City of Cookeville will have to make a decision about the next steps with its Interstate Drive project
City Manager Jamees Mills said the city is facing issues with costs. He said they received funding for the work through an STBG Grant sometime ago, but now the project cost exceeds the grant funding.
“The monies we had originally allocated appear to not be enough now to complete the project,” Mills said. “Right-of-ways have been acquired, the projects have been designed, sidewalks have been designed, but we’re short on the funds needed to go to construction based on the estimated costs.”
Mills said they are now deciding whether they should allocate additional STGB funds to the current project due to its importance. He said they have been in talks with TDOT to see whether they can receive the additional funds.
Mills said this project is a particularly high priority among their projects for its large scope, with the sidewalk spanning the distance between Willow and Jefferson and then continuing to I-40. He said the benefits will be evident once it is built, so they must work quickly.
“Part of the goal here is there’s a lot of restaurants and hotels, especially on the Jefferson end, and we know we have a lot of people that walk those areas, so this is just to make those areas more pedestrian-friendly between those hotels and restaurants,” Mills said.
Mills said they will continue to push for more funds, but in the meantime they will have to be patient.
The post Costs Exceed Original Grant for Interstate Drive Sidewalk Grant appeared first on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.