Potential new Ooltewah road being considered by county commission

OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF)- There could soon be a new road to help traffic congestion in Ooltewah.

The Hamilton County Commission will consider approving a preliminary engineering report to study the feasibility of connecting Hilltop Drive to Volkswagen Drive.

This would be a road that could potentially be routed alongside I-75 between exits 9 and 11.

If built, it could provide a bypass around the interstate during times of heavy traffic.

Commissioner Jeff Eversole said, “We talk about exit 11 a lot, and the traffic congestion that comes form exit 11, but this could be a huge, huge project if we are able to work through it, so I’m excited about this one.”

“Our community is already backed up, sometimes a mile. Traffic is bumper to bumper there, and with advent of up to 600 apartments on Hilltop approved by the city of Chattanooga, it’s going to be even more so, it’s going to be essential,” said Commissioner Dr. Steve Highlander.

This would be just the first step, and no construction or completion date is set at this time.