Smyrna updates on multiple road projects: Washington Street/CSX closure, Rock Springs and Enon Springs work

Smyrna staff briefed the council on a set of transportation projects and related contracts, including a contract supplement with TDOT for Washington Street at the CSX crossing, design and construction work on Rock Springs Road, milling and resurfacing on Enon Springs Road, and a TDOT time extension for the Florence Road sidewalk grant project.

Washington Street at CSX approach upgrades: Charles (public works) explained the town will execute a contract supplement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to cover the town's share of construction overages under a project originally contracted in 2021. Work has begun in the roundabout area; staff said the contractor started with a lane closure that reopened the same day. Charles said the town must coordinate with CSX for track work and that the rail crossing will need to be fully closed for about 20 days to allow CSX and the contractor to perform sidewalk and track work. The town's current completion target is July 28, and staff said they expect to provide at least one to two weeks' notice to the public with message boards when the 20-day full closure is scheduled. Charles described short-term signal-timing changes already made to ease detours and said further adjustments will be made if backups appear.

Rock Springs Road slab bridge design and roadway improvements: Council approved a scope-and-fee authorization for Hayworth Meyer Bolland Professional Engineers LLC to design a slab-bridge extension at Rock Springs Road over Hart Sprat Branch. Staff said the bridge work is part of a sidewalk project to widen the bridge and add a sidewalk connection near Nancy's Place and Needham. Separately, the town authorized a scope-and-fee agreement with Energy Land & Infrastructure for Rock Springs Road improvements. Staff described the roadway cross section as two 11-foot lanes with 2- to 4-foot shoulders and a left-turn lane onto Cooks Lane; the design work is intended to coordinate with Mabel Farms development and to address an s-curve where right-of-way will be required.

Enon Springs Road milling, resurfacing and sidewalk repairs: Staff presented a contract with Wiregrass Construction for milling and resurfacing 2.437 miles of Enon Springs Road from Florence Road to Ridley Street, plus sidewalk repairs and ADA upgrades. One section between Florence and Nissan will receive an additional half-inch of base for extra strength because it carries heavy truck traffic. Staff said Wiregrass has local experience on Jefferson Pike and other local intersections.

Florence Road sidewalk project time extension: Staff asked the council to authorize a project time extension with TDOT. The project is in right-of-way acquisition for four properties; appraisals and review appraisals have been submitted to TDOT and the town is waiting on TDOT's approval before recording acquisitions and moving to construction. Staff said Thomas and Hutton provided a revised engineering cost estimate that exceeded prior funding and that staff are working to identify additional monies prior to a construction notice-to-proceed. The project was originally a grant agreement executed in December 2019 and experienced COVID-era and other delays.

No formal votes were taken during the workshop; staff said the items will appear on the regular council agenda for approval where required.