TDOT to improve fences

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has listened to concerned citizens and will work to improve unattractive safety fences at four Interstate 24 exits on the city's east side.

TDOT Region Director Mark Holloran said work will begin next week on the four exchanges, which were long dominated by what East Nashville residents described as unsightly barbed-wire fences and fencing that seemingly served no purpose. Holloran said TDOT will have its contractor install a vinyl-coated black fence without barbed wire within a segment of the I-24/Shelby Avenue interchange. That fence will replace a conventional metal chain-link fence that was installed a month ago and removed last weekend. Holloran did not know what the project would cost.

In addition, TDOT will minimize the amount of fencing at all the interchanges and is hoping to eventually have all barbed-wire components removed, Holloran said.

State Rep. Rob Briley, in whose District 52 the interchanges sit, said TDOT is making a sincere effort to improve the look and feel of the interstate area, which separates downtown and East Nashville.

"TDOT has been incredibly cooperative with the whole fencing issue," Briley said. "I think we're all headed in the right direction."

Briley said the TDOT attitude regarding the matter is encouraging. For example, five years ago TDOT likely would not have listened to the residents' concerns, he said.

"I think that's totally fair to say," Briley said. "And people within TDOT will say that. But the attitude is changing big time."

Briley credited Metro councilmen Mike Jameson (District 6) and Erik Cole (District 7), and Edgefield activist Carol Norton (who chairs ReDiscover East!'s Streetscape, Transportation and Parking Committee) for working on the issue.