(The Center Square) – Tennessee’s inventory of infrastructure needs is $5.4 billion higher than a year ago, according to a new report from the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
The largest increases included post-secondary education ($1.2 billion) and both water and wastewater projects ($1.1 billion).
The largest driver for the increase was $506 million in an estimated cost increase for a Nashville sewer system upgrade related to a consent decree from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Of the new projects, four were $30 million or more: a new water treatment plant in Wilson County ($75 million), an intake line to the Pigeon Forge Water Treatment Plant in Sevier County ($50 million), a sewer upgrade in Kingsport ($40 million), and a new water plant in Lewisburg ($30 million),” the TACIR report said. “The increased cost of existing water and wastewater infrastructure needs is primarily driven by a single project that increased by $506 million (69%) as a result of updated cost estimates.”
The estimated increase come despite nearly $1 billion in federal water, wastewater and stormwater grants sent to 329 local governments through the American Rescue Plan Act.
The law enforcement needs estimate increased by $495 million through $186 million in costs for the new Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Emergency Operations Center in Nashville and a $100 million increase for the jail and justice center in Morristown.
The post-secondary cost increases include $108 million in addition costs for a renovation of Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee and a $66 million increase for the addition to Fletcher Hall at Tennessee Chattanooga.
The University of Tennessee also has a new $227 million project at its College of Business and $151 million for a chemistry building to replace the current building.
