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Improving66 FACTS

Phase I of the Improving 66 project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The project will widened State Route 66 in Sevier County from just north of Nichols Street to Boyds Creek Highway from 4 lanes to 6 lanes in each direction.

  • Total project length:               4.189 miles
  • Completed:                           November 2011         
  • Estimated Cost:                    $38.6 million
  • Contract Awarded:                 July 8, 2009
  • Work Began:                        July 15, 2009
  • All lanes opened November 18, 2011 (12 days early and just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend)

Phase 1 Materials Placed on Site to Date: Some quick facts about what the contractor has placed so far (through July 20, 2011):

  • 297,318 cubic yards of dirt moved on the site equaling around 30,612 truck loads
  • 240,312 tons (approximately) of base stone
  • 183,839 tons of asphalt
  • 13,302 cubic yards of concrete
  • 37,413 feet of new storm drain pipe installed
  • 11,337 square feet of retaining walls constructed
  • 291,221 square feet of concrete sidewalk constructed

Phase II of the Improving 66 project will widen State Route 66 in Sevier County from State Route 139 (Douglas Dam Road) to just south of the I-40 Interchange from 4 lanes to 6 lanes in each direction.

  • Total project length:               1.951 miles
  • Estimated Completion:           November 2012
  • Estimated Cost:                     $23.3 million
  • Contract Awarded:                 August 2010
  • Work Began:                         September 2010

Phase 2:  Materials Placed on Site to Date: Some quick facts about what the contractor has placed so far (through July 20 , 2011):

  • 178,925 cubic yards of dirt moved on the site equaling around 17,073 truck loads
  • 50,699 tons of graded solid rock to plug sinkholes and bridge over weak subgrade soils
  • 1435 cubic yards of concrete used for the concrete box culvert extensions, plug sinkholes, retaining wall construction, and curb and gutter.
  • 8,688 feet of new storm drain pipe installed
  • 63 new utility poles
  • 12,632 linear feet of new water main
  • 10,220 linear feet of new underground gas line
  • 2,987 linear feet of new sanitary sewer line

Jobs Created and Jobs Saved
It is estimated 130 jobs were saved and 30 new jobs were created (including all sub-contractor employees). Specifically, the prime contractor, Charles Blalock and Sons reevaluated their employment data on May 21, 2010 and reported the following impacts to their labor force as a result of winning this project:
Direct employment

  • 17 new hires and 8 rehired.  A total of 25-persons
  • Project has logged 61,000 man-hours.
  • 184 different employees on the project at different times.

Indirect employment

  • In addition, the equipment company works 5 to 10 trucks drivers on the project
  • Dispatch runs 3-6 equipment deliveries / pick-ups daily.
  • Shop works 3 to 6 persons daily.
  • Project carries office staff, payroll, payables, personnel, estimators, etc. approximately 20% of 40 person or 8 persons.
              
General Contractor: Charles Blalock and Sons, Inc.    
Sub-contractors: B&B Lawn Services Progression Electric
  CR Barger and Sons RN Ferguson
  ELC and Company Site, Inc.
  Ervin Cable Star Construction
  GW Wyatt, LLC Superior Pavement Marking
  Kimberly, Inc. Tennessee Guardrail
  Lu, Inc. TKM
  Whaley and Sons Pike Electric
  Pipeline Construction  

Construction Management and Inspection provided by AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Inc. with sub-consultants Thompson Engineering, Mattern and Craig, and KS Ware and Associates