• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News
  • Subscribe

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Photos: Removing dirt for eighth rowing lane

Posted at 9:40 am November 28, 2016
By John Huotari 1 Comment

eighth-lane-dredging-nov-16-2016-slider

Workers remove dirt for the eighth rowing lane on the Oak Ridge Rowing Course on the Clinch River along Melton Lake Drive on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Workers have been removing dirt this month for the eighth rowing lane on the Oak Ridge Rowing Course on the Clinch River on the east end of town.

More than 250 truckloads of dirt had been removed as of November 16, according to Laurel Patrick of First Place Finish Inc., which received a $548,350 contract to add the eighth lane during a special meeting in September. The work will include a precast concrete block retaining wall and associated dredging and site work.

Oak Ridge officials announced in late October that the speed limit on a section of Melton Lake Drive would be temporarily reduced for at least three months starting Monday, October 31, while the eighth rowing lane is built, and part of the Melton Lake Greenway will be closed as necessary.

The speed limit has been reduced from 45 miles per hour to 25 mph along Melton Lake Drive between Amanda Drive and Palisades Parkway. The change will remain in place for a minimum of three months  starting October 31. Signs were to be installed to warn drivers of the reduced speed limit.

The project will also require about 500 feet of greenway to be removed and replaced at the end of construction. As a result, a section of Melton Lake Greenway between Amanda Drive and Palisades Parkway will be temporarily closed, city officials said last month.

The construction of the eighth rowing lane is funded by a combination of state appropriations, City Capital Improvement funds, and a state tourism grant awarded to the Anderson County Tourism Council specifically for the eighth lane project. The Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA), Explore Oak Ridge (the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau), and Visit Knoxville are also contributing agencies.

“These entities have come together to fund a project that will allow the world-class Oak Ridge Rowing Course to attract more and larger events,” the city said in a press release. “The new lane also ensures that the Oak Ridge course will remain competitive as one of the top-ranked rowing venues in the United States.”

Rowing has an annual economic impact of $2 million in Oak Ridge and the surrounding communities, the release said.

For more information, please contact the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

See previous stories on the eighth rowing lane here.

eighth-lane-dredging-equipment-nov-16-2016-web

Workers remove dirt for the eighth rowing lane on the Oak Ridge Rowing Course on the Clinch River on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Do you appreciate this story or our work in general? If so, please consider a monthly subscription to Oak Ridge Today. See our Subscribe page here. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Rowing, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: Clinch River, eighth lane, eighth rowing lane, Explore Oak Ridge, First Place Finish Inc., Laurel Patrick, Melton Lake Drive, Melton Lake greenway, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, Oak Ridge Rowing Association, Oak Ridge rowing course, Visit Knoxville

Comments

  1. Joseph Lee says

    November 28, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    This project is moving forward. That’s a good thing. When making an omelette, eggs get broken. Please watch your speed in the work zone. Thank you.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Government News

TVA retires Bull Run Fossil Plant

The Tennessee Valley Authority has retired the Bull Run Fossil Plant in Claxton. The plant burned the last of its onsite coal onsite in August, ending a 48-day run. TVA retired the plant December 1. The TVA Board … [Read More...]

Hike with ranger, learn about pre-war settlements

You can learn about settlements in the area before Oak Ridge was built during World War II during a hike with a national park ranger on Saturday, November 25. The hike is organized by the National Park Service. Oak … [Read More...]

Household hazardous waste collection is Saturday

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Anderson, Cheatham, and Wilson counties on Saturday, October 7. "Tennesseans are encouraged to … [Read More...]

Household trash pickup under way

Oak Ridge's citywide household trash pickup program began Monday, October 2. During the annual pickup, household garbage, old appliances, and minor remodeling materials will be picked up. City collection efforts will … [Read More...]

Anderson County Courthouse

Anderson County government offices closed Monday, Tuesday

Anderson County government offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday, July 3-4, to observe Independence Day. The offices will re-open at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, July 5, a press release said. The Anderson County … [Read More...]

More Government

More Sports News

Minor traffic delays possible due to Secret City Half Marathon, 5K

Minor traffic delays are possible Saturday morning in Oak Ridge during the Secret City Half Marathon and 5K. Race Director Hannah Fatheree expects nearly 1,000 runners and walkers on city streets and … [Read More...]

Hike with ranger, learn about pre-war settlements

You can learn about settlements in the area before Oak Ridge was built during World War II during a hike with a national park ranger on Saturday, November 25. The hike is organized by the National Park Service. Oak … [Read More...]

USA Cycling Time Trial National Championships on Thursday

Oak Ridge Traffic Impacts Oak Ridge will host its fifth annual USA Cycling Individual Time Trial National Championships on Thursday, June 22. Elite cyclists nationwide will converge on the city, showcasing their … [Read More...]

City to repave Melton Lake parking lot beginning June 12

Beginning the week of June 12, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department crews will begin repaving the Melton Lake Greenway parking lot located on Melton Lake Drive, just north of the intersection with Edgemoor … [Read More...]

Outdoor Pool closed Sunday due to weather

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road will be closed Sunday, May 28, due to the colder temperatures and forecasted weather, a press release said. The pool is expected to re-open on Monday, May 29, from … [Read More...]

More Sports

Recent Posts

  • Community Band has Christmas Concert & Sing Along
  • Christmas Parade is Saturday evening
  • TVA retires Bull Run Fossil Plant
  • Artificial intelligence to be discussed Tuesday
  • Community Thanksgiving is Thursday
  • Windrock wildfire controlled
  • ORHS Masquers Showcase is Saturday
  • Minor traffic delays possible due to Secret City Half Marathon, 5K
  • Burn ban in effect in Oak Ridge, restrictions in OS
  • State: Rocky Top wildfire 100 percent contained

Search Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2023 Oak Ridge Today