Cookeville authorizes TDOT proposal for North Willow widening; construction estimated to start in 2028

The City of Cookeville authorized the city manager to execute a standard proposal with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for the North Willow Avenue widening project from West Broad Street to 12th Street. City staff said engineering for the project is complete, right-of-way acquisition is scheduled to begin in 2026, and TDOT estimates construction will start in 2028.

The TDOT standard proposal requires the city to cooperate on specified stipulations, including notifying the attorney general if civil actions arise, closing indicated streets as needed for construction, transferring or accepting certain right-of-way adjustments, relocating utilities and accepting responsibility for sidewalks and drainage facilities once construction is complete. Staff emphasized these are standard obligations the city has accepted on prior projects and recommended authorization.

Public speakers asked about detours, length of construction and coordination with Tennessee Tech. Staff and council acknowledged the project will cause disruption during right-of-way acquisition and construction, urged patience, and said project partners (including Tennessee Tech, which has agreed to donate property) will coordinate on traffic management and pedestrian improvements such as signalization and enhanced crossings. The council voted to authorize execution of the proposal by voice vote.