MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Wednesday, residents in Memphis had a chance to hear from the Tennessee Department of Transportation about the I-55 project updates and the future of the bridge.
Many who attended the public hearing from TDOT were able to see new renderings for the first time on the construction project. The I-55 bridge is being considered Tennessee's single-largest transportation investing in history, costing an estimated $800 million.
Nichole Lawrence with TDOT said their team was excited to show what the bridge could potentially look like in the future, while sharing the impact it can have for those driving on the bridge.
"We're going to be making those improvements, bringing it up to the current interstate standards, adding those lanes in each direction, and of course, adding that extra shoulder the other 12 feet shoulder versus what's out there now," Lawrence said.
Not many people who attended the public issued any concerns. However, James Jackson, a Memphis resident, said he still left the meeting wondering how the completion of the I-55 bridge will impact his property value in the French Fort area.
Jackson said he was impressed with TDOT's designs of the project, but will plan to email his concerns to the state agency.
Lawrence said TDOT's goal is to not close the bridge while it's under construction. She said they plan to build the new bridge by the old bridge, which at this time, does not meet today's interstate standards.
"A third bridge...is still a possibility to be studied in the future, but currently there's no funding for a third bridge," she said. "This was the alternative to that...replacing the old structure of the I-55 bridge."
Lawrence said anytime they have an environmental document for review, they have to notify the public and ask for any comments, which the public can give until Dec. 5.
She said the suggestions and concerns they received on Wednesday night can be considered before designs are finalized.
"They may see something that we have not thought of, so we go back, and we do review those, and look at the big picture and see if that's something can be thought about and incorporated into the decision making," Lawrence said.
Lawrence said they plan to finalize the bridge's design sometime in December.
She said TDOT expects the I-55 bridge will be completed by 2030 or 2031.
Lawrence said if anyone missed Wednesday's public hearing, there will be another one tomorrow in at the Radisson Hotel located at 2007 E Service Rd, West Memphis, AR.