Here's the latest on Lebanon Road, Central Pike, I-40 widening projects in Wilson County
A portion of Lebanon Road in front of West Elementary School in Wilson County appears to be close to a starting a widening project to address significant traffic problems, especially around school times.
However, other Wilson projects, which include a large portion of Interstate 40, a new Central Pike interchange, widening an existing stretch of Central Pike and widening South Mt. Juliet Road have uncertain timelines that may be further affected by Hurricane Helene's impact in East Tennessee.
The work on Lebanon Road is from Terrace Hill to Adeles Garden roads, with a center turn lane to the west of the school and upgraded retro-reflective signage, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
The construction bid process is scheduled to begin in May.
Construction is expected to take at least a year and officials hope to complete the project by August 2026, 'pending any unforeseen issues, especially with complex water and sewer relocations in this area,' TDOT spokesperson Erin Zeigler said.
Traffic congestion on Lebanon Road during school arrival and dismissal times at West Elementary often results in drivers creating makeshift lanes using bike paths and unmarked shoulders. Drivers heading east turn left from a makeshift lane on the far right to get their children to class.
Mt. Juliet High School on Golden Bear Gateway, which connects to Lebanon Road just west of West Elementary, also generates traffic around school start and dismissal times later in the day.
Construction bids were originally scheduled to start in the spring of 2024 but were pushed back to 2025 because of delays in ordering poles for electrical lines, Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto said.
Wilson County had four projects listed as part of TDOT's longer term 10-year road project plan released in 2023. The are:
Interstate 40 widening from I-840 to U.S. 70, about 4.7 miles, from four lanes to six. The initial estimate to start construction is 2028.
A new Central Pike interchange on I-40, with a construction-start estimate of 2030.
Widening Central Pike (State Route 265) from the proposed interchange to South Mt. Juliet Road. TDOT's construction started estimated for 2030.
Widening South Mt. Juliet Road from near Central Pike to near Providence Way, with a construction start estimated for 2032.
Lebanon Road from Park Glen Drive to Curd Road in Mt. Juliet is not on TDOT's 10-year plan, but the city has moved forward with design. Mt. Juliet has created a fund dedicated to the widening of Lebanon Road that Commissioner Art Giles stated at a commission meeting has $3 million, in hopes TDOT would expedite the project.
Commissioners also approved a controversial phase that will add just over 90 homes in the Silver Springs neighborhood off Benders Ferry Road that includes a developer contribution of $7,500 per lot toward the Lebanon Road building fund.
An updated 10-year road project plan to be presented to the General Assembly in the spring will consider growth and change in Tennessee and could include timing, TDOT officials said.
One impact could be Hurricane Helene's more than $500 million in damage to the state's transportation system in Upper East Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson Greg Summers said.
Congress has appropriated a $478 million reimbursement request needed for urgent repairs after the hurricane. However, federal disaster funding is a reimbursement process that requires the state to front cash and seek federal reimbursement that could affect timing, Summers said.
Mt. Juliet has been in conversations to 'stay on target' as much as possible on the Central Pike interchange and widening project and South Mt. Juliet Road, Mayor James Maness said.
The city is in the process of approving a $25 million allocation to TDOT with timeline stipulations toward the Central Pike interchange in hopes to expedite the project. That has passed a first reading vote.
'TDOT is committed to working with Tennessee's local jurisdictions, municipalities, and counties to identify priorities and accelerate projects with enough identified local funding and support,' Zeigler said.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County road projects: Lebanon Road, I-40, Central Pike
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