OFFICIALS WITH THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ARE PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON SOME HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT DESIGNED TO MAKING TRAVELING IN THE TRI CITIES EASIER BE LINKING SULLIVAN AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES INTO A MUCH LARGER STATE-WIDE ROAD SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO TDOT SPOKESMAN TRAVIS BRICKEY, THE PROJECT WILL FEATURE TWO ELECTRONIC BOARDS STANDING IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANE NEAR COLONIAL HEIGHTS AND AONE NORTHBOUND NEAR TRI CITIES CROSSING AND FALL BRANCH. IN ADDITION, A RADIO TRANSMITTER ON 1620 AM WILL BROADCAST ANY IMPORTANT TRAFFIC INFORMATION. THE LOCAL PROJECT IS A SMALL COMPONENT OF THE SMARTWAY SYSTEM WHICH IS AN ELECTRONIC NETWORK AIMED AS KEEPING MOTORISTS IN TENNESSEE IN MOTION INSTEAD OF CREEPING IN TRAFFIC. IN ADDITION TO HELPING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, THE SIGNS CAN ALSO BE USED BY EMERGENCY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR SUCH THINGS AS AMBER ALERTS AND OTHER BREAKING NEWS ALARMS.