Hamilton County Commission approves significant roads project

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A mass roads improvement project announced Tuesday was approved on Wednesday by the Hamilton County Commission.

These improvements aim to improve congestion in the Apison, Ooltewah, Middle Valley, Hixson, and Signal Mountain areas.

These include a road extension to Hilltop Drive, two new roundabouts, and several roads to be widened.  

These projects are being funded by $5.8 million dollars from the County’s fund balance and being matched by nearly $20 million in state and federal grants.

Despite the unanimous approval, Chairman Jeff Eversole chided the mayor for holding a press conference on the project before it was approved.

He told the mayor, “So that the general public understands how things work is this body votes, approves, then we go celebrate… Adding funds to the road balance, thank you, the county has needed that for a long time…For me I’d feel more comfortable celebrating after the vote’s done and not before.”

County officials told us Tuesday they expect work along East Brainerd Road in Apison to be the first project to be started upon.