Wilson County weighs regional approach to fix five-mile stretch of East Division Road
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Summary
Commissioners debated whether to wait for a potential SS4A-style grant that would fund most of a five-mile East Division project or spend about $3 million now to repair four dangerous spots; they discussed coordinating with Mount Juliet and Lebanon to present a unified project to TDOT.
Wilson County commissioners spent the largest portion of their Jan. 8 meeting debating whether to pursue a coordinated, multi-jurisdictional grant application to fund work on a roughly five-mile stretch of East Division Road or to spend county funds now to address four high-priority spots.
The discussion centered on two options: apply with neighboring cities (Mount Juliet and Lebanon) for a federal/state grant (speakers referenced an SS4A-style grant) that could cover roughly 80% of the project cost, or use about $3,000,000 in county funds to fix the worst sections now. Speaker 5 argued piecemeal repairs would shift the problem rather than solve it, saying a patchwork of independent projects would produce differing cross-sections and extended construction for residents.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the corridor has a safety history and rising traffic and crash metrics, and a unified TDOT-funded project would be more likely to secure funding and produce consistent results across municipal boundaries. One speaker cited a recent five-mile regional project completed in about 18 months as an example that a single, coordinated effort can work.
Details and debate: A speaker reported a new county road list including about 3.17 miles of road proposed for addition. Commissioners and staff discussed the formal planning sequence a project must follow — regional planning commission (GNRC) and MPO listing, Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) placement, then TDOT 10-year plan acceptance — before TDOT will fund construction. Several speakers noted the county has applied unsuccessfully in the past but that a joint application with multiple jurisdictions could improve their chances. One commissioner said an SS4A-style grant would leave an approximate 20% local match if successful and recommended waiting until April when a partner city will submit an application.
Opposing considerations: Other commissioners warned that waiting means residents would continue to live with degraded road conditions and that local repairs could be damaged if TDOT later funds the larger project; one official said spending $3 million now could be wasteful if parts are torn up soon after a grant-funded project starts. Commissioners discussed coordinating utility relocations and construction timing and agreed county staff should pursue further meetings with neighboring municipalities and TDOT staff to refine a joint approach.
What’s next: Commissioners asked staff to develop a plan and to follow up with the mayor and municipal partners. No formal, final decision to expend county funds for the full corridor was recorded in the transcript; the commission authorized further work and coordination to refine funding options.