The City of Kingsport has officially launched its street resurfacing program for the summer, focusing initial efforts on the Cooks Valley area. This project, stretching from Harbor Chapel Road to Fort Patrick Henry Lake, entails paving nearly 8 miles of roadways with a budget set at $2.5 million that is expected to wrap up by fall later this year, according to the city's announcement.
Joining the resurfacing endeavor are the ongoing concrete repairs on Crescent Drive, alongside paving a segment of Airport Parkway near Jericho Drive slated for completion by the beginning of November. With a fiscal allocation exceeding $5 million, Kingsport sees a substantial amount of its city and state roads - totaling more than 16 miles - getting a face-lift this year.
Since 2017, over $20.7 million has been poured into the revitalization of Kingsport’s streets, which has led to the repaving of over 115 miles of local thoroughfares. Areas like Fairacres, Cooks Valley, and Colonial Heights are among those that have witnessed significant improvements over the years. The Tennessee Department of Transportation, not to be outdone, has invested $13.6 million in resurfacing work on another 24 miles of roads within Kingsport in the same timeframe, as detailed by the city's website.
Kingsport has adhered to a methodical selection process for its resurfacing projects, relying on data to drive decisions. By assessing the condition of each city street with scores from 0 to 100, the system prioritizes the lowest-ranked streets each year, ensuring on average 17 miles are paved annually since 2017. Alongside the state-managed highways and federal interstates, Kingsport is responsible for approximately 500 miles of street, all in need of varying degrees of attention.
