TDOT Announces Waverly Corridor Decision
Existing State Route 13 will be used for widening project

Nashville, Tenn.—The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced today that it will move forward with a plan to widen State Route 13 along its existing corridor from State Route 230 to Main Street, in Waverly, Tennessee.

“We have determined that most people want the highway 13 expansion, but that there were concerns about just exactly where it should be built,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “After carefully considering community input, environmental issues and the investment the state has already made in purchasing right-of-way property along the proposed corridor, we have decided to move forward with widening the existing Highway 13 route into downtown Waverly.”

On March 3, 2004 a public meeting was held in Waverly to discuss the project. More than 100 people attended. At that meeting several people suggested that TDOT explore rerouting Highway 13 to Clydeton Road.

“After that meeting we investigated Clydeton Road as an alternative route,” Nicely said. “Our planners determined that there were too many environmental concerns including possible adverse effects involving the crossing of Trace Creek. It would also be difficult to direct traffic from the existing Highway 13 (Church Street) to a relocated route along Clydeton and semi trucks would still utilize the present system and would not necessarily travel the extra distance that would have been required if Clydenton were turned into the expanded facility. It is simply a better business decision to expand the highway at its current location rather than start from scratch.”

Other benefits of widening State Route 13 in Waverly along its existing route:

• Plan includes funding for new $1 million water line.

• Design creates better, safer, realigned intersection at Main and Church Streets.

• Provides route continuity.

• Most of right-of-way property needed already acquired at cost of $2.9 million.

• Presents opportunity for landscaping on town square.

• Has support of local City and County Mayors, Board of Aldermen.

Numerous public meetings have been held since the early planning stages of the project in 1996.

This project began as a result of action by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1995 to provide a four lane roadway to connect all county seats to the nearest interstate. Currently 54 of 95 counties have been connected.

According to TDOT the department will be working to obtain permits for the expansion this summer, then has tentatively scheduled the project to be included in a December 3, 2004 letting, which is when the contract for construction would be awarded.