Joint debrief on winter storm response
JACKSON, Tenn. — After residents of Jackson and Madison County voiced their concerns on the road conditions following the recent storm, leaders met to discuss plans for the future.
We dive into statements from local officials coordinating practical improvements for future winter weather events, to ensure lessons learned were addressed while details were still fresh.
Leaders emphasized that residents experience the transportation system as a whole especially during inclement conditions throughout the region.
The City of Jackson, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Madison County Highway Department, Madison County Emergency Management Agency, and the City of Jackson Public Works division came together to review response efforts.
“We did find some ways that we can work a little bit better together. Individually we talked about how each: TDOT, city, and county can do better in this situation and primarily the most important thing we came out of with… was that we’ve got to increase communication. There were some.. really not changes in TDOT’s way they do business, they always prioritize I-40, but they prioritized I-40 at a higher level,” said Madison County Mayor AJ Massey.
Mayor Massey acknowledges weather conditions were an unusual site than what Madison County is used to.
Mayor Conger notes that the city of Jackson is potentially looking at their maintenance agreement with TDOT to partner in ways that will help with pretreatment to roadways and maneuvering inside resources.
“We’re going to put the request for quotation (RFQ) out for contractors with that heavy equipment capability. Not necessarily for those that can drive it, but if they have it available that we rent like we did this past week so we’re not having to go find new contractors,” said Mayor Scott Conger, City of Jackson.
Most drivers are back on the roadway and streets are shaping up for the days ahead. After a debrief with local leadership, communication and preparation is the focus for the future.
“It’s different all over. The City of Jackson does have a city maintenance agreement. Not every city in town has a maintenance agreement with us. Highland for instance is a city street, but it’s also a state street. In that agreement it’s their agreement to take care of it. That’s where I think that next time, prior to an event as it’s being predicted and we’re leading up to the days preparing for…we can come to the table earlier and say okay look guys let’s talk about this. We don’t plan for crews and trucks to be on routes that are maintained by somebody else,” said TDOT Communications Specialist Nichole Lawrence.
According to Lawrence, TDOT covers 21 counties. They are responsible for every state highway and interstate up until the Mississippi river. Going forward local leaders support essential engagement of emergency resources to plan ahead. This means earlier engagement of emergency contractors, evaluating expanded salt storage and supply options, and exploring pretreatment strategies.
This initiative is a way to address life-safety concerns, hospital access, emergency routes, and major employment and industrial impacts.
See more HERE for the original release.
