Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 12:05 pm

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Transportation has selected a structurally deficient bridge in Weakley County for replacement under TDOT’s proposed bridge bonding program. 

The Mt. Pelia Road (State Route 216) Bridge over Cane Creek in Martin is slated to be replaced in Fiscal Year 2010, once the bridge bonding proposal is approved by the General Assembly.

The proposal, which has been presented to the legislature, will create or retain more than 15,000 jobs in Tennessee and will rebuild or repair two-thirds of the state’s aging bridges.

TDOT has proposed issuing $350 million in general obligation bonds to repair or replace 200, or two-thirds, of the state’s structurally deficient system bridges.  Included in the bridge projects slated for construction under the program are:

• 7 weight posted bridges

• 1 bridge currently closed to traffic (Cordell Hull Bridge in Carthage)

• 17 fracture critical bridges

• 29 scour critical bridges

• 62 bridges that are both structurally deficient and functionally obsolete

• 11 large bridge projects costing more than $10 million each (including 7 projects costing more than $20 million each)

By using bonds, the state is also able to make needed repairs to bridges while material costs and interest rates are low.

All projects are pending approval of the bridge bond proposal by the General Assembly.  The legislature is currently considering the transportation budget for approval. 

For more information on Tennessee’s bridges visit www.tn.gov/tdot/bridgeinfo/default.htm

For information on TDOT’s Bridge Bonding proposal and regular Three Year Multimodal Transportation Program visit www.tn.gov/tdot.

WCP 4.21.09