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TDOT lists Central Pike interchange, widenings for 2030 in 10-year plan; city seeks federal grant to accelerate timeline
Summary
City officials told the Mount Juliet Planning Commission that TDOT included the Central Pike interchange and related widenings in its 10-year plan with construction funded in 2030; the city has pledged $25 million and has applied for a $25 million federal grant to try to move the schedule earlier.
Mount Juliet public-works staff told the Planning Commission on Feb. 20 that three Mount Juliet-area road projects appear in the Tennessee Department of Transportation's 10-year plan and are scheduled for construction in the early 2030s.
Director White said the Central Pike interchange is in design and that TDOT has the interchange and an associated Central Pike widening funded for 2030. He told the commission, "construction, funded for the year 2030." He added that South Mount Juliet Road widening is listed for construction starting in 2032 and estimated each project would take roughly two years.
The timetable drew questions from commissioners about whether recent TDOT emergency work (the transcript identified Hurricane Helen repairs to I-40) could shift funding within the 10-year plan. Director White said TDOT officials told staff that projects in the later years of the plan could be affected while earlier projects are less likely to move.
White and commissioners also discussed the city's role. The staff report and comments at the meeting credited the city's $25 million contribution toward the Central Pike interchange as crucial for getting the project into the 10-year plan. The representative for the city and development teams said the city also has applied for a federal grant of $25 million that could free up state funds and make it possible to advance the project in TDOT's schedule.
Commissioners asked what would speed the timeline. Staff replied the city application for federal funds is one potential lever; White said staff is also engaging TDOT and federal partners about reimbursement and timing.
Commissioners and staff stressed the 10-year plan can change yearly and warned there are no firm guarantees, but that including the interchange and related widenings in the plan is preferable to having no schedule at all.
What happens next: staff said the city will continue discussions with TDOT and pursue grant funding; TDOT will reassess its 10-year plan annually and the city will seek opportunities to advance construction funding.
Evidence for this article appears in the Planning Commission meeting record, including staff remarks describing the three projects and Director White's timeline comments.
