Oak Ridge Today



 










Oak Ridge closes on $20 million loan for new water plant

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An aerial view of the Oak Ridge Water Treatment Plant on Pine Ridge above the Y-12 National Security Complex. (Photo courtesy Y-12 National Security Complex)

The City of Oak Ridge closed on a $20.7 million federal loan on Thursday for a new water treatment plant in south Oak Ridge.

It’s a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, or WIFIA, loan. The funds provided by the federal loan program will be used to design and build the new water plant, which will replace an aging facility on Pine Ridge that has served the community since the 1940s.

The total cost for replacement of the water treatment plant is estimated to be $42.2 million, the city said in a press release on Friday. WIFIA will provide about 49 percent of that cost, with the city using the Tennessee State Revolving Fund Loan Program to cover the balance, the press release said.

“After three years of application and planning, the City of Oak Ridge has reached a significant milestone in the funding needed for a new replacement water plant,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said in the press release. “WIFIA has helped Oak Ridge with a low-interest federal loan, allowing us to avoid potential failures in a system originally designed for a different Oak Ridge. The financial terms will allow Oak Ridge to afford these much-needed improvements to serve not only our residents, but the national security and U.S. Department of Energy facilities located here.”

[Read more…]

Street resurfacing project under way

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department has a street resurfacing project that is under way and expected to continue for several weeks, a press release said.

It said Public Works Department crews have completed preparation work along Paine Lane and South Purdue Avenue. Crews are now preparing North Purdue Avenue for resurfacing. Rogers Group Inc., working under contract for the City of Oak Ridge, will finish the resurfacing, the press release said.

“Drivers should be advised that some locations may have a rough or bumpy surface until Rogers Group crews are able to complete the final surface on the streets,” the release said.

Streets that will be resurfaced as part of the project, in addition to the streets listed above, are listed below:

[Read more…]

Temporary water outage along Gum Hollow for line repairs

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

There will be a temporary water outage along Gum Hollow Road and side streets on Tuesday, October 1, to allow work crews to repair a broken water main, a press release said.

The water outage will start at 8 a.m. Tuesday, and it is expected to last between five and seven hours, the press release said.

Water will be turned off on Gum Hollow Road and all side streets beginning at Glassboro Drive, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Stop sign going in, stoplight coming out

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The intersection of Tyler Road and Tennessee Avenue, which now includes a stoplight, is pictured above on Thursday, July 18, 2019.

A new stop sign will be installed and the traffic signal will be removed at the intersection of Tyler Road and Tennessee Avenue in the Jackson Square area in central Oak Ridge.

The new stop sign will be uncovered on Tuesday, July 23, at about 8 a.m., the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release Thursday.

“At present, both Tyler Road and Tennessee Avenue are controlled by a traffic signal,” the press release said. “The change is being made after a traffic study indicated the traffic pattern and crash history at this location does not justify the need for a traffic signal. The study also indicated that changing the right-of-way assignment to favor Tennessee Avenue will reduce delays.”

[Read more…]

City repairing large landslide near access road to water plant

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Water-Treatment-Plant-2009-1
The Oak Ridge Water Treatment Plant is pictured on Pine Ridge above the Y-12 National Security Complex. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The city is repairing a large landslide that occurred next to the access road to the Oak Ridge water treatment plant on Pine Ridge above the Y-12 National Security Complex during the rainy month of February.

The landslide occurred on the night of February 23, Oak Ridge Public Works Director Shira McWaters told City Manager Mark Watson in a June 24 memo. The access road is the only access road to the city’s water plant, and it’s critical to being able to operate the water plant, McWaters said. The road allows operations and maintenance workers to get to the water plant and deliver materials, equipment, and chemicals.

Repairs were started immediately after the landslide to minimize the risk of more damage to the area and the potential to lose the only access road to the plant, McWaters said. She said work started in March and should be complete by the end of July.

The water plant provides water to both the City of Oak Ridge and to U.S. Department of Energy sites, including Y-12 and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The plant is on a ridge at the southern entrance to central Oak Ridge above the main entrance to Y-12 at Bear Creek Road and Scarboro Road.

[Read more…]

Public Works open house this evening

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Works Community Open House (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Public Works Community Open House is this evening (Thursday, May 23).

It’s from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Central Services Complex at 100 Woodbury Lane. Everyone is invited to attend, a press release said

The Public Works Community Open House is designed to increase public awareness about the contributions of the Oak Ridge Public Works Department, as well as educate the community about the duties, practices, and goals of the department, the press release said. It is being held in recognition of National Public Works Week, May 19-25, with the theme “Public Works, It Starts Here.”

