Bristol Bridge construction Delay (Martin, Central: 2010, home, buy)

[Rcm58]

I talked with the city this morning and they said it would be 2 months before the work on Pennsylvania ave would be completed, They are tieing Pennsylvania ave to the bridge so they closed through traffic off state street and have made it impossable for those unfortunate enough to live anywhere near King College to get out of town. Since we all know its a crapshoot trying to leave on State Street because of the train I guess the only sure way we can count on is over the bridge past king pharmaceutical. The 2 Gas stations at this intersection are already contemplating closeing down because they are virtually out of business anyway.

[Tennesseestorm]

I know it... when I go to work, I am on Pennsylvania and turn onto Ash and go across the bridge. I have noticed that in the distance on Pennsylvania that the road is closed to thru traffic. I never thought about it hurting those stores, but I bet it has crushed them. Good thing is they should boom once the bridge is opened.

So, will the bridge also be opened in two months, or PA Ave. only? I heard it was going to be June before the bridge was opened. BTW - does anyone know what that road/bridge will be called - will it be PA Ave, or?

[Rcm58]

I don't know the bridge completion date, Some time in Dec is when they are supposed to reopen PA ave and I have no idea what their naming the bridge. I'm wondering if Anderson park will be affected or if they just intend on tieing into the existing rd. I should be able to find out more soon.

[Rcm58]

Well I risked taking State St to work yesterday and traffic was backed up about 1/2 mile due to someone depositing a TV in the middle of the road, it had been hit a few times and busted glass and plastic had both lanes blocked. The city now has both PA Ave and 5th street closed in an attempt to speed up the bridge completion, they also have it down to one lane between 5th St and State St. No word on completion date but they should be done well before June.

[Tennesseestorm]

I know it. I avoid State St. now @ all costs. Since they have closed 5th, I have to now go on further onto Ash and turn onto Alabama Ave, then taking a right onto Martin Luther King Jr. BLVD. Traffic was pretty backed up there this AM too, as they had the right side land of Martin Luther blocked near 5th. Some of these roads I am having to take my car on seems like it is destroying it. Since I have sold my truck, I have been driving my grandmothers OLD Pontiac to work until I buy a new car. She has passed on and the car is mine now, but some of the road conditions here in Bristol are ludicrous. I was on Virginia avenue a couple of weeks ago. Near Food City, there is a DEEP drain on the edge of the road. I had to get over to miss some debris on the road and did not notice how deep/sharp that hole was and my car sank into that hole and the car shuddered severely. I thought I had busted a tire! I looked the next time I went by and noticed how deep it was and it sharply comes back up- meaning if you hit it, it will really lash your car. Ever since I have hit that "crater", my car is out of alignment, it shakes and it seems to have more rattles in the interior. Also the suspension will groan on some turns/bumps. This is not the first time I have had an issue with the city roads causing damage to one of my cars. Too many Bristol roads are being neglected too severely in my opinion.

How about the holes on E. Cedar St. near the RR tracks? Or how about the bridge on Ash sinking down where it meets the road? Pennsylvania Ave. is all to pieces all over. Edgemont Ave / Bluff City Hwy. is in very poor condition all over from the 11E area to about Vance Middle School. If you stop and think about it, about EVERY road in Bristol has issues, except for the Volunteer PKWY and W. State St (west end), and even that road near the VA state line area is also pretty bumpy (between Windsor and State St.). Finally, what about Commonwealth Ave? POTHOLES big enough to swallow your car, especially on the south side heading toward the TN state line- especially in front of Strongwell. I have ranted enough. LOL.

Originally Posted by Rcm58

Well I risked taking State St to work yesterday and traffic was backed up about 1/2 mile due to someone depositing a TV in the middle of the road, it had been hit a few times and busted glass and plastic had both lanes blocked. The city now has both PA Ave and 5th street closed in an attempt to speed up the bridge completion, they also have it down to one lane between 5th St and State St. No word on completion date but they should be done well before June.

