Governor Bredesen Announces Cornersville Grant

Nashville, Tennessee - Governor Phil Bredesen today announced that the state will provide the town of Cornersville with an enhancement grant in the amount of $47,530 to assist with the development of the Cornersville Community Walkway Project.

“This project will link the downtown area with businesses, residential areas and government offices,” said Bredesen. “It will encourage a more pedestrian-friendly environment for Cornersville and the state is pleased to be able to assist with that effort.”

Governor Bredesen made that announcement in Cornersville today. He said the grant is made possible through a program run by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

“In the 1990’s Congress set up a grant system of funding for activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation’s transportation system,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “These grant funded activities include historic transportation facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping and many other non-traditional transportation projects.”

As for the Cornersville project, Nicely explained that the new walkway will consist of 2,100 feet of sidewalk which will originate at the end of the existing sidewalk and extend in a northern direction along Highway 31A. “There will also be improvements to the existing sidewalk system, such as making the walkways handicap accessible.”

Governor Bredesen credited State Senator Bill Ketron and Representative Joe Fowlkes with helping secure the grant.

“The plan also calls for improving a safer path for pedestrian movement to and from Cornersville Elementary School,” said Ketron. “The new sidewalk is designed to keep the children off the main road while providing an alternative mode of transportation.”

“City planners tell us they hope this walkway will create a pedestrian-friendly environment that will encourage residents to walk, rather than always use motorized transportation, and will thereby relieve congestion and parking problems,” said Fowlkes. “We felt this was a good investment of enhancement grant dollars.”