Hendersonville Update from Fred Rogers

Bike Trail Update, January 21, 2016

The City has secured additional funds for the Sanders Ferry Bike Trail Project.  The trail (off-road) portion will extend from Main St to Mallard Point Park (across from Nottingham Apartments).  This portion will follow the water’s edge.  Some of it will actually be over the water in the form of an aluminum boardwalk and bridge.  This is by necessity and it is very expensive.  But this is the right way to do it.  It will be something we can be very proud of.

From Mallard Point a bike route (share the road) will extend a short distance down to Hickory Heights and from there down Lakeside Park and Curtis Cross Rd to Sanders Ferry Park.  Our Engineer has just re-submitted the construction plans to TDOT after making adjustments requested by TDOT.  Once we receive TDOT’s approval we will go through the process of certifying that we have all the right of way and easements we need.  We already have Corps of Engineers’ approval to place the trail on their property.  The bike route will be on city street right of way.  So, we hope this step will not take too long.  We hope to receive approval to advertise for bids this spring.

Once this project is completed, we will pursue additional funds to construct bike lanes along Sanders Ferry from Mallard Point Park to Sanders Ferry Park.  This will require major widening of Sanders Ferry Rd and acquisition of ROW.  This will be very expensive. 

In a related project, the City has secured federal funds and has hired an engineer to prepare plans for widening Drakes Creek Rd from 386 to past Stop 30.   This will include providing bike/ped accommodations  on Indian Lake Blvd across the 386 bridge.  We are also looking at the best way to extend the bike trail from Veterans Park to Durham.  We are coordinating these two efforts.

Feel free to pass this along to your bikers group.

Your input regarding  what additional grants we might qualify for and receive Aldermen support for is welcome.  There is a lot of expertise and knowledge within your group and I would appreciate your help.    

Fred D. Rogers, Director

Hendersonville Planning Department

101 Maple Dr. N. Hendersonville, TN

615-264-5316

I forgot to mention in my previous email that Chip Moore and the Public Works Department plan to paint 3-4 feet wide bike lanes with bike lane pavement markings the entire length of Wessington Drive (New Shackle Island Rd to Scotch St near Whitten Elementary)in conjunction with Hendersonville Utility District’s plans to replace utilities in Wessington Drive and to re-surface it.

Also, the City plans to paint bike lanes on Bonita from E. Main St to the 3-way stop at Waterview Dr. These projects will add over 2.5 miles of bike lane to the City.

About 3 months ago we added a bike route with signs and sharrows to Luna Ln from Lakeside Park Dr to Walton Ferry.  On Imperial Dr from Walton Ferry to Sanders Ferry we replaced the center turn lane with bike lanes except at the intersections.  This was done to increase the connectivity and impact of the Sanders Ferry Bike Trail Project.  It helped to secure the additional funds for this project as mentioned in my previous email and to secure TDOT’s approval to move forward.   

Fred D. Rogers