[Rcm58]

Your right some of them are pretty bad, I've been driving my custom van to work most days so that I have enough room to put the delivery boxes in for recycling. I did'nt see the sinkhole at Fairmount when I went a few weeks ago and I fractured both running boards, I've also trashed the roof from the trees and overgrowth that the city has'nt kept trimmed back. I guess my biggest gripe is haveing to take the side streets with cars blocking one lane and sometimes two and just praying no ones comming when I pull out at the stop signs because my view is blocked.

[Tennesseestorm]

Thats terrible about the damage to your van... as mentioned, these roads/streets are unacceptable. Also, have you went across the railroad tracks on State St (under the BRISTOL TN-AV sign)? After they spent all of that money a few years ago to smooth it out, its rough as ever! Its like driving over logs. Same way on Euclid Avenue @ the tracks... they spent $$$$$ "smoothing" the road there, its still bad. They are rough and if you go over them any faster than 15-20 mph, your car will go airborn!

Originally Posted by Rcm58

Your right some of them are pretty bad, I've been driving my custom van to work most days so that I have enough room to put the delivery boxes in for recycling. I did'nt see the sinkhole at Fairmount when I went a few weeks ago and I fractured both running boards, I've also trashed the roof from the trees and overgrowth that the city has'nt kept trimmed back. I guess my biggest gripe is haveing to take the side streets with cars blocking one lane and sometimes two and just praying no ones comming when I pull out at the stop signs because my view is blocked.

[Rcm58]

Yes the tracks are where that poor women lost her life last month when she made the wrong decision to run from the cops, hit the tracks there on State St at about 60mph and lost control.
The roads around Fairmount will be repaved i'm sure when the construction of the new school is completed in 2010, Its going to be a beautiful school and will help raise the home values in that area, they had artist renditions of what its going to look like on the news. The city will be closing another elementry school in 2010 I think Central and all students will attend Fairmount. As bad as some of the roads here have gotten they are still 10 times better than the roads in NY where I was born, patches on patches

[Tennesseestorm]

Yes, believe it or not, that young girl that perished in that crash was some sort of relative to one of my mothers friends. I never did know exactly where the crash occured, but I knew it was in that area. What a shame...

Yes, everyone seems to be getting excited about the new school in that area. My grandmother attended the original Fairmount building when she was a young girl... we have taken several photos of the school before it is demolished. I wonder what they will do with the Central School when all of the students move over to Fairmount? Surely it can be used for a good cause... it still seems to be in decent condition... ?? I know my cousin will be happy... she is a school teacher there and I am sure she is looking forward to the new school.

I hope they do pave all of the roads in the area. Many there are horrible now. Pennsylvania Ave is like a washboard. lol. Like you said though, I am sure there are more roads across the USA that are in much worse condition.

Originally Posted by Rcm58

Yes the tracks are where that poor women lost her life last month when she made the wrong decision to run from the cops, hit the tracks there on State St at about 60mph and lost control.
The roads around Fairmount will be repaved i'm sure when the construction of the new school is completed in 2010, Its going to be a beautiful school and will help raise the home values in that area, they had artist renditions of what its going to look like on the news. The city will be closing another elementry school in 2010 I think Central and all students will attend Fairmount. As bad as some of the roads here have gotten they are still 10 times better than the roads in NY where I was born, patches on patches

[Tennesseestorm]

Well well... did you notice the recent paving at the intersections of Weaver Pike and Martin Luther King JR. BLVD? That road was not really that bad through there. There was a slight hump when you was heading south on Weaver Pike, but if you got over to the left a little, it was smooth - and there was a little "wave" when heading northbound on MLK JR BLVD, but again, it was an "easy" bump. The area where the old pavement meets the new paving is rougher than that original bad patch was and they still have sunken in manhole covers there. They need to fix that bad area on College Avenue, then on to Pennsylvania Avenue and also the west end of E. Cedar St.

BTW - looks like the bridge is coming along nicely... but wow, it looks steep!

Originally Posted by Rcm58

The city will be closing another elementry school in 2010 I think Central and all students will attend Fairmount. As bad as some of the roads here have gotten they are still 10 times better than the roads in NY where I was born, patches on patches