KINGSPORT — Work on the new Tennessee Welcome Center in Kingsport is getting close to the midway point in the project.
For nearly a year, Charles Blalock and Sons of Sevierville has been working on the first phase of the welcome center project — roadway work and the construction of a new bridge over Interstate 26 at approximately mile marker 5.8, roughly between the Wilcox Drive and Rock Springs Road exits.
Michael Thompson, assistant public works director for the city of Kingsport, said paving is under way on the east side ramps, and concrete paving work should begin next week. Mark Nagi, a spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, said the bridge has been completed, and CB&S crews have been performing grading and paving
work on the entrance and exit ramps.
“Upcoming activities will include final grading and surface preparation for ramps and parking areas, as well as concrete and asphalt paving,” Nagi said. “To my knowledge, the roadway/site (work) is still on time for a September 30th completion.”
The road/bridge phase of the project was estimated to cost $11.6 million. The contract with CB&S for the work was awarded at $9.52 million.
As work winds down on the bridge and roadway phase of the project, the second phase — the actual construction of the building — will begin, at the earliest, in October, Nagi said.
Read the expanded version of this report in today print edition of the Times-News or its enhanced electronic edition.