Parkway extension moves forward

2004-09-28

by Darren Dunlap

of The Daily Times Staff

Tennessee Department of Transportation officials said Monday the agency is

moving forward with the next phase of development for the Pellissippi

Parkway extension.

``That phase involves the preparation of an Environmental Impact Analysis,''

according to TDOT communications officer Kim Keelor.

Work on the extension was halted two years ago by a federal judge when the

Citizens Against the Pellissippi Parkway Extension petitioned for the EIS,

citing its requirement under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The proposed route connects Old Knoxville Highway (U.S. 33) to East Lamar

Alexander Parkway (U.S. 321).

``This announcement affirms CAPPE's long-standing assertion that federal

regulation requires a comprehensive (EIS) for a new, four-lane, limited

access highway in a new location,'' said Nina Gregg, communications chair

 for CAPPE. ``It is unfortunate that a citizens group had to file a lawsuit

 to compel our state and federal governments to comply with their own

 regulation.

 ``We hope FHWA and TDOT will now undertake the comprehensive analysis

 specified in the Code of Federal Regulations and provide the residents and

 local governments of Blount County with data documenting the need and

 anticipated direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of this proposed new

 interstate highway.''

 TDOT officials said the federal government took the lead on the EIS.

 ``We are in agreement with the Federal Highway Administration that the

 preparation of a full (EIS) is the best course of action for this proposed

 project at this time,'' said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.

 The Parkway extension was one of 15 road projects reviewed last year by the

 University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research. In November,

 Nicely announced at Region 1 TDOT headquarters in Knoxville that the agency

 would proceed with the project when allowed to do so by the federal courts

 and the FHWA.

 In July 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit remanded the

 injunction back to the District Court in Nashville, with instructions to

 allow the FHWA to review their compliance under NEPA.

 ``At that time, I announced that the department decided that this project

 will be handled as a federally funded project and we will not proceed with

 this project as a state-only funded project, as previously considered,''

 said Nicely.

 The EIS will take 18 to 36 months to complete. Work on the EIS will begin

 ``very shortly ... before the end of the year,'' according to Keelor.