At Interstate 75, near Cleveland, large semi trucks cross paths at the bottlenecked area around exit 20. A new Pilot Truck and Auto Plaza has increased traffic to the already crowded two-lane bridge over the interstate, and the state has plans eventually to add lanes so traffic will flow more smoothly.CLEVELAND, Tenn. – A number of road projects are under way on APD-40 near exit 20 on Interstate 75, and they play key roles for a proposed industrial development in Bradley County.
A pair of new connecting roads will tie into a planned interchange on APD-40 and coincide with major improvements proposed for exit 20, planning officials said. The connectors recently were dubbed Cherokee Gateway North and Cherokee Gateway South by county and city leaders.
Cherokee Gateway South is under construction, Cleveland Senior Planner Greg Thomas said. The 11/2-mile-long road will connect Harriman Road to APD-40.
Thomas said the southern connector is expected to be completed soon and the interchange, a state project, is under “an accelerated schedule.” The goal is to have all the roadwork completed within a few years.
In the meantime, plans are advancing for Spring Branch Industrial Park adjacent to the APD-40/I-75 corridor, said Doug Berry, vice president of economic development for the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.