The county commission voted last week to ask state lawmakers to appropriate funding for the long-awaited widening of Highway 70 from Smithville to Highway 96 at Liberty.

Commissioners agreed to adopt a resolution asking the state legislature to appropriate funds for the highway and for TDOT to let bids in its next round of contracts.

But TDOT's plans for extension of the project from Highway 96 to just west of the Wilson County line has apparently been put on hold due to lack of funding.

Although TDOT completed right-of-way (property) acquisition in November 2009, the project is not in the previous or current 3 year work program for construction funding, according to a TDOT spokesman. The estimate for the project as of July 2014 is just over $26 million.

The resolution, as adopted by the county commission, reads:

"Whereas, the State of Tennessee, Department of Transportation has identified Highway 70 near State Route 96 to a point 2,967 feet west of the Wilson County line as being in need of widening, and

Whereas, the State of Tennessee, Department of Transportation has designed plans and acquired the necessary right-of-way to make the improvements described in the aforementioned roadway project, and

Whereas, many land owners and businesses have been displaced and affected by the acquisition of right-of-way through the power of eminent domain, and

Whereas, the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation has yet to let the construction for the roadway project and has delayed the project for more than 10 years, and

Whereas, the improvements are sorely needed for the safety of the traveling public, and to promote economic development of the region, and

Whereas, funds for highway projects such as this are derived from both state and federal sources.

Now, therefore be it resolved that the Board of County Commissioners, in regular session assembled, hereby requests and implore the Tennessee Congressional Delegation and the Tennessee State Legislature to appropriate funds for the completion of the project and further requests and implore the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation to let the construction for the roadway project in its next round of bid letting."