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Shelbyville staff update River Overlook project; estimated construction cost $2.7 million
Summary
Bill Shafer Engineering and city staff told the council that the federally funded Transportation Alternatives Program grant covers roughly $1.3 million for construction, but current design estimate is $2.7 million; staff said they are pursuing additional federal programs and will enter right-of-way acquisition next.
Whitney Summers of Bill Shafer Engineering updated the Shelbyville mayor and city council study session on the River Overlook / Riverwalk project awarded under the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and described the project’s next steps and funding gap.
Summers said the TAP award, administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, was awarded in July 2021 and the city later signed the TDOT contract; the TAP grant provides “just over $1,300,000 … for construction,” she said. Summers told the council the current construction estimate is about $2,700,000, noting the figure could change with final material and overlook design decisions. She said the project team has an approved environmental document (signed in June) and passed TDOT’s initial plans review. The next major milestone is the right-of-way phase — acquiring slope/edge easements and small parcels needed to build the path and overlook.
Summers described project changes that emerged during design and environmental review: the overlook location moved downstream nearer the Fly Building to avoid an Army Corps building and to improve river and courthouse views; a potential archaeological area was investigated and did not trigger additional phased study; and older utilities on-site required mapping to avoid conflicts. The planned path is a 10-foot-wide multi-use asphalt trail with an open-air overlook, historic placards and native plantings to stabilize the riverbank. Summers said the overlook will be well lit, low maintenance and ADA compliant.
Funding options: Summers and City Manager Scott College reported staff are pursuing additional federal money — including TDOT TAP supplemental awards, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program and funds available under federal infrastructure legislation — to cover the shortfall. Summers explained TAP typically requires a local match (20% in this case) and that TDOT periodically receives additional FHWA funds late in the federal fiscal year that may be programmed to projects needing extra dollars. City staff estimated the local match portion will be required and said they plan to seek added grants rather than asking the city to fully fund the gap up front.
Timeline: Summers said earlier project milestones (environmental clearance and initial plan review) are complete; staff described a contractor award and preconstruction meeting timeline that shows a contract signed and preconstruction meeting by May 2026 and a roughly nine-month construction window after that. Summers said right-of-way acquisition remains ahead of construction and could affect schedule.
Quote: “Your TAP grant is just over $1,300,000 is what you have for construction,” Whitney Summers said. “The cost right now is $2,700,000. Don’t get scared because there’s great money out there.”
Discussion points included material choices (asphalt vs. concrete) for the 10-foot path, ADA compliance, grant timing and how the city will pursue supplemental funding. No formal council vote was recorded at the study session; staff requested direction on pursuing additional grants and preparing for the right-of-way phase.
