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Construction Begins on Atwood Highway Bypass

Posted

CARROLL COUNTY — After more than 20 years of the proposed construction work has begun, beginning with the razing of structures and removal of trees and other objects that are in the path of the U.S. 79/State Route 76 bypass around Atwood.

A contract was awarded to Delta Contractors at a cost of $29,734,482.50 to perform grading, drainage, construction of a concrete box bridge and noise wall along a new route from Cades-Atwood Road in Gibson County to east of State Route 77 in Carroll County. Estimated completion date is May 31, 2025.

A public meeting was held on Thursday, October 7, 1999, at McKenzie High School and Thursday, March 14, 2000, at Trezevant Middle School, 95 School Street, Trezevant, Tennessee, from 5-7 p.m. The purpose of this meeting was to review and comment on the proposed improvements and alternatives to SR-76 from Cades Atwood Road near the Gibson County line to Sydnor Road (McKenzie) in Carroll County.

The project along State Route 76 (US 79) in Carroll County involves widening and realignment of the existing roadway for approximately 12.6 miles. Due to the size of the project, the proposed improvements have been divided into three smaller sections.

TDOT recently sought bids to demolish houses on the right-of-way of the new highway. Those include certain structures on Oasis Road, Milan; and Jax Road, Barker Road, Church Street, and Norris Robinson Loop - all in Atwood.

A second section from east of State Route 77 to West of Cutlip Lane. That section is a candidate for letting on January 10, 2024 or possibly earlier if stimulus money is available. That section will bypass Trezevant.

The third phase - from west of Cutlip Lane in Trezevant to west of Sydnor Rd./Winston Rd. in McKenzie – the right of way purchase phase is expected to begin in the fall of 2022.

The completed project will create a four- or five-lane highway from McKenzie to Milan.