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 City of Lakeland, Tennessee
Where Quality of Life is a Way of Life

     

 

 

Transportation Issues

The City of Lakeland is actively pursuing several transportation projects that involve, or are administered by, state and/or county agencies. City, Shelby County and metro planning organizations, as well as state and federal governments, may be involved in just a single project.

Therefore, the project process can be complicated and time-consuming due to the many levels of approvals required for each milestone. To help keep Lakeland residents and businesses informed, the status of several projects is outlined below (to the best of the city officials' knowledge; often state and county officials will have the most current information). 

Local Streets

Beverle Rivera Drive
The portion of Beverle Rivera in front of the fire station will be extended to Huff & Puff Road. This will provide a better connection for residents along the Seed Tick and Beverle Rivera roads, while improving safety substantially.

The City-funded project's construction plans are now complete and the City is currently obtaining the necessary roadway easements. The estimated construction date is 2009 (as of February 2008).

 The City has also been approved for a grant for a traffic signal at Beverle Revira Drive and Canada Road after the extension is completed.

This project will significantly improve fire/ambulance response to the Lakeland Elementary School area and improve the current bottleneck at Canada Road and Huff and Puff. Eventually, Beverle Revira Drive will extend from Canada Road to Chambers Chapel Road.

For those persons who are new to Lakeland, this street is named in honor Beverle Revira, the first Mayor of Lakeland.

Canada Road
The Interstate 40/Canada Road Interchange project has been underway for some time. The City asked the State to include funds for right-of-way acquisition in the next fiscal year budget, with funds for actual construction in the following fiscal budget. The construction is anticipated to start in 2009, at the earliest (as of February 2008).

UPDATE: The Tennessee Department of Transportation recently announced its decision on the I-40/Canada Road interchange design. Mayor Carmichael was notified an “enhanced diamond” interchange design was selected for the interchange, rather than “single point” interchange desired by the City.

The enhanced diamond has a 20-year design life, while the original diamond interchange design would have been obsolete as soon as it was constructed.  Therefore, the efforts of the City will mean a better interchange than originally proposed. The Board of Commissioners agreed to provide $3 million in matching funds for the single point interchange.

Another project will install temporary traffic signals at the I-40/Canada Road intersection to eliminate the stop signs and improve traffic flow. Shelby County is expected to bid the project in mid-2008.

 Also, the Tennessee Department of Transportation recently recommended a four-way stop at the intersection of Canada Road and Highway 70 in the immediate future, and traffic signals when possible. The TDOT expects the construction to be completed in early 2009.

New Canada Road
New Canada Road has been planned for Lakeland since the early 1990s. It will include a new route west of the existing Canada Road but the exact route is currently being determined.

Shelby County Mayor Wharton has proposed a Shelby County/City of Lakeland Partnership to develop New Canada Road in a “Context Sensitive” design that involves citizens in planning the route and other road features. 

 Funds for the construction of New Canada Road were recently approved in the MPO Plan for New Canada Road. This will be an 80 percent grant, with the City contributing 20 percent. The City has requested that Shelby County participate in funding and planning this project, since Canada Road is a major north/south artery that serves many Shelby County residents who are not Lakeland residents.

As of February 2008, the estimated milestones for completing the construction are:

  • Final alignment of road: 2008
  • Road design (construction plans): 2009
  • Acquisition of easement: 2009
  • Construction of road: schedule dependent on design and acquisition of easement

 

 
Local Highways

Highway 64
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has agreed to lower the 55-mph speed limit to 45 mph in the area of Fletcher Trace and Highway 64 at some time in the future.

The City of Lakeland has also received complaints about the unprotected left turn from Highway 64 onto Davies Plantation Road. However, the City of Memphis is responsible for this light, not Lakeland, and has advised Lakeland officials that the light is under review to determine if this turn meets Memphis requirements for a protected arrow signal.

Highway 70
 Highway 70 has been a continual safety concern, due to the posted speed and sight limitations, particularly at its Canada Road intersection.

Therefore, the Board of Commissioners has asked TDOT to reduce the speed limit and conduct a “safety study” for the sight and intersections problem along Highway 70 in the Lakeland city limits.

The TDOT recently recommended a four-way stop at the Canada Road intersection in the immediate future, and traffic signals when possible. The City is awaiting confirmation TDOT intends to install traffic signals at this intersection (with left-turn lanes in all directions). Apparently, the project was funded by a safety grant but this has not been confirmed yet.

Interstate 40
The City of Lakeland has received several questions on when noise barriers will be installed on Interstate 40. When I-40 is widened through Lakeland, TDOT will be contacted to consider noise barriers as a part of the project.

Interstate 269
Since I-69 is projected to run along the Mississippi River, I-269 will follow the present and projected route of Highway 385. The current Lakeland Transportation Plan projects that Chambers Chapel will be extended across the Loosahatchie River to connect with I-269 in the distant future.

 

 

 

  
 

 

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Lakeland City Hall
10001 Highway 70, Lakeland, TN 38002
Phone: (901) 867-2717  Fax: (901) 867-2063  E-Mail: cityhall@lakelandtn.org
Regular business hours: 8 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday
City Hall After-Hours Public Works/Sewer Emergency Line: (901) 867-8920
Life-Threatening Emergencies – Police, Fire, or Ambulance: Dial 911

 Copyright © 2007 City of Lakeland, TN