When now-Gov. Bill Lee was “candidate” Bill Lee in 2017, he was the only gubernatorial hopeful to visit the Collegedale Board of Commissioners.
At the meeting, city officials talked with Lee about the importance of funding Phase III of the project to widen Apison Pike.
Their message was apparently heard – the governor included the third phase in his Tennessee Department of Transportation’s 2020-2023 plan for infrastructure projects. Additionally, the project will begin in 2020. Those first-year projects are fully funded, while the 2021-22 plans are only partially funded.
“When Governor Lee was running for office, he saw the project and we were able to highlight why it was important to the city of Collegedale,” Commissioner Ethan White said in an interview last week following the announcement. “Having the certainty of this project being funded helps us plan for the future.”
The third phase will widen a 3.1-mile stretch of the two-lane road to five lanes, from Ooltewah-Ringgold Road through Collegedale to Layton Lane, which abuts the Collegedale airport. Sidewalks and bike lanes will be added as well.