TDOT Commissioner Clay Bright joined federal, state and local officials last week to break ground on the SR-317 (Apison Pike) improvement project in Collegedale.
Work is slated to begin soon on the 3.4-mile project to widen and improve the Apison Pike corridor from SR321 (Ooltewah-Ringgold Road) to east of Layton Lane near Collegedale Municipal Airport.
The project includes grading, drainage, construction of several new bridges and retaining walls, signals and paving.
Once completed, the roadway will have five lanes with curbs and gutters, sidewalks, bike lanes and greenway connections. Much of the project will be constructed on new alignment, including a large bridge that will span the railroad tracks.
Wright Brothers Construction of Charleston, Tennessee, is the contractor for the $93.1-million project. The project is slated for completion on or before June 30, 2025.
“Once complete, this project will improve accessibility for local and regional traffic and enhance safety in the area,” Bright said. “Having a large bridge over the railroad tracks will eliminate the need for traffic to use the at-grade crossing, making travel times more predictable.”
Over the next several weeks, the contractor will be performing clearing operations followed by grade work.
This project is funded through the IMPROVE Act. In addition to the current project, there is also a future IMPROVE Act project in development on SR317 (Apison Pike) that will widen a 0.9-mile section of Apison Pike to three lanes from Layton Lane to East Brainerd Road.
More information about the SR317 improvement project is available on the project website at www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/region-2/apison-pike.html.
Source: TDOT