We're fortunate. We have a good road system. But it won't stay that way under our current structure.
Gov. Bill Haslam barnstormed through Chattanooga on Monday to reiterate how little funding there is for current and future road projects in Tennessee.
To put the current backlog of projects in perspective, Haslam said his 1-year-old grandchildren will be in college by the time projects like the widening of Bonny Oaks Drive are completed.
Backlogged TDOT projects
Here are some of the backlogged TDOT projects in the greater Chattanooga area:Interstate 24-Broad Street interchange (Hamilton) — $46.25 millionBonny Oaks Drive/Apison Pike upgrades (Hamilton) — $89.4 millionHighway 64/Ocoee River Gorge bypass (Polk) — $1 billionHighway 30 upgrades (Rhea) — $46.9 millionHighway 60/Westlake Drive upgrades (Bradley) — $13.8 millionSource: Tennessee Department of Transportation
Inside the Tennessee Welcome Center on Interstate 75, Governor Bill Haslam speaks about possible solutions for the Interstate 75/I-24 junction project as one of the transportation needs for our area.
With Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer at his side, the governor again tossed out a potential state gas tax increase as a solution.