Some cities in the region will look a lot nicer – or at least part of them will – after they spend state grants for landscaping improvements along their roads.
On Thursday, Gov. Phil Bredesen announced $486,916 in Tennessee Roadscapes grants that will assist 10 local cities – including Cleveland, Dayton, Ducktown and Spring City.
“These grants help local governments enhance roadways to create more welcoming entrances to their communities,” Bredesen said in a news release.
Cleveland received $120,000 to landscape 1,500 feet of existing median along state Route 60 and to mitigate stormwater runoff in drainage ditches. The new streetscape will include about 40 native trees and 100 shrubs, according to the release.
“[As people] come toward downtown, it will look a whole lot better and it will actually be safer having the ditch filled,” said Cleveland Councilman Bill Estes.
Other area cities such as Dayton will use the money to construct gateways and place welcome signs and plants to provide year-round color and texture.
The Tennessee Roadscapes initiative was developed in 2006 as a partnership between community organizations and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
TDOT funds 80 percent of the cost of a project and grants come from federal funds that are earmarked for road enhancement projects.
GRANTS
* Cleveland: $120,000
* Hohenwald: $95,000
* Dayton: $75,000
* Humbolt: $55,000
* Lexington: $45,000
* Guys: $45,000
* Ducktown: $40,000
* Newport: $30,000
* Lebanon: $30,000
* Spring City: $20,000
Source: Tennessee Department of Transportation