791 Days and Counting…

Do you remember that song from years ago by the Steve Miller Band that had the lyrics…”time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking…into the future”? Well, the time has come and the clock has finally started ticking and the end is actually in sight; and by that I am talking about the N MJ Road Widening Project. The projected completion date is October 31, 2011…only 791 days away. And while each passing day will get us closer to the completion, there are most assuredly going to be some painful days between now and then.

Last week I had the chance to attend the Town Hall Meeting at MJHS hosted by City Manager Randy Robertson and his team. He assembled representatives from the utility companies, TDOT, the project engineers, and MJ Public Works to provide valuable information on what to expect, when to expect it, and who to call if questions or concerns arise. One thing that was of particular interest to the Chamber of Commerce as well as those traveling that route on a regular basis, was the fact that all partied are as committed as possible to keeping traffic moving as well as can possibly be expected during the construction of the new road. As you can imagine, this is a VERY complicated project and there are going to be times when it is just downright impossible to avoid lane and entrance closures. There are most likely going to be utility interruptions and unforeseen circumstances arise which cannot be predicted or scheduled; that is when it is going to become very important that you know who to call for correct and timely information. This contact information is available and at your fingertips. Feel free to use the Chamber or City Websites to locate this information on a timely and as needed basis. There are a few things I would like to update you on regarding this project and how you can stay better informed. First and probably the easiest for you to do, is to sign up with the new “push” communication service being offered by the City of MJ. This service is called “Nixle” and as a user myself I can tell you firsthand how easy and convenient it is to use. Simply go to www.nixle.com and sign up online. It is a free service and it is a tool the city is using to stay in touch with anyone concerning city issues such as this project. In the event there are going to be lane or road closures, unexpected emergencies, and other valuable information, you will receive a message either by text or email providing you up to date information. Give it a try, I am sure you will find it to be as useful as I have. On another “good news” note if I can, it appears we are finally going to be getting a light (may be temporary to start with?) at the intersection of MJ Road and Charlie Daniels Parkway. To say that this is a welcome addition would be a huge understatement. This will hopefully help with the traffic issues on those occasions when CDP is seeing heavy use; football on M-T—Thur evenings, most Saturdays, and around school related events. This will also free up the patrol officers currently positioned at this intersection during these peak times. I wish I had better news for you in terms of the affect this is going to have on our businesses and those trying to patronize you. It is obvious already that this is going to be brutal since MJ Road is our only true designated N-S Corridor. 791 days is a very long way off, but it does give us something to look very forward to in the future. The project is long overdue and will be a welcome addition when it is complete. Thank you in advance for your patience and “pro-growth” perspective as we move forward together. By the time you read my next Newsletter, it will only be about 761 more days…and counting.