Dissent greets beltway decision [Sundquist Makes Parting Shot to East TN with Beltway Decision]

Boos, insults and one state legislator's near-tussle with state troopers interrupted Transportation Commissioner Bruce Saltsman as he announced plans to build the Knoxville Beltway along the controversial Orange Route.

The words had barely left Saltsman's mouth before the shouting began at Wednesday's press conference - particularly from state Rep. H.E. Bittle, who has vehemently opposed the Orange Route.

The route would come directly through Bittle's own community in West Knox County's Hardin Valley, and the legislator confronted Saltsman on an alleged promise to spare the rural land.

As Bittle removed his jacket, pointed at Saltsman and shouted "Liar!," the commissioner called Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers in from the wings to physically remove Bittle, if necessary.

Bittle contended that Saltsman and Gov. Don Sundquist, during a closed-door meeting years ago, promised to not build the Orange Route.

"I went to his office, and he told me he would do what the governor told him to do," Bittle said. "The governor said, 'If you don't want this route in Hardin Valley, it won't be there.'?"

Saltsman responded, "I have a whole lot of meetings, and I don't remember being there."

Seconds later, the commissioner sidestepped the argument and left the room, bringing the press conference to an abrupt end.

Bittle was one of about 10 people whose shouts and insults peppered the announcement.

After the outbursts, Saltsman characterized himself as a 72-year-old man who was too old to fight anymore.

"I'm not going to call (Bittle) a liar. I'm a better man than that," he said, adding that the alleged meeting "possibly and may have taken place. Can I deny it? No. Can I say it took place? No."

But the commissioner, who is soon to retire alongside Sundquist, denied that politics had anything to do with the route decision as he argued the logic of the Tennessee Department of Transportation's engineers.

"When the day is done, the information available will show that we really have no choice," Saltsman said. "(The engineers) are going to figure out the best place to put it and the best way to impact the least amount of people. I don't have a road anywhere that I, personally, want built."

The 38-mile Orange Route is expected to cost about $273 million and would directly affect 80 residences in an attempt to ease local congestion by diverting Interstate 75 traffic away from Knoxville.

But TDOT officials and other Orange Route supporters argue that the route is still preferable to the longer, more expensive and less effective Blue Route, which was drawn farther west through Anderson County.

Officials also supported their decision with the final numbers from the five public hearings held earlier this year for the project, which recorded a 75 percent public approval rating for the Orange Route.

Of the 4,254 written comments received, 3,196 supported the Orange Route, while only 536 opposed the choice, according to TDOT figures.

Residents from Hardin Valley plan to take action, although the local opposition group is currently working to secure a new lawyer.

"We haven't retained him, but we do plan on moving forward swiftly and quickly," said resident Angela Robbins. "We plan to exhaust every effort to fight TDOT, and we look forward to a new governor."

Robbins said that if a lawsuit were filed, no action would be taken until the Federal Highway Administration approves the project's final Environmental Impact Statement.

Many of those opposed to the Orange Route have also expressed hope that a new governor would bring change to the state agency and support a new review of the beltway plans.

"This is a last-gasp attempt by Bruce Saltsman to tie the hands of the next governor," said Mayor Victor Ashe, a frequently vocal critic of the Orange Route. "But there will be ample time for review by the next governor."

Ashe predicted that the controversy surrounding the project could derail TDOT's funding request for the route during the next General Assembly.

Saltsman conceded that lawsuits are sure to follow his Wednesday announcement. And while the beltway is still some 10 years away, the time line could be pushed back further by litigation.

The commissioner likened the beltway's future to that of the Pellissippi Parkway Extension in Blount County, where construction was halted in July after a lawsuit led to a judge's preliminary injunction.

After the shouting and allegations, however, Saltsman ultimately seemed unfazed by the day's hoopla and said he was too close to retirement to feel otherwise.

"Do I worry about it?" Saltsman said. "I'm 72 years old. I've done the best I know how to do. But now I'm going to go play golf."

Well, it looks as if Sundquist has made his parting shot at East Tennesse for not supporting the income tax. The figures that TDOT give in this article for support of the orange route are ridiculous. I think they got the orange and blue mixed up.

It makes absolutely no sense to build a beltway parallel to the existing interstate separated a couple of miles. Nashville did it right buy building 880 far enough out to allow for years of growth. The orange route is already outdated due to CURRENT growth.

It is obvious that Sundquist is out to destroy anyone who has opposed him in the last 8 years. This man is very vindictive. I hope that he does not end up being forced out early like Ray Blanton. The State and National Republican parties (Bill Frist, etc.) should get in here and get this man under control lest he destroy Republican chances in November. President Bush has a very deep interest in Republicans carrying Tennessee and the Governor seems to be working in a way that will hurt that goal. He is aiding Democrats and Al Gore everytime he does or says these destructive things!

About the same thing happened to that $450M UNWANTED/UNNEEDED road up in Greene CO. Hmmm maybe one of those golfing/trucking buddies of king don got rewarded.

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