Bruce Saltsman Explained

Bruce Saltsman
Governor:Don Sundquist
Term Start:January 21, 1995
Term End:January 18, 2003[1]
Predecessor:Carl Wood (acting)
Successor:Gerald F. Nicely
Birth Name:John Bruce Saltsman
Birth Date:August 28, 1930
Birth Place:Loretto, Kentucky, U.S.
Death Place:Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Edna Elaine

John Bruce Saltsman (August 28, 1930 – September 1, 2017) was the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation from 1995 to 2003.[2] Before becoming commissioner, he was a road construction company executive with McDowell-Saltsman Construction, Saltsman Construction, and Rodgers and Saltsman Construction.[3] [4]

In 1996, Saltsman along with Governor Don Sundquist, approved a $160,000 grant to convert a bridge in Townsend, Tennessee to a covered bridge, but later announced that the grant had been pulled.[5] The bridge was closed to traffic in 2009 and became a pedestrian bridge.[6] During his tenure as commissioner, Saltsman oversaw the construction of State Route 840's southern loop around Davidson County, and the planning for the route's northern loop which was cancelled shortly after he left office due to budget and environmental issues.[7] [8]

After Republican Bill Haslam won the 2010 gubernatorial election, there was speculation that Saltsman would return to his former position at the Department of Transportation.[9] Saltsman did not return to politics, and Haslam instead chose John Schroer to serve as commissioner.[10]

On September 2, 2014, a portion of U.S. Route 64 in Lawrenceburg was renamed in Saltsman's honor.[11] Saltsman's son Chip is an American politician, who has served as a political adviser and campaign manager.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TDOT Commissioner History . Tennessee Department of Transportation . January 20, 2019.
  2. Web site: Bruce Saltsman, former TDOT commissioner, dies aged 87 . Tennessee Journal: On the Hill . January 20, 2019.
  3. Web site: John Bruce Saltsman . Legacy.com . January 20, 2019.
  4. Web site: The Agency's Latest Blunders . nashvillescene.com . . August 23, 2020.
  5. Web site: Butler . Iva . State pulls funding for covered bridge . thedailytimes.com . The Daily Times . August 23, 2020.
  6. News: Jones . Andrew . Construction on Townsend's covered bridge begins, set to finish in under two months . August 23, 2020 . The Daily Times . The Daily Times . September 11, 2019.
  7. News: Peebles . Jennifer . 18-mile section of I-840 may open by end of the year . August 23, 2020 . . . July 31, 1996.
  8. Tennessee Department of Transportation . Tennessee Department of Transportation . October 31, 2003 . TDOT Announces Decision on State Route 840 North . Tennessee Department of Transportation . PDF . August 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071127233215/http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/news/2003/ut_projects/10-31-2003sr840n.pdf . November 27, 2007 .
  9. News: Whitehouse . Ken . Cabinet making . November 24, 2020 . . F.W. Publishing . November 11, 2010.
  10. News: Reisinger . Brian . Franklin Mayor John Schroer tapped as Haslam's transportation chief . November 24, 2020 . . . January 4, 2011.
  11. Web site: Bruce Saltsman Bypass Dedication . . . August 23, 2020.