Unfunded Tennessee Road Projects Are Stacking Up

From widening the I-24 / I-75 interchange to adding lanes on the Olgiati Bridge, projects have been given the green light, but there’s no money to pay for them.

"Our funding sources are flat," said Jennifer Flynn with the Tennessee Department of Transportation. "The gas tax hasn’t been increased since 1989 and we’re just looking at potential solutions to address the huge back log of projects that we have throughout the state."

Lawmakers say the concern to address the projects isn’t immediate.

"It’s not a disaster right now," said Tennessee House Majority Leader Gerland Mccormick (R-Chattanooga). "We’re not going to panic and do anything too quickly but I think at the proper time, we’ll take the action and we’ll have to pay for it and it’s going to cost a lot of money."

McCormick also said a tax increase is the last option.

He said there are other ways to come up with the necessary funds.

"Well I hope that we can all come together and have a good full discussion and it’s not something that’s decided by just a few people," McCormick said. "There has been discussions of a gas tax increase and as I’ve said before I think a tax increase should be a last resort."

Senate Transportation and Safety Committee Chairman Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) has taken to the road hosting nine hearings where he is seeking input from residents and community leaders on solutions to the problem.