The Tennessee Department of Transportation will open bids on a project to improve a portion of State Route 56 in December. The project will extend from south of the Warren County line to Magness Road in DeKalb

Funding in the amount off $6.8 million was included in the state's 2015-16 budget for the program. The rate of serious accidents on the portion of Highway 56 to be redesigned is double the state average for similar highways, and a three-vehicle crash recently claimed a man’s life in the same area where the construction is planned.

Rather than the originally-planned four-lane divided and five-lane route, financial necessity has dictated that a new two-lane road with twelve-foot lanes and ten-foot paved shoulders be along the existing 3.25-mile stretch. Plans include adding guardrails, better road signage, pavement markings, and center line rumble stripes. The projected cost of approximately $6.8 million is much lower than the original plan’s $20.4 million tally.

The original project was for a 3.25 mile rural 4-lane divided roadway, and right-of-way was purchased for this design, but the original design was not funded for construction. The new project is for a two-lane roadway to be constructed within the right-of-way purchased for the initial four-lane design. The design also includes passing lanes in some areas.

The new road basically matches the elevation and vertical profile of one-side of the initial four-lane design. TDOT went with this design in so that the other half can be added in the future to make the road a divided four-lane.

TDOT is reportedly on schedule and working on construction plans.