Road Construction - Believe It!

Many local residents still say they will "believe it when they see it" when talking about the prospects of the new Highway 99 being built into Eagleville, but signs are already evident that work on the long-awaited road will begin soon.

Stakes surrounded by red surveyor tape most likely mark where some utilities will be moved before the road construction gets underway, according to a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) spokesman.

TDOT officials plan to meet with the utility companies this week to discuss coordination, time frames and other topics before the road work starts, B.J. Doughty, community relations officer, said.

Also, flyers saying construction will soon begin have been circulated to residents along Highway 99 to notify them that some blasting may be necessary during the construction period.

The actual road work will begin after the TDOT construction division receives a work order, which is expected to be issued within the next few weeks, Doughty said.

"This lag time is a normal part of the process," she said. "I think the fact that this job was let a week before Christmas probably did not help speed things along."

TDOT has accepted the $10.4 million bid from Lebanon-based Lojac Enterprises for building the 4.6 mile project.

A Lojac official indicated last week that his company is just waiting on the state to give the go ahead to begin the work. The deadline for the project to be completed is Aug. 31, 2010.

The road work includes widening and some straightening of the current Highway 99 from the Concord area to Swamp Road. A totally new roadway will be built across the fields between Swamp Road and Highway 41A.

The new roadway will intersect Highway 41A on the south side of Eagleville just south of Holt Specialty and Equipment Co.

The old Highway 99 into downtown Eagleville will remain the same and a spur section will connect the current Highway 99 to the new section of the road near Swamp Road.

The upgraded section of Highway 99 will have two 12-foot lanes with eight-foot shoulders. Six feet of the shoulders will be paved.

Turning lanes will be built at Swamp Road, Claxton Road, Mount Vernon Road, North Lane, Mount Pleasant Road and Ditch Lane.

The flyer about the potential blasting was sent to inform residents that Lojac has hired VCE of Nashville to perform preconstruction surveys on specific homes and businesses surrounding the construction project. The survey, which is done at no cost to residents, will provide a benchmark if any changes in the condition of a home or other structure occurs, according to the flyer.

The preconstruction survey consists of documenting the current condition and exterior of a home or business prior to blasting, using still photographs and diagrams or video tapes. Residents have the right to refuse the inspection.

More information on the inspections can be obtained by calling 1-800-747-3844.

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