Over a decade ago, when reuse of the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant was little more than a dream, Hamilton County planners imagined a new parkway running through the 6,000-acre site.
Recalling the fanciful land of Oz, officials dubbed the artery the “Yellow Brick Road” due to the promise it offered of helping land high-paying jobs and directly link Interstate-75 and Highway 58.
By late this summer, the four-lane parkway’s initial one-mile leg will undergo paving and shortly thereafter be put into use. Officials believe the so-called Yellow Brick Road will start to fulfill planners’ hopes as it ties into the Volkswagen plant site.
“It’s now the center of attention for job growth,” said Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey about VAAP, much of which is called Enterprise South industrial park. “That road will help open it up.”
Last week, the city held a pre-bid and site review meeting with potential bidders for the paving job for the parkway, which will run from an interchange at I-75 to the VW plant’s new training center.
“That’s huge for us to have that project moving forward,” said Steve Leach, the city’s public works administrator. “It’s critical. You can’t open the plant without the road.”
The parkway will serve as one of the key ways for Volkswagen’s some 2,000 workers, suppliers and others to access the plant every day. The $1 billion plant is expected to start making autos in early 2011.
The parkway’s opening will relieve other roads in the area, officials said.
“It takes some pressure off of Bonny Oaks Drive,” Mr. Ramsey said. A large section of Bonny Oaks is two-laned. Hickory Valley Road, now the connector to Highway 58 through VAAP, is essentially two lanes as well.
WHAT’S IN A NAMEHamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey said the planned parkway was termed the ‘Yellow Brick Road’ when he and others discussed the idea of the key artery though VAAP more than a decade ago. The term reflected the potential of the massive former Army plant site for economic development.PARKWAY TIMELINE* Mid-1990s — Officials raise prospects of new road through VAAP. Idea is pitched to then-Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist and U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp* 2004 — Work launched on $23 million I-75 interchange designed to connect to the planned parkway into Enterprise South industrial park* 2006 — Parkway project temporarily gets dropped from the region’s Transportation Improvement Program list due to “paperwork” error, officials said* 2008 — Volkswagen picks Chattanooga and Enterprise South for its new $1 billion auto assembly plant* 2009 — Work starts to cut into two ridges and fill a pair of small valleys with dirt on the road’s initial route. Road is roughed out* Summer 2010 — Parkway to open from I-75 to VW plant
The initial portion of the parkway to open already was cut and graded last year. The first leg is estimated to have an $8 million price tag, said City Engineer Bill Payne. Earlier estimates put the entire parkway’s cost at $22.5 million.
The new parkway is expected to have two roundabouts, including one at the entrance of the VW plant. Also, the parkway will offer access to the passive park that will serve as a buffer to the VW plant.
In addition, the parkway will connect with Enterprise South Boulevard in the industrial park near the plant.
Concerning the remainder of the parkway, money is being requested from the Tennessee Department of Transportation to start the serious planning work on the remainder of the route to Highway 58.
Mr. Ramsey said he believes there is federal construction money available secured by U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn. He said there had been route changes in the preliminary planning stage because of wetlands.
Officials wouldn’t speculate on when the entire road, which doesn’t yet have an official name, will be completed.
“We won’t know (if there’s enough money) until we get it designed,” he said, adding he thinks there will be enough funds.