Major I-69 meeting set for Monday night

By Greg Little, Managing Editor, The Covington Leader Online
November 11, 2005

They say good things come to those who wait.

For Dyersburg Mayor Bill Revell, that past week and next week are something he has been waiting on for 15 years.

“We’ve been waiting for this a long time and I’m excited about it,” said Revell, who is chairman of the Tennessee Interstate 69 Coalition.

The proposed interstate has been talked about for all of those 15 years. A formal meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at Brighton High School.

Earlier this year, the interstate became a step closer to reality when Congress approved a national highway bill which included funding to complete part of the road near Dyersburg and begin engineering and right-of-way work throughout the rest of West Tennessee.

The section of road from Dyersburg to Memphis has been the center of attention for the past couple of years because the route is yet to be established.

Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, chairman of the Tennessee Senate Transportation Committee, began working with Tennessee Department of Transportation officials last year in an effort to speed up the process and hold the necessary public hearings which will eventually play a part in determining the route.

“It’s important,” said Norris of Monday’s meeting.

Norris organized a “pre-meeting” recently, where TDOT officials met with members of the public to discuss the formal hearing process.

“People need to go and that’s what we had the pre-meeting for was to better prepare them,” said Norris.

Monday’s hearing is a chance for people to voice their opinions about the proposed road, whether they are for or against the interstate.

“There are some that are real excited about it and some which are really terrified about it,” said Norris.

Revell has attended meetings already held in Dyersburg and Millington. He said combined, more than 600 people have attended those meetings.

The fourth and final meeting is set for Tuesday night in Ripley.

The crucial part of what will come from the meetings is where the route will eventually be placed. There are various alternatives, but generally one route is west of Highway 51 and the other is east of the highway.

“Some people think it has already been decided, but it definitely hasn’t been decided,” said Revell. “I know that for a fact.”

Revell said he has spoken to most of the mayors along Highway 51 and they all generally agree it would be best for the route to go west of the highway. He said the Dyersburg Chamber of Commerce formally endorsed the west route during the meeting in that city.

TDOT officials will gather all of the comments made during the meeting as well as written comments which have been and still can be submitted and then make a recommendation to the department’s director, Gerald Nicely.

Nicely and Gov. Phil Bredesen are expected to make the final decision by next March, said Revell.

One critical issue which will be decided is where the interchanges will be located.

Revell said people can talk about where they think those interchanges should be as well as a myriad of issues.

“They can say whatever they want to,” said Revell. “They can say they want another interchange here or there is something here you didn’t know about and it may have to be moved a little bit.”

Revell said during the Millington meeting, one truck driver said she thought it imperative the road be constructed.

She told TDOT officials that because there are more and more traffic lights being placed on Highway 51, it makes it more difficult for truck drivers. She said it uses more fuel and is also dangerous when big trucks are forced to start and stop so many times.

Revell said he thinks the sheer growth of traffic on Highway 51 warrants why the interstate needs constructed.

“It’s not like a highway anymore,” said Revell. “It’s more like a street with a lot of traffic on it. It is getting worse. There is just more and more traffic all of the time.”