The felling of trees and other harangues endemic to road construction continue to irk several people who work and live near the Seminole Drive construction project.
Summers-Taylor was approved to begin construction on phase I of the three-phase Seminole Drive improvement project October 20, 2000.
The projected start date was March 19, 2001, but some work has already started with the removal of several trees.
The primary goal of phase I is to do work, mostly tree-clearing, that will leave the existing asphalt down through winter, keeping drivers out of mud.
Workers will begin removing asphalt in the spring. All traffic will have to follow detour signs and the road will be closed for short periods of time.
This will be an inconvenience to students living in the Upper Class Suites apartments and other developments, who will be forced to detour around the construction and come to ETSU via South Greenwood Drive.
While the improvement of Seminole Drive might be good for others, it might hurt some people.
Dr. Michael L. Woodruff, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, says he will have to move his Seminole Drive office somewhere on campus because once they widen the road it will take half their parking lot and they do not have any parking as it is.
Jeane Clay, of 1401 College Heights Road, said that “city officials are more worried about tax money than what citizens want, with the new apartments being built it destroyed the beautiful landscape and made our peaceful neighborhood noisy.”
The city of Johnson City has a projected budget of $1.28 million for the entire project.
The type of retaining wall to be used was the major decision in the budget. The wall will be the first thing built when work begins. Seminole Drive extends 3,400 feet with 70 percent of traffic on College Heights Road being through traffic.
College Heights Road will be improved along with Robert Bell Drive. Forest Dale Drive is being improved along the west-end and an alternate road that will connect Robert Bell Drive with Southwest Drive will be built.
There are three phases that must be completed during construction and phase one is currently partially completed. Phases II and III are awaiting funding for purchase of right of ways and construction.
Phase II will extend further west, ending at Greenwood Drive. Phase III involves developing alternate routes for College Heights Road traffic and shifting traffic to a different route.
The improved Seminole Drive will include a new drainage system, sidewalk, gutters, and better road alignment to eliminate the roller coaster pavement of the current road.
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