Results of a preliminary engineering study regarding a proposed Robinson Road solution were presented during a special Oak Ridge North City Council meeting Jan. 30, during which residents voiced concerns to City Council members about potential right of way acquisitions and drainage concerns.
The recommended solution, which includes widening Robinson Road to four lanes from Patsy Lane to Oak Ridge Park Drive, realigning Robinson Road at Hanna Road and including a traffic signal at Hanna and Oak Ridge Park Drive, was put forward for a further study at a special city meeting last October. The results of the study were discussed at the Jan. 30 meeting, but City Council members agreed more future discussions were needed before making any decisions.
City Manager Vicky Rudy said the last preliminary construction costs the city was given for the option it is pursuing is $5.2 million and does not include engineering or right of way acquisition costs.
“Our primary funding mechanism remains the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone,” Rudy said. “It will not have bonding capacity in the near future. We do want to be prepared to take advantage of any options that present themselves over the next year or two.”
The TIRZ is a taxing district created by the City Council to attract new investment in the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The TIRZ will help finance the cost of development in areas that would otherwise not attract sufficient market development.
Donald Durgin with engineering firm RPS Klotz Associates said the preliminary engineering study adds left turn lanes at signalized intersections but keeps the roadway at four lanes throughout the rest of the project. A left turn lane at Hanna Road would be added as well as a left turn lane at Patsy Road.
Durgin also said during the engineering study that some pavement for the road is planned to remain untouched to save the city money.
“In order to save cost to the city we held the north curb line, which allowed us to keep half of existing pavement and continue to use that pavement along with the storm sewer system that’s underneath that pavement and just widen it to the south,” he said. “That’s several thousands of feet there that you don’t have to replace, so it’s cost saving.”
Cleo Tarver, a resident of Oak Ridge North and chairman of the Planning and Zoning committee, said citizens on Robinson Road have been concerned about the widening of Robinson Road and that City Council members should try their best to stay clear of homes in the area.
“One thing I’ve heard from the planning and zoning committee is that folks have very legitimate concerns,” Tarver said. “If at all possible, the city should move the road as far north and give folks less encroachment into their yards. I think the citizens would certainly feel much better about it. There’s probably some reasons we won’t be able to do it but if the goal is to move the road as far away from properties as possible, I think citizens would feel much better about it.”
Mayor Jim Kuykendall said the presentation and study held Jan. 30 was just a discussion and a decision will not be made anytime soon.
“It’s a preliminary study, there’s still a lot of stuff to do,” KuykendalI said. “I have every intention to not take any homes. This is a fluid situation. We can’t make the decision now, and we don’t have the money to pay for it right now.”
Drainage issues were also discussed at the meeting. Although Durgin said the engineering study did not include any drainage calculations, engineers are confident the existing storm sewer system can stay in place.
Joe Sherwin, director of public works and engineering, said while there may have to be a utility easement for the project, utilities can also be put under the proposed pavement.
Resident Doyal Bills said the idea of utilities, such as water and sewage, being underneath the pavement might be a good engineering method, but still not a good plan.
“The utilities, such as water and sewage, could go underneath the pavement and that might be a good engineering feat,” Bills said. “But maybe it’s not a good one to make in my opinion, especially with the water. There’s a lot of unknown here that has crossed my mind. I think we’re a long way from where we stand.”
Results of a preliminary engineering study regarding a proposed Robinson Road solution were presented during a special Oak Ridge North City Council meeting Jan. 30, during which residents voiced concerns to City Council members about potential right of way acquisitions and drainage concerns.
The recommended solution, which includes widening Robinson Road to four lanes from Patsy Lane to Oak Ridge Park Drive, realigning Robinson Road at Hanna Road and including a traffic signal at Hanna and Oak Ridge Park Drive, was put forward for a further study at a special city meeting last October. The results of the study were discussed at the Jan. 30 meeting, but City Council members agreed more future discussions were needed before making any decisions.
City Manager Vicky Rudy said the last preliminary construction costs the city was given for the option it is pursuing is $5.2 million and does not include engineering or right of way acquisition costs.
“Our primary funding mechanism remains the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone,” Rudy said. “It will not have bonding capacity in the near future. We do want to be prepared to take advantage of any options that present themselves over the next year or two.”
The TIRZ is a taxing district created by the City Council to attract new investment in the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The TIRZ will help finance the cost of development in areas that would otherwise not attract sufficient market development.
Donald Durgin with engineering firm RPS Klotz Associates said the preliminary engineering study adds left turn lanes at signalized intersections but keeps the roadway at four lanes throughout the rest of the project. A left turn lane at Hanna Road would be added as well as a left turn lane at Patsy Road.
Durgin also said during the engineering study that some pavement for the road is planned to remain untouched to save the city money.
“In order to save cost to the city we held the north curb line, which allowed us to keep half of existing pavement and continue to use that pavement along with the storm sewer system that’s underneath that pavement and just widen it to the south,” he said. “That’s several thousands of feet there that you don’t have to replace, so it’s cost saving.”
Cleo Tarver, a resident of Oak Ridge North and chairman of the Planning and Zoning committee, said citizens on Robinson Road have been concerned about the widening of Robinson Road and that City Council members should try their best to stay clear of homes in the area.
“One thing I’ve heard from the planning and zoning committee is that folks have very legitimate concerns,” Tarver said. “If at all possible, the city should move the road as far north and give folks less encroachment into their yards. I think the citizens would certainly feel much better about it. There’s probably some reasons we won’t be able to do it but if the goal is to move the road as far away from properties as possible, I think citizens would feel much better about it.”
Mayor Jim Kuykendall said the presentation and study held Jan. 30 was just a discussion and a decision will not be made anytime soon.
“It’s a preliminary study, there’s still a lot of stuff to do,” KuykendalI said. “I have every intention to not take any homes. This is a fluid situation. We can’t make the decision now, and we don’t have the money to pay for it right now.”
Drainage issues were also discussed at the meeting. Although Durgin said the engineering study did not include any drainage calculations, engineers are confident the existing storm sewer system can stay in place.
Joe Sherwin, director of public works and engineering, said while there may have to be a utility easement for the project, utilities can also be put under the proposed pavement.
Resident Doyal Bills said the idea of utilities, such as water and sewage, being underneath the pavement might be a good engineering method, but still not a good plan.
“The utilities, such as water and sewage, could go underneath the pavement and that might be a good engineering feat,” Bills said. “But maybe it’s not a good one to make in my opinion, especially with the water. There’s a lot of unknown here that has crossed my mind. I think we’re a long way from where we stand.”
