It's currently pretty dangerous.
Road builders are awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to raise a tall crane near Lovell Field for a major bridge replacement project over Highway 153.
"Because of the close proximity to the airport, they have to wait to get the go-ahead," said Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn.
The $5.3 million project calls for rebuilding and widening the Shepherd Road bridge that passes over Highway 153 near the airport.
Plans are to replace the existing two-lane overpass with a four-lane bridge as well as install traffic signals as a safety feature, Flynn said.
The work is expected to benefit the airport, which is seeing record passenger boardings so far this year. Also, traffic in the area will swell when construction is finished for a new Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Co. facility nearby, officials said.
In addition, a sidewalk will be constructed over Highway 153 connecting the Shepherd area to a community center, Flynn said.
"It will help accommodate pedestrians and bicycle riders," she said.
Terry Hart, the airport's chief executive, said improved entrance and exit ramps are in the plans, and there are discussions about bettering landscaping at the intersection, which is a key entry way to Lovell Field.
A worker carries a runoff barrier while preparing for work on the Shepherd Road overpass over Highway 153 on Wednesday in Chattanooga."We're going to work with [TDOT] about some signage on the bridge that identifies the airport," he added.
Airport Authority member Tom Snow said he drives over the bridge each day and the planned improvements will help.
"It's currently pretty dangerous," he said.
Completion of the project is slated for October 2016, Flynn said. She said work already has started to clear vegetation at the intersection.
Funding for the road project is 90 percent federal money and the remainder financed by the state, Flynn said.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, the Birmingham, Ala.-based parent of the Chattanooga unit, is investing about $62 million in a state-of-the-art distribution and sales facility off Shepherd Road.
The 305,000-square foot distribution and sales center is going up on the former site of the Olan Mills Inc. headquarters. Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling, the first franchised Coke bottler in the world, is adding 43 new jobs.
"We're glad they stayed [in Chattanooga] and want to make sure they can get in and out of their facility easily," Flynn said. The company had also considered Georgia for the expansion.
Chattanooga Airport passenger boardings are up 12.5 percent so far this year to a record high, Hart said.
"We're very encouraged with that," he said. "Customers are continuing to get on board here in Chattanooga."
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.