Skin in the game to help TDOT ‘interchange’ its agenda?
Farragut officials hope by having “skin in the game,” improvements to the Campbell Station Road Interstate 40/75 interchanges will be solidly on the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s agenda in the not-too-distant future.
To that end, Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted during its regular bi-monthly meeting Thursday, Feb. 25, to approve a $25,000 cost share and memorandum of agreement with Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission for a planning study of both the Campbell Station Road and Watt Road interchanges.
While TDOT recently completed its own I-40 Corridor study, which noted deficiencies with both interchanges, along with the I-40/75 split in Loudon County, “further study is needed to clearly evaluate alternatives and cost estimates,” Town engineer Darryl Smith stated in a BOMA report.
“Over the years, the Town has made requests to TDOT for considerations of improvements” to that interchange, and while the project has been “on the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization’s radar, (it) has yet to be identified as a major priority by TDOT,” Smith’s report added.
The TDOT study was conducted by WSP, Inc., which has agreed to expand on it for an additional $245,000. KRTPO director Jeff Welch has requested $196,000 in planning funds as that organization’s contribution; TDOT plans to contribute $49,000. While those amounts cover the study extension, Welch suggested both Farragut and Knox County contribute $25,000 each for “additional study services outside of the original scope,” Smith reported.
“Additional services for Farragut include a benefit/cost analysis for reconstitution of the Campbell Station Interchange, while Knox County may consider analysis of possible improvements between the interchanges and Hardin Valley Road,” Smith’s report stated. “Participation by all parties presents a united effort in pushing improvements in West Knox County and Farragut forward.”
Additionally, “the goal will be to use this study to justify our request for state or federal funding as those sources become available,” Smith’s report added.
In other business:
• BOMA unanimously approved on second reading Ordinance 21-0-4, rezoning 131.25 acres situated around the eastern intersection of McFee and Boyd Station roads, from General Single Family Residential (R-2) to Open Space Mixed Residential Overlay (R-1/OSMR) for applicant Homestead Land Holdings. Both single family detached and attached homes are ultimately planned for the property.
