Chattanooga’s 4th Street to receive beautification

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- It took 8 years and three different government entities…

“This is a gateway groundbreaking for the first of what will probably be many TDOT projects across the state to beautify the interchange,” said Chattanooga Mayor, Tim Kelly. 

 Now, the 4th street beautification project kicked off with the help of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and T-DOT. 

 The project will include planting thousands of plants along the interstate locally.

Mayor Kelly points out the new vegetation that was chosen for both ecological and aesthetic reasons.

“We are trying to become the first national park city in North America, and that includes, dedication to greenery and sustainability. and so this is a perfect fit with that,” said Mayor Kelly Chattanooga has a long history. They do not call us scenic city for nothing. This is a great step to sort of cement that moniker back into place.”

 Mike McClanahan with TDOT Beautification explains the various species that will be planted. 

“We got a pretty good mix of grasses and forbs and bushes and trees that will be going in,” said McClanahan. “The vast majority of them, they are all natives, or they are part of a plant palette that is really going to attract pollinator species.”

And Scott Martin with Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors says, projects like these benefit Chattanooga’s future. 

“Places that care about themselves take care of themselves. So not only is it emblematic of a city that cares about its future, but it is emblematic of a city that believes in its future and believes the words like pretty, and believes in words like wildlife and believes in clean air, they mean something. This is the kind of a project that proves it,” said Martin.