Davis gets $11M for Woodbury four-lane
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“The highway is a priority for me and for the people of Warren and Cannon counties,” said 4th District U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis in announcing the funding. “I think this will help expedite the project and get it further along.”
Davis, who is a member of the House Transportation Committee, said getting the funding was not an easy task, especially given the fact he is a first-term lawmaker in Washington.
“It was a hard fight,” Davis said. “It still has to pass the Conference Committee and get the president’s signature but I’m 99 percent sure that will happen.”
Davis noted many more experienced lawmakers who serve on more influential committees, wanted to be part of the Transportation Committee given the importance better road systems have in their home districts.
Davis’ announcement of federal money comes after Gov. Phil Bredesen announced during a mid-March visit to McMinnville that $12 million in state funds has been earmarked for the four-lane expansion project. Approximately $7.5 million of state money will be used for start-up construction costs while $5 million more will be used to purchase property and buy right of ways. Construction is not expected to begin until October 2005.
State Sen. Jerry Cooper said response to the four-lane project has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We received more phone calls thanking us after that story ran in the paper than anything we’ve done in a long time,” said Cooper. “Lincoln Davis has done a great job getting us $11 million in federal money.”
The first phase, funded by the state, is expected to make a four-lane from the bypass to Spring Valley Road, a distance of about 1.5 miles. Congressman Davis said the additional federal money will allow the first phase to go even further as the $11.5 million should afford several more miles of four-lane past Spring Valley Road.
“The goal is to have a four-lane which runs from McMinnville to the interstate in Murfreesboro,” Davis said. “As it is now, Nashville Highway is a small, winding highway which is very dangerous given its high amount of traffic.”
A four-lane section already exists between Woodbury and Murfreesboro. The current project will eventually carve a four-lane from the outskirts of McMinnville at Newtown to meet up with the existing four-lane in Woodbury.