, but other phases of the project - and other big road projects in East Hamilton - will depend on the General Assembly.

The Hamilton County Commission's Finance Committee heard a resolution Wednesday to allow the Tennessee Department of Transportation to begin the first phase of construction to widen Apison Pike to four lanes from Ooltewah-Ringgold Road east to the area of Layton Lane.

Hamilton County Public Works Administrator Todd Leamon told commissioners that the state would begin preparing rights of way and utility lines as soon as the commission approved ceding the applicable roadway to the state for construction.

"After that, they will set a letting date and bid it for construction," Leamon said.

The $15 million project will be funded by previously allocated state highway dollars, at no cost to the county government.

The full commission will vote on the measure at its next meeting Nov. 5.

Jennifer Flynn, spokeswoman for TDOT, said the expansion of Apison Pike from Ooltewah-Ringgold Road west toward Old Lee Highway already has been bid.

District 7 Commissioner Sabrena Smedley, who represents the East Brainerd area, said she and other officials met with TDOT staff last week about Apison Pike and the expansion of East Brainerd Road, another major project.

"East Brainerd Road had originally been scheduled first, but basically, they said [Apison Pike] would move forward first. It has been moved ahead of East Brainerd Road, because we were told it was easier for permitting," Smedley said.

Some properties and stormwater issues still need to be addressed on East Brainerd Road, she said.

State officials told Smedley the money was locked in for both Apison Pike projects and a first phase of the East Brainerd expansion, which would widen the road to just beyond Banks Road but not all the way to Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, she said.

"It's a start," she said. "I'll just be happy to get it going."

Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfree press.com, @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.

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