The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) advised at a meeting with Lakeland City staff and engineering consultant on Monday, June 18, 2007 that both the Enhanced Diamond and the Single Point Urban Interchange designs are still under consideration.
TDOT advised that, if all performance factors are equal over a 20 year period, the more inexpensive Enhanced Diamond design would be selected.
However, the City of Lakeland Transportation Consultant is submitting documentation showing that the Single Point Urban Interchange is more effective and will save money over the 20 year period and is worth the initial extra cost.
City staff also presented petitions with over 1,100 signatures (!) urging TDOT to select the Single Point Urban Interchange. (A big thanks to all the persons who spent a lot of time and effort in collecting signatures! Your support and work are appreciated and I believe it will be a factor in the final decision.) TDOT noted the petitions and letters were received and than recommended the City retain them.
We do definitely feel that TDOT has not yet determined the design and will consider all the facts before making a decision in the near future.
A TDOT representative also called me last week to remind me that TDOT will hold a Public Hearing after the design is selected. Even if the Enhanced Diamond interchange is selected, persons may still appear and recommend the Single Point Urban Interchange or recommend changes to the Enhanced Diamond design.
We will keep you advised of any news we hear on this matter.
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