SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - Ash Avenue runs parallel to U.S. Highway 72 behind a long-established industrial area in downtown South Pittsburg.
City leaders have decided to abandon South Pittsburg's right-of-way along the narrow, one-lane road at the request of Lodge Manufacturing Co., which is working on a multimillion-dollar expansion project nearby.
At its November meeting, the South Pittsburg City Commission voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 773, essentially waiving the city's rights to the road.
City Administrator Sammy Burrows said he met with company officials last summer, and they asked if South Pittsburg would consider closing the road "due to safety concerns."
"If you've driven down there and seen the construction, you'd probably agree that it needs to be closed," Burrows told the board. "It was closed for 14 years at one time and later opened. Very [little] traffic in and out of there."
Burrows said Lodge Manufacturing has agreed to build a large cul-de-sac in the area that would be big enough for emergency vehicles.
"They're at the phase now that they've got to decide what they're going to do in that area," he said.
South Pittsburg's planning commission recommended closing the road on June 9, Commissioner Jeff Powers said, and he questioned why it took five months for the issue to reach the board for approval.
"I'm not sure what was going on there," Burrows said.
The last survey on record indicates the road actually belongs to Lodge Manufacturing, he said, and the only reason the city must be involved in the decision is that the road has been "established for so long."
"Lodge is trying to be a good neighbor," Burrows said.
Lodge President Henry Lodge said the company would have to relocate the "infrequently traveled" road, close it, or build a retaining wall to keep people away from the construction area.
"The foundry that we're building is a very tight fit on that property," he said. "We chose to put it there because we didn't want to leave South Pittsburg. We've kind of been working around it at the moment, but we're willing to do whatever the city wishes on that property."
Burrows said Lodge is projected to create 306 jobs and generate $2.1 million in property taxes over the next ten years.
"It's a pretty good impact to our area," he said.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.