Some residents who have had their fill of potholes on a couple of county roads might have reason to smile later this year – and not worry about jarring a filling loose in the process.
Carter County has garnered federal grant funding to resurface Stateline Road and Cedar Grove Road, according to Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey.
The preliminary design for the project has been submitted to the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the county is waiting on its approval. If everything goes according to the timeline, Humphrey said the project should be completed by Nov. 1.
“Hopefully this year we will be able to give these people, especially those on Cedar Grove Road, some relief,” he added.
Humphrey said $449,951 in federal grant funds will be matched with $112,488 in local funds. That will bring total funding to $562,439.
According to Humphrey, the federal funds obtained for the project have been available for some time.
“They had been allocated years ago. We had never taken advantage of them. They are federal funds and they require you to jump through a few more hoops,” he said. “I was made aware of these funds in late 2011 and there were some preliminary things that had to be done to be eligible for them.”
The funds are made available through the High Priority Project — Local funding program.
In a letter to TDOT about the project, Humphrey wrote, “These projects will greatly enhance the safety and utility of current roadways. The roadway sections listed herein are deteriorating, resulting in cracks, ruts, potholes and patches making an undesirable riding surface.” He continued, “In addition, the new pavement marking and traffic signage will bring the roadways into compliance with the current Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices handbook, thus improving driver understanding and visibility of the new traffic control devices.”
Humphrey said even though the project has some distance to go, now that the contract for the grant money is secure and the plans have been submitted, “we are progressing now.”