Bristol Discusses Big Plans for West State Street Revamp

Bristol, Tenn./Va. – On Tuesday, enthusiasm and long-term city planning took center stage as Bristol, Tennessee and Virginia city councils teamed up to talk about a fresh start for West State Street. This joint meeting focused on the many ideas and possibilities for revamping the iconic street, which runs right through the heart of both cities.

During the meeting, the council members were given a detailed presentation outlining different ways the project could unfold. They discussed three main options for redeveloping the right-of-way on West State Street, which currently spans between 56 and 60 feet. One option is to keep the right-of-way as it is and work within those parameters.

However, two other possibilities involve expanding the right-of-way to either 65 or even 75 feet. Why consider the expansion? Well, extending the right-of-way could open up many opportunities. We’re talking about adding bike lanes, more crosswalks, wider sidewalks, vehicle lanes, and extra parking spaces. Imagine a more walkable, bike-friendly, and accessible West State Street!

Bristol, Tennessee City Manager Kelli Bourgeois comments on the topic, saying, “But we can still make great improvements even within the 56 to 60-foot right of way width; it’s just a different way of looking at things and a different design that we can work through.”

Of course, while the potential benefits are many, expanding the right-of-way also comes with its complexities. One of the hurdles is getting permission from property owners in the area. In some cases, the cities might need to buy properties to make room for the expansion. Bourgeois reassures, “What we want the property owners along the corridor to think about and to know from us, [is] we’re not trying to buy up buildings and force people out. We’re really trying to plan for that future and how we can just expand what we already have on State Street into that next step, that next level.”

Financial constraints and municipal regulations are also challenges to be tinkered with. On top of that, Bourgeois points out that congestion and safety are key considerations for the project. “We have seen it taking longer for people to get, let’s say, from Volunteer Parkway down to the Gate City Highway intersection. And so we just really want to make sure we’re accommodating vehicle traffic as best we can, especially given the casino and the other development for those vehicles that will be using West State more.”

Bourgeois adds, “We want to make sure that we have a safe corridor. And right now with turning movements and parking on varying sides of the street throughout, there’s just opportunity to do quite a bit of improvement there.”

What’s particularly noteworthy is that many of the ideas presented came from public feedback and research done during the project’s initial study phase. The call for more public input is still open. “If people have feedback, they think of something, or they’re walking or driving down in that area and something pops into their heads, even though the study is done, we still certainly want all of the public input that we can get. So, we would appreciate them reaching out to us to do that,” Bourgeois emphasizes.

As for the timeline? Well, that’s still a work in progress. Both city councils need to finalize the designs and gather all the necessary input before setting a schedule. However, there’s some news from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). They’re already planning to undertake re-striping and repaving work on West State Street by next summer. This could very well dovetail with the larger redevelopment plans, making for a seamless upgrade.

The redevelopment of West State Street is more than just a facelift—it’s about envisioning a future where Bristol remains vibrant, accessible, and safe for everyone. So, if you find yourself walking or driving down West State anytime soon, picture what it could become and let your voice be heard in shaping its future.

Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting project progresses!