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HomeNewsTennessee Agencies Partner to Create Nation’s First Incident Management Training Facility

Tennessee Agencies Partner to Create Nation’s First Incident Management Training Facility

Tennessee Department of TransportationNashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Tennessee Department of Transportation on Wednesday, May 7th, broke ground on a first of its kind training facility.

The Tennessee Traffic Incident Management Training Facility will be used to teach best practices for safe, quick clearance of major highway incidents.

When complete, the facility will feature a section of interstate-like roadway ranging from two to six lanes, guardrail, a two-way interchange, and concrete barrier rail, as well as a section of two lane highway and a full four way intersection.

The facility will be used to simulate a variety of crashes, and allow emergency responders to train on safe and efficient clearance techniques.

“Along with our partners at TDOT, we are determined to improve our ability to clear major incidents from Tennessee roadways as safely and quickly as possible,” TDOSHS Commissioner Bill Gibbons said. “This facility will provide emergency responders with invaluable experience in dealing with a variety of crash scenarios.”

“We know the longer roadways remain closed due to major traffic incidents, the danger of secondary crashes increases dramatically,” TDOT Commissioner John Schroer added. “Improving emergency response will decrease congestion and keep our highways safer for all motorists.”

The training site concept, which is the first of its kind in the nation, was introduced to TDOT by Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott. The training site will be located on land adjacent to the THP Training Center off Stewarts Ferry Pike in Nashville. TDOT applied for and received federal Highway Safety Improvement Project funds, which will cover 90% of the $912,025.05 cost to build the facility.

“This training site will be available to all emergency response professionals from law enforcement, fire service, EMS, emergency management agencies, TDOT, and towing/recovery and HAZ-MAT companies,” THP Col. Tracy Trott said. “Not only will they learn best practices in clearance techniques, but also how to better coordinate response activities to achieve maximum efficiency.”

The Tennessee Traffic Incident Management Training Facility is expected to be complete in the Fall of 2014.

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