At long last, bypass work begins

Work has begun on both sides of Wartrace Pike on the construction of State Route 437, also known as the Shelbyville bypass. Completion of the project is expected to occur in the summer of 2011. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Order this photo]

Completion is estimated by July 31, 2011, according to B.J. Doughty, community relations officer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

The Shelbyville bypass is one of 119 road projects in 64 counties throughout the state that has been funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Wright Paving Contractors Inc. of Fayetteville was awarded the bid for construction of the bypass in June with a low bid of $14,283,873.

The new state route will wrap around the city's northeastern quadrant from U.S. 231 north of Shelbyville to U.S. 41-A east of town, and will include intersections at Fairfield Pike, Horse Mountain Road, Philippi Road, Earl Smith Road, Mullins Chapel Road, Fay Creek Road, Fowler Lane, Highway 64 (Wartrace Pike) and 41-A South.

Grading work on the bypass began off 41-A last month and has nearly reached Fay Creek Road. The new state route will consist of two 12-foot traffic lanes with two 12-foot shoulders for the entire route, according to TDOT.

Doughty told the T-G that the bypass project will impact several local roads during the course of construction, and detours will be in place at times.

"The plans are still being finalized at this time and dates are very fluid as construction progresses," Doughty said. "As with any project that requires local road closures, TDOT will work with local officials to devise the best detour routes."

Adequate notification will also be given prior to any closures, Doughty said.

TDOT does not anticipate any interruptions in utility service, Doughty stated, but if a short term outage is necessary businesses and residents will be notified well in advance.

Doughty added that there is a significant amount of utility relocation taking place on each end of the project.

A long time coming

TDOT has been working with legislators, Shelbyville and Bedford County officials on this project for a number of years, Doughty said.

Shelbyville first passed a resolution calling for a feasibility study for a bypass 20 years ago, and in 1997 a map of a proposed route was delivered to city and county officials by TDOT.

A bypass project in Tullahoma had stalled due to local disagreements and Shelbyville stepped in with its request. Right-of-way appraisals and acquisitions began on the bypass in 2004 and were completed in 2006.

However, the proposed crossing of the bypass at Railroad Avenue was viewed by the Bedford County Railroad Authority as creating a potentially hazardous crossing, so TDOT raised the tracks to create an overpass, which was completed in May 2008, over the future roadway.

"The Recovery Act funds are allowing TDOT to move forward with this much needed infrastructure improvement, while also putting a number of people to work," Doughty said.

Doughty added that with the detours that will come in the future, motorists are advised to stay alert to changing traffic conditions, workers, and heavy equipment that will be present during construction.

"TDOT will work closely with local officials to devise the best detour routes, and will stay in close contact with emergency services, schools, businesses, and residents who will be impacted by any future road closures," the spokesperson stated.

Original plans for the bypass also called for a northwestern loop as well, but it's not clear when or if that will be built. That proposed loop would start at U.S. 231 and curve southwest to State Route 64 west of Shelbyville.

According to TDOT's web site, this section "is currently not funded for development."

41-A widening

Part of another local TDOT project, the widening of U.S. 41-A to Tullahoma, has been split into two parts.

The next stage of the widening was slated to be from State Route 276 (Thompson Creek Road) to west of Magnolia Lane outside of Tullahoma, however, in order to sustain funding for construction, the project has been divided into two new segments.

Widening from Rippy Ridge Road to west of Magnolia Lane has been funded for the fiscal year 2009-2010 and TDOT says the construction contract will be due in the spring of 2010.

The construction contract for the other section, from State Route 276 to Rippy Ridge Road, is forecast for late fall of 2010 and is not currently funded; with TDOT saying it will possibly be in the budget for fiscal year 2010-2011.

No construction dates have been announced for the section of Highway 41-A from State Route 64 to 276. The widening of the first section of the project, from the Moore/Coffee County Line to North Washington Street in Tullahoma, was completed in March 2007.