Soddy Daisy Sequoyah Rail Trail
Project
Project
Description
The plan for this
project is to build a paved, shared-use recreational trail along
approximately a 6-mile corridor of property currently owned by the
Tennessee Valley Authority which includes right-of-way associated
with the TVA rail spur that services the Sequoyah Nuclear Facility
between Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee and Igou Ferry Road in Hamilton
County. The western terminus of this project would be the
rail spur line just west of U.S. Highway 27/Corridor J and the
parking area associated with Tractor Supply Company in
Soddy-Daisy. The rail line then parallels Sequoyah Access
Road between U.S. Hwy 27 and the Sequoyah Nuclear Facility on Lake
Chickamauga. The eastern terminus would be at the
intersection of Sequoyah Access Road and Igou Ferry Road, with the
potential to construct an extension to the TVA Wellness Facility
just south of the plant and on to the City of Lakesite.
Sequoyah Access Road is also under consideration as a potential
route for the development of a Tennessee Department of
Transportation Toll-Bridge to cross the Tennessee River and connect
U.S. Hwy 27 with Interstate 75 in Hamilton
County.
TVA has indicated an
interest in providing an easement on this property for recreational
use. They do intend to reserve the right for future use of
the rail line which is in current disrepair. The potential
future use of this rail facility would not be expected during the
next 15 to 20 years and with advanced construction techniques, it
might still be possible to utilize the existing rail bed for all or
some portions of the actual trail facility. In other cases,
the trail could be placed on either side of the existing rail bed
within the current right-of-way.
Project
Maps
Project
Benefits
There are no existing
similar recreational facilities in this portion of Hamilton
County. This facility would directly connect three Hamilton
County Schools, a senior care facility and several neighborhood
subdivisions. It could provide a direct link between the City
of Soddy-Daisy and Lake Chickamauga with the potential to include
Lakesite as well. The opportunity to link directly with a new
toll-bridge across the Tennessee River would be a significant
advantage for bicyclists in the region.
Current Project
Partners
City of Lakesite,
Tennessee, Bob Mullin, Mayor
City of Soddy-Daisy,
Tennessee, Jim Adams, Commissioner
Outdoor Chattanooga,
Philip Grymes, Executive Director
Hamilton County,
Tennessee, Greg Lane, Project Engineer
Land Trust for
Tennessee, Tricia King, Project Manager
Outdoor Chattanooga,
Philip Pugliese, Bicycle Coordinator
Rails to Trails
Conservancy, Bob Rock, Trail Coordinator
Regional Planning
Agency, Bryan Shults, Senior Planner
Tennessee Valley
Authority, Timothy Cleary, Site Vice-President
Tennessee Valley
Authority, Kevin Dutton, Project Manager
Tennessee Valley
Authority, Don Clift, Site Manager
Assets for the
project:
Letter of intent from
TVA Site Manager
Support from City of
Lakesite
Support from City of
Soddy Daisy (perhaps not majority just yet)
Letter of intent from
City of Lakesite for $1,000
Letter of intent from
the Lyndhurst Foundation for $7,500.
Strong support from
Hamilton County Health Department (John Bilderback, StepOne
Manager; Becky Barnes Administrator)
Preliminary Concept
plans courtesy of Barge Waggoner Sumner &
Cannon
Letter of support from
Tennessee Greenways Coordinator, Bob Richards.
Positive public
involvement to date
Challenges
Need official
political support from Hamilton County
Need official
political support from Soddy Daisy
Need to produce
detailed plan to account for trail design, parking, security,
lighting and maintenance issues.
Need to identify
long-term funding
Daisy
Dallas Road Bridge
Eastern Terminus - Looking west from Igou Ferry
Road
Eastern Terminus - Looking west from Igou Ferry
Road
