Plan to attend the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce meeting-January 11, 2007

Top State, County and City transportation officials will be available to Lakeland and area residents at the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce After Hours Kickoff at 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 11, 2007. The meeting will at the Oakwood Clubhouse, 10133 Matwood Oak Drive, Lakeland, Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) State Chief Engineer Paul Degges and Ed Cole, the Chief of Environment and Planning for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Shelby County County Engineer Michael Oakes and Lakeland personnel will be present to answer questions and discuss transportation for the Lakeland and Shelby County area.

Shelby County, and County Engineer Michael Oakes have been instrumental in improving transportation in Lakeland, including a partnership on Canada Road from I-40 to Highway 64 and a planned partnership on New Canada Road from I-40 to Highway 70 with emphasis on a “context sensitive design”.

Detailed information on Paul Degges and Ed Cole will follow in separate blog entries, but both are highly respected and have been very helpful and responsive to the City of Lakeland and we are very pleased to have Mr. Degges, Mr. Cole and Mr. Oakes at one meeting and available to Lakeland residents.

Residents with questions on transportation are encouraged to attend this meeting. Pending or anticipated long-term and short-term projects in the Lakeland area include:

-I-40/Canada Road interchange upgrade

-I-40/Canada Road temporary traffic signals (to be installed in 2007)

-The proposed I-269 (proposed for the existing 385 route)

-Highway 70 safety, including speed limits, bike lanes and the intersection of Highway 70 and Canada Road

-Highway 64 speed limits and safety; the construction of New Canada Road

-Sound barriers on I-40 from approximately the MLGW water tower to Chambers Chapel Road (not planned at this time, but could be included as part of any future expansion of I-40)

-the construction of Beverle Revira Drive to connect Canada Road with Huff & Puff/Seed Tick

-the re-striping of Canada Road from approximately Green Spruce to I-40 and widening (providing additional turn lane) on Canada Road from Davies Plantation/Beverle Revira Drive to I-40

-New Canada Road from I-40 to Highway 70, including a possible partnership with Shelby County and TDOT on a “context sensitive design” of the road.

-Bike lanes and other future transportation projects.

Future entries will include discussion of these future or anticipated projects in more detail.

All Lakeland and area residents and business owners and managers are especially urged to attend this Lakeland Chamber of Commerce meeting. Transportation is essential to the survival of existing businesses and the future development of commercial businesses. Transportation is also especially important to Lakeland residents, and residential developers and builders.

Detailed information on the meeting is available at www. LakelandChamberofCommerce.com.