The Herald-News - News Story

A final contract was signed this month to pave the way for a $2.4 million road that will connect an industrial park in Spring City with State Highway 68.

The new General Shale brick plant spurred the state to fund the road project, but officials said the new one-mile stretch will also offer access to other vacant industrial tracts.

The road - coupled with the industrial park's other available infrastructure and railroad spur - should prime Spring City for industrial growth, according to Raymond Walker, executive director of the Rhea Economic Development Authority.

"This means as much to Spring City as Volkswagen means to Chattanooga," Walker said, referring to the much-hyped $1 billion assembly plant the German automaker is building in Hamilton County.

Spring City Mayor Mary Sue Garrison agreed. She said the final state contract to green light the road project was "one piece of paper I was glad to put my signature on."

"Obviously we are very excited to see this come to fruition because it will open Highway 68 as a major corridor into the industrial park," Garrison said. "This will provide a magnet for other companies to look at Spring City with serious consideration of moving into our community."

Walker said the new road will largely be funded by state grants. Construction likely won't start until 2011, but the contract signed this month should shield the project from economic setbacks.

"That means reality," he said. "It's a done deal."

The Rhea Economic Development Authority spent $45,000 this week on its expected portion of right-of-way acquisition, although that figure could inflate. Walker said the money came from proceeds from selling land to General Shale.

General Shale promises a $35-million investment and 80 new jobs at the Spring City brick plant, according to Walker. He said a grand opening is slated soon.

The brick plant will anchor the new industrial park on the northern edge of Spring City. It will be accessible by U.S. Highway 27 until the new industrial access road is complete.