Without roadway improvements, economic development in the Ooltewah-Collegedale area may be slower than residents and local leaders would like.
At a recent economic development panel discussion hosted by the Ooltewah-Collegedale Council of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, some local leaders expressed frustration with slow-moving infrastructure improvements in the area.
“I was very disappointed to learn that TDOT has delayed [the Apison Pike widening] project by six to eight months,” said Collegedale city planner Kelly Martin. “There are millions of dollars waiting on the sidelines.”
He referred to the North American Development Group’s future project called Collegedale Station and explained that that company is waiting until the roadway is under construction to begin construction of its planned 100-acre mixed use development located just off Apison Pike.
“We’re now looking at the third quarter of 2014 for construction [of the Apison Pike widening],” said Martin. “That’s a change from the original estimation of the latter part of this year or the early part of 2014.”