I-65 resurfacing has some questioing TDOT priorities
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Are you ready for some highway delays on the south side of town?
As you undoubtedly have heard by now, TDOT is paving 8 miles of I-65 from Brentwood to the I-40 split.
The question many residents on the north side of town have is ‘what about us? Where is the road construction you promised us, TDOT?’
One of those grumbling dissatisfaction is Madison man, John Howser. Howser rides over this Northern stretch of I-65, twice every work day.
“After so many years, you learn where the holes are. You don’t dare go down the center lane that is like a street in Baghdad.”
For months, Howser’s anger has been assuaged, perhaps by the fact that TDOT had promised motorists on the North side of town that a repaving project was coming their way.
But when,Howser thought to himself, over every bumpy mile.
Then the news was announced that TDOT would be resurfacing south of the City.
“It seems inappropriate to me that they are paving over smooth road when we drivers have to drive over bombed out road north of trinity lane every day.”
“Do you think there are fat cats in Williamson County maybe that is why people in the north are losing out?,” I ask.
“You do wonder?” he responds flatly.
“That is not true,” BJ Doughty, TDOT spokeswoman tells me bluntly.
“We realize it is a rough ride on the north side of town right now.”
She says her agency has heard the complaints from motorists like John Howser.
“So you understand why people in the north say what about us? And people in the South are getting this nice smooth road?”
“We certainly do. And it is a priority for TDOT to fix the concrete on the north side of town.”
So, why the south and not the north? It’s complicated, but Doughty says it comes down to available funding.
“We have lost over $200 million in federal funds since 2005. We are seeing a flat gas tax revenue.”
Case in point:
Doughty says the paving project to the south will cost tax payers 5 and a half million dollars, a resurfacing to the north that will cost 6 times more running as high as 30 million dollars.
The reason? The south is asphalt, and the north is concrete.
To fix the north highway, doughty says crews have to dig up 10 inches of concrete and the steel below it.
Doughty says TDOT crews do plan to get up to the north side and put asphalt patches over the concrete as a temporary fix.
TDOT says realizes it needs to do something since that concrete highway was built 38 years ago.
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SHOULD have had something done 38 years ago. That’s a joke.
Had they have built the road correctly, instead of in such a hurry, it wouldn’t be bombed out.
Mr. Howser is certainly correct- DON’T get in the center lane going 65 South—- I have had to buy three tires in the past few months due to these holes.
I am certain, contary to what BJ had to say, the south side is getting their fix first, because thats where all the Money is.
What TDOT is NOT telling is that the Federal Funds are allocated on a spend basis.
Thus when the State of Tennessee was taking money from the road funds to balance the budget, and not spending allocated dollars on road project-GUESS WHAT
The federal dollars were not given back.
The result-Tennesee cut its own throat.
Although unfortunate, it isn’t surprising.
BJ is right about one thing; part of 65 South is concrete but once you get into the Trinity Lane corridor it is asphalt and that ashpalt section is just as bad if not worse than the concrete section. It’s time for TDOT to stop making excuses and time to see results.
Last week,I watched 18 electrical service workers,with a bunch of fancy trucks and tools,take all day to dig a new hole and replace one utility pole!The crew enjoyed several “breaks”,including a generous lunch time.The machinery did ALL the digging and placement of the pole.There is NO accountability,from anyone,for anything.Waste & spend,and raise consumer’s rates.
I work in Brentwood and frequently go into Franklin. I-65 south is not in
need of repair BUT I-65 north from the area of the stadium past Dickerson
Rd is a shamble. There are potholes, ruts, old patches and every other
conceivable road hazard. My husband and I drive this at least twice a week
and we have wondered why it is not being taken care of. It is one of the
worse roads I have ever driven including dirt roads. What astonishes me is
that it is a major road, through the capital city of TN going to other
states, and no one seems to pay any attention to all of the traffic, both
local and visitors, traveling this road. I am embarrassed by the
maintenance of this highway as should be anyone living in this city. It is
a disgrace and it is not because of the lack of funding from the federal
government because this has been this way for a long time and the patches
are there to prove it. I have lived here since 2000 and I don’t remember
this road ever being repaired properly.