NEWS

On May 19th, 2011, the Tennessee Department of Transportation held a public hearing at the Bridges Center to discuss the North Second Street Corridor Improvement Project.  The scope of the project extends north from I-40 in Downtown Memphis along North Second Street and North Third Street to the intersection of US51/SR 3.

TDOTs stated purpose for the project is to provide a secondary access route into the Memphis Central Improvement District from areas north of downtown, improve traffic circulation in the Pinch and Uptown communities and to provide infrastructure that will help buoy investment in the area.

The proposed solution will change North Second Street and North Third Street from two way traffic to a one-way pair from I-40 to Chelsea Avenue.  North Second will carry south bound traffic while North Third will carry north bound traffic.  The street improvements between I-40 and Chelsea will include bicycle and pedestrian facilities and on-street parking.  North Second Street and North Third Street will merge near Henry Avenue to form a four-lane roadway carrying bi-directional traffic.

The improvements beginning just north of Henry Avenue to the Wolf River will include a 14 foot median, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and on-street parking on both sides.  The next segment of the proposed solution will include a new two lane bridge next to the existing two lane bridge.  This segment will tie into Whitney Avenue and the final segment will continue along Whitney Avenue to US51/SR 3.  The final segment will also include bicycle lanes and sidewalks.

There is much more detailed information included in the Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) which can be viewed at: www.tn.gov/tdot/northsecondstreet

Printed copies can also be viewed at: Cossitt Branch Library, 33 S. Front Street, Memphis, TN 38103

Public comments are due June 20th, 2011