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Tennessee Case Study – Kingsport SR 126/Memorial Boulevard - Elizabeth Smith
Published: 1/9/2005

2004 Southeast Watershed Roundtable Presentaion Click here for full agenda

The State Route 126/Memorial Boulevard project, along with seven other projects that are in varying stages of development, are changing the way that TDOT is doing business. State Route 126/Memorial Boulevard serves as the Departments pilot project for CSS. Beginning in the projects early planning and development phase and in response to feedback from the public and local government for opportunities to provide insight into the community and ideas for improvement, this project will be a testing ground for the processes involved in adopting the principles of Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS). Project deliverables include reports on “The CSS Process” and “Lessons Learned”. This approximately 8.8 mile project is located between East Center Street within the City of Kingsport and I-81 in Sullivan County. It runs predominantly from east to west and from urban to rural as it crosses Chestnut Ridge. From its beginnings as an Indian trail, to a pathway west for settlers on foot, horseback and in wagons, this roadway has served as a gateway. Yancey’s Tavern, once a bustling gathering spot and rest stop for tired travelers, still stands off to the side as a quiet sentinel to its past. Over the last several hundred years, the trail may have shifted and been widened, but it still serves as a major connector between the area’s storied past and its promising future. In an attempt to capture the character and values of this community, TDOT asked the mayors of Kingsport and Sullivan County to assemble a Community Resource Team of local residents, community activists, business owners, city and county officials and state representatives. Together, the Community Resource Team, TDOT staff and the consulting firms of Sain Associates and PBS&J are working together with the public to identify local issues, suggest ideas for the improvement and provide guidance and leadership in maintaining the delicate balance to improve, but preserve.

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