August 27, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Clearing operations are expected to begin next week by the contractor in preparation for the Highway 56 widening project.
A message board has been placed on South Congress Boulevard in Smithville stating “TN 56 Construction is starting September 3”.
“The contractor’s schedule is showing them starting their clearing operations on the south end (of the project) near Meridian Drive, with utility relocations following,” said Jennifer Flynn, TDOT Region 2 Community Relations Officer.
TDOT opened bids in June and Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC was the low bidder on the construction project at $43,691,948 which will be done in two phases from south of state highway 288 near Magness Road to East Bryant Street in Smithville and from south of the Warren-DeKalb County line to near Magness Road in DeKalb County. A proposed third segment from near State Route 287 in Warren County to near the DeKalb County Line is not yet ready for bid letting.
The state plans to build largely two lanes of a proposed four lane project and maintain traffic on the existing Highway 56 (alignment) while construction is being done on the new portion.
The estimated completion date for the two phases is May 31, 2022.