KINGSPORT TENNESSEE

The paving of roads is a consistent top priority for our citizens.
Under the city’s hierarchy of needs, roads are a foundational
fundamental, a basic need that is important to maintain to
keep all traveling safely and effectively. Paving, as it relates
to transportation infrastructure, is critical in supporting and
obtaining economic growth and development.
Typically, the paving rotation for a road is every 20-25 years, and
over the next five years, the city will establish this appropriate
length of paving cycle. In the past, paving has been severely
underfunded, almost double the recommended cycle, and now
the city has the opportunity to appropriately take care of an
essential service.
Currently, Kingsport is conducting a paving test on every street.
Using ground-penetrating radar, the paving tests will result in an
assessment of all city-managed streets, showing their condition
and determining the level of repair needed. A master roadmap
will be developed from the tests to create and implement the
sustainable paving plan.
In addition to standard paving, a concrete crew will be dedicated
to the construction and repair of concrete assets, such as
sidewalks, curbs and concrete streets. An enhancement crew will
also be used, and this crew will maintain and elevate the level of
service at the city’s key areas, such as gateways, downtown areas
and major intersections. Finally, a mowing crew will provide
finished mowing and a higher level of landscape maintenance
along I-26 from Rock Springs to MeadowView in an effort to
improve one of the main entrances to Kingsport.
The sustainable paving plan for Kingsport is made possible
through the American Electric Power (AEP) franchise fee. A
power franchise fee is an industry standard payment common
to most cities.
Infrastructure
Maintenance Highlights
First sustainable paving plan
Targeted funding for technology
infrastructure
Providing unprecedented funding
for operational basics
Ability to seize grant opportunities
(i.e. Transit Center and Greenbelt
extension)
Bays Mountain Dam Repair
The City of Kingsport had a 99-year agreement with AEP, and
since 2011, the city and AEP have worked together to formulate
a plan moving forward, as the original contract ends in 2016.
Companies, such as AEP, providing residents and businesses a
service in a specific geographic area that have been granted the
right to serve, are able to provide a funding source back to the
community through the city. AEP and the City of Kingsport have
a 20-year agreement at this time.
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