The end is in sight for the four-lane to Woodbury. The final stage in the process, the paving, will be complete by July 31, 2014.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation says it’s within two weeks of contracting with a company to pave a 13-mile section of U.S. 70S, commonly called Nashville Highway.
“Once paving is complete, the entire roadway will be open,” said TDOT spokesperson Jennifer Flynn. “This is the end of the widening project in Cannon and Warren counties.”
The new four-lane will run from State Route 281 in Cannon County to Spring Valley Road in Warren County. That’s where the road will join the already widened portion of Nashville Highway in Newtown.
Bids on the project have been accepted since April 5. Flynn says the low bidder appears to be Highways Inc. with a bid just $12,763 shy of $21 million.
“Although we will know who has the low bid on this contract,” says Flynn, “the contract will not be officially awarded for at least two weeks. Headquarters Construction goes over the low bids to make sure everything is OK before they officially award contracts. They have a month, but it usually doesn’t take that long.”
While the paving project has yet to be officially awarded and the exact date paving will begin is unknown, the completion date is stated in TDOT’s bid documents.
“I don’t know when the project will get started, but the completion time for the project to be done is on or before July 31, 2014,” said Flynn. “Its completion should be very helpful to those who must travel between McMinnville and Woodbury.”
While the final paving waits to be awarded, work continues on the widening project with grading, drainage and construction of a concrete I-beam bridge. Estimated bridge completion is December 2013.