The governor’s recently released three-year transportation program does not include any Polk County projects, although current projects are continuing.

Regarding Corridor K, progress marches on, according to Jennifer Flynn, spokesperson for TDOT.  There is no need to include it in the 3-year program at this time, she said, because the project is currently in the environmental study phase.  An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared in accordance with federal requirements. 

The EIS will provide comprehensive information about the purpose and need for the project, proposed plans, and potential environmental, social, and economic effects.  Six alternatives were presented at the public meetings in Spring 2011 for further analysis in the EIS. These alternatives are being refined as new information is obtained and stakeholder input is considered.  The Draft EIS is scheduled to be available for review in Fall/Winter 2012  (See http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/corridork/timeline.htm).

The county’s Hwy. 411 projects are either complete or underway.  The $28.6 million project from S. of Lowery Rd. to S. of Welcome Valley Rd. is complete, and the $23.2 million project from Benton City Limits to SR-30 is slated for completion by the end of this year. 

In addition, the $1.7 million bridge rehabilitation project on US-64 over Brush Creek is complete, and the $10.2 million project to widen the section of US-64 from E. of 411 to W. of the Ocoee River was completed last spring.  That's a total of nearly $64 million in projects that have been done in the last few years, and that's got to be good for Polk County, Flynn said.