Alexander visits Bedford overpass

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander makes a point during an inspection of the new railroad overpass which makes the new State Route 437 possible. From left are Walt Wood of Shelbyville and Bedford County Chamber of Commerce; Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman; Alexander; Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright; State Sen. Jim Tracy and State Rep. Curt Cobb. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney) [Order this photo]

"I try to listen to what my constituents tell me," said Alexander, a former governor of Tennessee and a former U.S. secretary of education.

The overpass, on the Walking Horse and Eastern Railroad line parallel to Railroad Avenue and just east of Stanley Boulevard, is decorated with walking horse silhouettes.

Construction on the actual bypass, which will start at U.S. 231 north of Shelbyville and loop around the city's northeast quadrant, joining U.S. 41-A east of Shelbyville, could possibly start before the year is out. State Sen. Jim Tracy and State Rep. Curt Cobb said bids on the project will be let at some point after the start of the federal fiscal year on Oct. 1, although it's not clear exactly how soon.

The bypass will be State Route 437.

"We're tickled to death to see it fixing to take place," said Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright.

Tracy said he visited Washington last year to talk to Alexander about the project, stressing its importance for economic development and safety.

"He listened very intently," said Tracy.

"I made it my priority," said Alexander, who was able to get a $1 million federal appropriation towards the project included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. Alexander is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The project is expected to help keep truck traffic out of the central portion of the city, say supporters, in order to help industries move their products and to help with traffic congestion problems in Shelbyville.

"Keeping truck traffic out of downtown will increase safety and allow downtown to continue to develop its business district," said Alexander in a news release. "The completion of this railroad bridge will ensure that trucks can travel on the new bypass road without delay."

Cobb said in January that the railroad overpass had been one of the last remaining obstacles to beginning work on the project.

Tracy told the Times-Gazette the project had been ranked as the top priority in the region by Tennessee Department of Transportation, and Alexander said the emphasis put on it by local officials was a reason for his support.

Cobb praised Alexander for his bi-partisan cooperation with various state officials in supporting projects like Arnold Air Force Base's bid to host the Common Battlefield Airman Training (CBAT) facility and the development of the automotive industry in Tennessee.

Alexander said the new Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga is expected to have six or eight of its key suppliers on its campus.