“We’re so pleased to be able to host this free event for the community for the third year, offering everyone an opportunity to see behind the scenes and learn what Public Works is all about,” Public Works Director Shira McWaters said. “This open house will be bigger than ever, featuring fun and educational activities for all ages.”

[Read more…]

Design forum for Pennsylvania-North Tulane intersection is Wednesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

UT Intersection Project Open Forum April 3 2019

Students from the University of Tennessee are planning to host a virtual open forum as they continue to explore alternative designs for the intersection at Pennsylvania and North Tulane Avenues in Oak Ridge, a press release said. The event will be accessible via Facebook Live on Wednesday, April 3, from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m.

The effort is part of a senior project for the students from UT’s College of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the press release said. The Oak Ridge Public Works Department teamed up with the group to evaluate designs that would potentially realign the intersections of North Tulane Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, Providence Road, and East Pasadena Road.

The students held their first open forum in early March at Oak Ridge Public Library, where they introduced themselves and gathered public opinions and concerns. In the upcoming open forum, students will build on the feedback received so far and present conceptual drawings of alternatives that are under consideration, the press release said. [Read more…]

UT students to host forum on intersection design for Pennsylvania at Tulane

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department is teaming up with students from the University of Tennessee to explore alternative designs for the intersection at Pennsylvania and North Tulane avenues.

Some residents refer to the five-way intersection near Oak Ridge High School as “malfunction junction.”

The effort to explore alternative designs for the intersection is part of a senior project for the group of students from UT’s College of Civil and Environmental Engineering, a press release said. To help gather input from the community, the students will host an interactive open forum on Monday, March 4. The forum will be held in the Oak Ridge Public Library’s auditorium from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. [Read more…]

Heavy rain causes flooding, high water

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

East Fork Poplar Creek is flooded near South Illinois Avenue as heavy rain falls continuously on Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

East Fork Poplar Creek is flooded near South Illinois Avenue as heavy rain falls continuously on Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Heavy, continuous rain on Tuesday caused flooding on roadways and high waters in creeks.

Coal Yard Road in east Oak Ridge is closed due to flooding, the City of Oak Ridge said.

Water pooled on other roads was causing large puddles, and some drivers were driving around that water.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department encouraged drivers to slow down and watch for water as minor flooding was reported in Oak Ridge.

“Heavy, continuous rain has created hazardous driving conditions,” the City of Oak Ridge said. [Read more…]

City put brine on roads to prepare for winter weather

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department said snow plows are ready if needed, and crews put brine on the roads on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in an effort to reduce impacts on driving conditions from the winter weather forecast to start overnight Monday and continuing into Tuesday morning. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department said snow plows are ready if needed, and crews put brine on the roads on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, to try to reduce the impact on driving conditions from the winter weather that is forecast to start overnight Monday and continue into Tuesday morning. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department put brine on roads on Monday to try to reduce the effect that winter weather might have on driving conditions. Snow plows are ready, and the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department are preparing by bringing in extra emergency response staff, the City of Oak Ridge said.

Snow is possible, and temperatures are expected to plunge in the Oak Ridge area on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the seven-day forecast by the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The snow is expected starting overnight Monday and continuing into Tuesday morning. The low on Wednesday night is forecast at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. [Read more…]

Pavement patching under way in Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Pavement patching and repairs are under way across Oak Ridge, and the work is expected to continue during the next three months, a press release said.

The work is being done by PRI of East Tennessee Inc., working under contract for the City of Oak Ridge.

The repairs are part of an effort to assist the Oak Ridge Public Works Department street crews with a backlog of approximately 140 open work orders for pavement repairs associated with water main breaks, the press release said. More than half of the repairs needed are the result of the more than 80 water main breaks from January 2018. [Read more…]

Household hazardous waste collection in Oak Ridge on Sept. 15

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Anderson, Monroe, Montgomery, and Putnam counties on Saturday, September 15. The Anderson County collection will be in Oak Ridge.

“Our goal is to provide a convenient and no-cost option for residents to responsibly dispose of hazardous material to help protect Tennessee’s waterways, land and air from impacts by these common items,” said TDEC Commissioner Shari Meghreblian.

Any Tennessee resident is encouraged to bring their household hazardous waste—including cleaning fluids, pesticides, batteries, and more—to the designated drop-off locations, a press release said. You do not need to live in the county listed to participate in the event. (Note that hours listed indicate the local time.) [Read more…]

About Us

About Oak Ridge Today
What We Cover

How To

Advertise
Subscribe

Contact Us

Contact Oak Ridge Today