Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Bridges topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Polk County approves resolution asking CSX, TDOT to reopen and repair Bridge 700 on Columbus Road
Summary
The Polk County legislative body unanimously passed a resolution urging CSX Railroad to repair Bridge 700 and asking the Tennessee Department of Transportation to reopen the crossing while repairs proceed, citing five families isolated by the August 2024 closure.
The Polk County legislative body on a voice roll call approved a resolution asking CSX Railroad to repair Bridge 700 on Columbus Road and asking the Tennessee Department of Transportation to reopen the bridge while repairs are completed.
Commissioner Debbie Davis, who presented the item, said the bridge was closed after a TDOT inspection in August 2024 and that five families are effectively landlocked when heavy rain causes flooding. “So all we simply have asked for is that we quit being discriminated against for some reason that we don't know why, and that we just be treated as everybody else has been treated,” Davis said.
The resolution states Bridge 700 received substandard ratings and was declared unfit for traffic in a TDOT bridge inspection and asks CSX to complete repairs as soon as possible and TDOT to reopen the bridge while repairs are under way. Davis said inspectors returned after the railroad replaced boards and again closed the crossing; she said the closure affects residents’ access and emergency services.
Davis told the body she researched county bridges and said several other Polk County bridges with similar TDOT ratings have not been closed. The resolution attaches supporting letters from the Polk County 911 director and the Polk County Emergency Management Agency director asking that the process to repair and reopen the bridge begin promptly.
County commissioners discussed the issue and acknowledged the regional and safety implications during the presentation. After discussion, a motion to adopt the resolution carried on a roll call vote recorded in the transcript.
The resolution directs the county to request parity in how TDOT and CSX prioritize Bridge 700, and authorizes the county executive to take actions necessary to support the request.
The resolution takes effect on adoption.
