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State Route 18 from Bolivar to State Route 100-Hardeman County

Project Description

TDOT is currently completing technical studies for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for improvements to SR-18 from Bolivar to SR-100 in Hardeman County. In 2012, TDOT will release a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which will present study results and impacts to the natural and human environment for the proposed action.

Project Location Map
Project Location Map.
TDOT has established the Purpose and Need for the project.  There are five (5) major goals:

  • Provide a four-lane roadway facility on SR-18 between Bolivar and SR-100 thereby fulfilling legislation made in House Joint Resolution No. 16 in 1993 by the 98th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee.
  • Improves the level of service (LOS) of existing SR-18.
  • Serves the public in the near future, as well as accommodate long-term economic growth.
  • Provides an efficient and safe transportation facility that will yield maximum benefit to road users and be compatible with local and regional goals and objectives.
  • Reduce truck traffic in downtown Bolivar.

The No-Build Alternative has been included as part of this project to be used as a benchmark for comparison with other alternatives. Selection of the No-Build Alternative means no improvements will be made to SR-18 (neither by widening existing roadways nor addition of new roadways). With the No-Build Alternative, only routine maintenance activities will occur to existing facilities. There are four (4) proposed improvement sections (or alignments): A, B, C, and D. Combinations of these alignments make up the five (5) project build alternatives. The proposed project length varies from 9 to 11.5 miles depending on which alternative is selected. Build alternatives and corresponding lengths are as follows:

Alternative
Length
(mi)
A/B
10
A/C
9
A/D
9.7
A/B/C
11.5
A/D/C
11.4

 

All of the build alternatives begin on SR-15 (US 64) in Bolivar and terminate where SR-18 meets SR-100 north of Bolivar. The location of this termini point was chosen based on the project’s Purpose and Need and an adjacent TDOT roadway project, which improves another section of SR-18 from SR-100 north to Jackson.

There are two typical sections for the SR-18 improvement project. Alignment A is proposed as a four-lane roadway, and Alignments B, C and D are proposed as two-lane roadways. Alignments B, C and D have typical sections that were developed through collaboration with TDOT and local officials in Bolivar and Hardeman County. To remain consistent with a master plan developed to revitalize the city of Bolivar, a two-lane typical section was developed. These corridors would include a ten-foot multi-use path (for bicycles & pedestrians) separated from the roadway with a natural berm.

Typical sections for the proposed alternatives are as follows.

Alignment A from SR-100 to Dowdy Road
Alignment A from SR-100 to Dowdy Road

Alignment A from Dowdy Road to South of the Hatchie River
Alignment A from Dowdy Road to South of the Hatchie River

  Alignments B, C and D
Alignments B, C and D

When completed, the DEIS will be available on this website as well as local planning and municipal offices (to be listed when documents area available).  It will report on the following topics:

  • Land Use
  • Farmlands
  • Parks and Recreation Facilities
  • Pedestrian and Bicycle Considerations
  • Environmental Justice
  • Community Resources
  • Economic and Business
  • Air Quality
  • Noise
  • Ecology and Natural Resources
  • Water Quality
  • Floodplains
  • Wild and Scenic Rivers
  • Soils and Geology
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Historical, Architectural and Section 4(f) Resources
  • Archaeological Resources
  • Visual Quality
  • Construction
  • Energy
  • Indirect and Cumulative Impacts
  • Irreversible and irretrievable Commitments of Resources
  • Permitting

TDOT has held four (4) public involvement meetings for this project.  (See the “Public Involvement” tab on the left for detailed meeting information.)  TDOT’s goal is to continue to include the public in the decision making process.  Additional public meetings will take place in the future.  Please continue to visit the Public Involvement section of this site for information about upcoming meetings and opportunities to get involved.  At any time, you may submit comments via email to: TDOT.Comments@tn.gov.

TDOT has held three (3) public involvement meetings for this project.  (See the “Public Involvement” tab on the left for detailed meeting information.)  TDOT’s goal is to continue to include the public in the decision making process.  Additional public meetings will take place in the future. Please visit the “Public Involvement” section of this site to find out about upcoming opportunities to get involved. At any time, you may submit comments via email to TDOT.Comments@tn.gov.

A range of reasonable alternatives will be evaluated for the project, including the “No Build” option. The project area is comprised of commercial properties, residential properties, farmland, government buildings, churches, and schools.

The project team has several goals set forth during the course of this project. One of those goals is to include the public in the decision making process. Public involvement meetings will take place throughout the project. Please visit the “Public Involvement” section of this site to find out about upcoming opportunities to get involved. At any time, you may submit comments via email to TDOT.Comments@tn.gov.