Four-lane to Smithville gets OK: Construction start date not yet set
The proposed widening of a portion of Hwy. 56 in Warren and DeKalb counties to four lanes will be the topic of discussion at a public hearing to be held next month in Smithville.
The proposed project would widen Hwy. 56 to four lanes beginning at Green Hill Rd. (Hwy. 287) in Warren County north to East Bryant Street in Smithville. Long-range plans call for the highway to be four-laned all the way to McMinnville.
According to Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesperson Deborah Fehr, the proposed improvements were identified by the department as a way to ease access between McMinnville and Smithville as traffic between the two cities has seen a substantial increase over the past few years.
She noted average daily transit numbers now show 7,000 vehicles leaving Smithville on the road each day, with 11,000 vehicles leaving McMinnville.
TDOT officials stated there are currently two alternatives being studied for the widening. Alternative “A” and alternative “B” both share the same alignment along the current highway, save for a two mile segment where alternative “B” follows a new location just south of Smithville. Officials added there is also a “No-Build” alternative.
Asked when such improvements would begin, Fehr said it could be a number of years as the project must go through several phases, including right-of-way acquisition, engineering, bidding and construction.
The public hearing to be held on the issue will be open house style from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the TDOT DeKalb County Maintenance Garage (Old National Guard Armory) on Dry Creek Rd. in Smithville.
As there will be no formal presentation, interested citizens may arrive anytime within the two-hour period. TDOT representatives will be on hand to provide information about location, major design features, relocation assistance, the tentative schedules for right-of-way acquisition and construction and other matters of interest related to the project.
The public is invited to ask questions and make comments during the hearing and will be given the opportunity to make their opinions known concerning this project.
For those not able to attend, written questions and statements can be sent to Project Comments, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Suite 700, James K. Polk Building, 505 Deaderick St., Nashville, Tenn. 37243-0332.
Public hearing
What: A public hearing to discuss alternatives on widening Hwy. 56 to four lanes
When: Feb. 20, 5 – 7 p.m.
Where: TDOT DeKalb County Maintenance Garage on Dry Creek Rd. in Smithville