The Chattanooga Department of Transportation leads road improvement projects within the city limits and beginning in the spring (you can’t pave in the winter), crews will have 36 projects underway, all of which will likely be finished by summer. 🌞

We spoke with CDOT Administrator Blythe Bailey, who helped us outline six upcoming projects — such as paving on Glendon Drive and work on an area greenway.

But first, a quick distinction. There’s a difference in fixing a pothole and a road paving project. Many potholes can be fixed quickly and individually with a single truck, Bailey said. That work is covered in the city’s annual paving contract.

Although some roads that get repaved do have potholes, repaving an entire street is a different, bigger project. 👍

Bailey also discussed a new system that creates standard procedures for how projects are prioritized. Plus, readers provided feedback about what they want to see on the list of roads to improve.

Paving projects

🚧 Kellys Ferry Road, Lookout Valley
Project length: About 2 miles from Browns Ferry Road to Cummings Highway
Fast fact: Part of the road that will be improved connects neighborhoods to the John A. Patten Recreation Center.

🚧 Glendon Drive, Brainerd
Project length: About ⅔ of a mile, across S. Germantown Road
Fast fact: This is a project that residents in the neighborhood have been asking for.

🚧 Lookout Street, Downtown
Project length: About ⅓ of a mile
Fast fact: This downtown street goes right by the county courthouse to Riverfront Drive and “very much needs” repaving, Bailey said.

🚧 Duane Road, North Chattanooga
Project length: About ½ a mile
Fast fact: This road intersects with and then runs parallel to Hixson Pike.

Building projects

🚧 The Riverwalk, St. Elmo
Project length: About ¾ of a mile
Fast fact: This project will extend the Riverwalk from behind Crust in St. Elmo along St. Elmo Avenue down to the Incline Railway.

🚧 South Chickamauga Creek Greenway System
Project length: 3 miles
Fast fact: This work will complete the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway System and includes a connection from neighborhoods, including some public housing which is relatively isolated, to an area Walmart, which may make shopping more accessible.

The orange-dashed line on the map shows the section of the greenway that will be completed by CDOT. (Photo: Trust for Public Land)

By the numbers

23 miles: This is the number of continuous miles of trails once work on the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway system and part of the Riverwalk in St. Elmo is completed. The project was initially dreamed up in a 1985 city planning document.

$3.4 million: This is the amount in the city budget for the 2017-2020 transportation improvement program. This represents a $2 million increase from the previous 2014-2017 transportation improvement program.

Fast facts

— The increased budget is a result of the city’s emphasis on maintenance.

— This money is available from federally-funded grants for street maintenance and is separate from local funds included in the city’s capital budget.

— In addition to increased federal funding, local investment has also increased.

The priority plan

Leaders pick projects based on a number of factors. General road condition, which would include potholes, is one factor.

Another factor is how many people use the street. A road that many members of the public use would be a higher priority than a dead-end street that a few people use.

Road projects are not picked by a popular vote, but city leaders take community feedback into consideration, Bailey said.

Officials get input from City Council members and other leaders who interact with citizens and can pass on concerns and comments. Citizens can also put in paving and other requests through the city’s 311 system.

Quoteworthy

“We’ve increased our investment as a way to reflect … a fact of life all throughout the country — the maintenance of our infrastructure is becoming more and more important.” — Bailey

In addition to increasing investments in maintenance, Bailey said leaders are also developing an asset management plan which will create more consistency in how projects are chosen.

The plan outlines different strategies to use to maximize the lifespan of streets, keeps an updated database of projects, and optimizes coordination between regular, yearly paving and maintenance contracts with ongoing localized repair of city streets.

Readers respond

“What city streets need to be paved most?”

We put this question to the readers, who commented 100+ times. We had the most responses on our Instagram and Facebook posts.

A handful of people agree Bailey Avenue needs work, and a few people suggested ALL the streets need work.

Hamill Road in Hixson, Hixson Pike, Gadd Road, Dodds Avenue and Glenwood Drive also drew multiple comments.

Check out what some readers said. ⬇️

“Addison Rd. where it meets Harrison Pk needs a stop sign because very few people use the Yield sign. It's a race for your life to turn in front of those barrelling down the hill” — Paula W.

“For years, Graysville Road from E. Brainerd Rd. until it becomes Catoosa County has been a dangerous, narrow road. Heavy traffic. The ditches need to be filled with culverts, etc. Has needed it for years. Improves once you cross the GA line!” — Kelly D.

“The loop around east gate. Had to go to the post office the other day and my God.” — Andrew W.