posted April 26, 2008
Hamilton County, which is hoping for a bridge over Lake Chickamauga to connect the long-separated north areas of the county, has competition from Nashville and Memphis.
Those two cities plan to submit proposals for their own toll bridges.
Only one will be chosen for the state's first bridge to be paid for by a toll.
Memphis wants a new bridge across the Mississippi River.
Nashville is pushing for a bridge that would add a north-south route between Davidson and Sumner counties over the Cumberland River at Hadley Bend.
At a meeting Friday, local planners said the most feasible route here would be from Soddy-Daisy to Highway 58 across the lake. A route from Sequoyah Access Road is projected to cost $153 million. Extending it on to Interstate 75 would make the total $169 million.
A route to the north that was discussed earlier comes in at a whopping $351 million.
Former Rep. Jim Vincent, who attended the meeting at the County Courthouse, said the Tennessee Department of Transportation is going to be looking at the route with the best debt service ratio.
"A route that does not directly serve our communities, but just mainly tourists - we don't want that," he said.
Rep. Jim Cobb, who has been pushing for the toll bridge (and who is opposed in the current election by Mr. Vincent) said he was disappointed that only three of the eight bridge committee members showed up for the meeting.
He said the county has to show enthusiasm for the project if it is to happen.
Rep. Cobb said if Hamilton County is not chosen, it might get the next such toll bridge. But he said that could be many years away.
Soddy-Daisy Mayor Bob Privett said he had concerns about the city having to pick up high costs of maintaining the road leading to the bridge for the section lying within the city limits.
He also had reservations about the route going down Sequoyah Access Road, noting there are some four-way stops and a school zone along the way.
It would also be close to the nuclear plant, which would likely add a number of reviews.
Mayor Privett said one alternative would to run it near Hixson Pike across about five farms.
There was discussion about the road coming out at Ooltewah-Georgetown Road and a possible new freeway exit there.
With the rising cost of gas, commuters going across the north part of the county would more likely be willing to pay a toll, officials said.
TDOT is issuing a request for proposals for consultants to study the various routes and to make a recommendation on which should be chosen.
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