The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page A1

CYANMAGYELBLK TennesseanBroadsheet Master TennesseanBroadsheet Master 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 TennesseanBroadsheet Master TennesseanBroadsheet Master 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 To subscribe call: 242-NEWS or (800) 342-8237 1A www.tennessean.com CONTENTS Airfares 2J Auto racing 5C Baseball 4-5C Biz Legends 3E Biz people 5-6E Books 30-31D Celebrities 3A Date in history 3A David Climer 1C Dear Abby 54D Deaths 4-5B Editorials 28-29A Sections: Issues 25A Local Sports Life Business Classifieds Wheels Home Travel Sunday September 5 89 70 2004 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE A GANNETT NEWSPAPER VOLUME 100, NO. 249 10 SECTIONS COPYRIGHT 2004 PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID IN NASHVILLE, TN www.tennessean.com A A New SmartWay traffic camera New electronic message board Map area Key 2.6 mile section 3.5 mile section More to come? Construction along Interstate 65 north of Nashville has been a constant companion for commuters for more than three years. What may look like one major project is actually broken into three main sections that run south from Vietnam Veterans Boulevard. The two northernmost sections are examined here. northern front SOURCE: Tennessee Department of TransportationPHOTOS BY SANFORD MYERS, GRAPHIC BY KENT TRAVIS, VINCENT TROIA STAFF I-65 fromOld Hickory Boulevard to Vietnam Veterans Boulevard: Construction began in 2002 to widen the interstate from three lanes to five in each direction.

Improvements to Vietnam Veterans ramps also are being made. Average daily vehicles (2003): 120,490 I-65 and Old Hickory Boulevard: The continuation of I-65 widened to five lanes, plus the erecting of noise barrier walls. Nearby bridges over I-65 at Due West Avenue and Chadwell Drive have been rebuilt. Average daily vehicles (2003): 94,040 (between Briley Parkway and Old Hickory Boulevard) Briley Parkway at I-65: The interchange here is being completely rebuilt. The project, launched in 2001, includes new Briley and Dickerson Pike bridges, and the installation of electronic message boards north of the interchange along I-65.

Average daily vehicles (2003): 123,560 (between Briley Parkway and Dickerson Pike) 65 24 The state Department of Transportation has postponed for at least three years the work on another section, south from Briley Pike to Trinity Lane. However, TDOT will monitor traffic south from Dickerson to I-24, where lanes will shrink from five to three. If congestion is present, TDOT may launch a nine-month project in 2005 to add two more southbound lanes. To be completed in 2006 To be completed by early 2005 No one on state tax commission willing to rule out income tax Connie Powell leaves at 6 a.m. to commute to work in downtown Nashville at Life- Way Church Resources.

rather not go to work so early, but have no options because leaving any later would mean creeping through really heavy traffic for an hour or so. have to give the construction folks a I think done a pretty good job of keeping three lanes open, giving us ample warning of weekend closures, Bad news: The project is a year behind. Good news: The squeeze will be eased. By KELLI HEWETT TAYLOR StaffWriter any a motorist has felt unnerved when driving Interstate 65 out of Nashville toward Madison, Goodlettsville or RiverGate Mall: the tightening of the stomach muscles as an 18- wheeler strays closer; the squint to read those makeshift exit-ramp signs; the panic of realizing you just missed your exit, which was redone. The widening of I-65 from south of Dickerson Pike to Vietnam Veterans Boulevard may feel like been going on forever, but the first section of the project began just years ago.

Each of the two current projects along I-65 is now behind by at least a year. There have been delays in moving the utilities, acquiring land, managing design issues with noise-barrier walls none of which has increased the cost of the project, officials said. The state has worked to keep three lanes open during peak travel times though some areas are a tighter squeeze than normal interstate lanes, stretching out the tense driving conditions for motorists, both local and out-of-town. When finished, each side of I-65 north of downtown will have five lanes. Please see I-65, 2A By DUREN CHEEK StaffWriter No one on a state commission studying taxes is outright opposed to an income tax, a Tennessean survey has found.

All 19 members of the Tax Structure Study Commission said they are open to an income tax, although several told the newspaper they are open to other ideas and do not think an income tax is a viable political option. The panel is working to come up with its recommendations by a Dec. 31 deadline, a few days before the legislature convenes. income tax is one of the major components of taxation in every state in the said former state revenue commissioner Joe Huddleston of Nashville, a tax-panel member. those that utilize it recognize that it is a key component of taxation on both the state level and the federal Tennessee imposes an income tax only on dividend income, not on wages and salaries.

The state relies heavily on the sales tax, which most commissioners see as costing the poor disproportionately. Former state Sen. Bob Rochelle of Lebanon, a commission member, explained why an income tax should stay on the table. Critics say panel hand-picked to back income tax, but members say minds open Gail Kerr 1B Garden Club 1H Handyman 4H Hockey 13C Horoscope 53D Lottery 2A Milestones 31-35D Ms. Cheap 52D Social Life 21-22D Tennis 3C Titans 11C TV 36-51D NATION WORLD Russia shows to terrorists, Putin says By ALLEN G.

BREED Associated Press FORT PIERCE, Fla. Potent but slow-moving Hurricane Frances snapped power lines and whipped the Atlantic Coast with winds over 90 mph yesterday, knocking out electricity for about 2 million people and forcing Floridians to endure another day of waiting and worrying. The wind uprooted trees and peeled off roofs; coastal waters resembled a churning hot tub. folks are getting pounded, and got worse to said Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center. The slow-motion assault Frances crawled toward Florida at just 5 mph before stalling over warm Floridians brace for Frances By MIKE ECKEL Associated Press BESLAN, Russia A shaken President Vladimir Putin made a rare and candid admission of Russian weakness yesterday in the face of an by terrorists after more than 340 people nearly half of them children were killed in a hostage- taking at a southern school.

Putin went on national television to tell Russians they must mobilize against terrorism. He promised wide- ranging reforms to toughen security forces and purge corruption. showed weakness, and weak people are he said in a speech aimed at addressing the grief, shock and anger felt by many after a string of attacks that have killed about 450 people in the past 10 days, apparently in connection with the war in Chechnya. Shocked relatives wandered among row after row of bodies lined up in black or clear plastic body bags on the pavement at a morgue in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, where the dead from the school standoff in the town of Beslan were taken. In some open bags lay the contorted, thin bodies of children, some monstrously charred.

In Beslan, people scoured lists of names to see if their loved ones survived the chaos of the day before, PUTIN Weather forecast on 6B Inside words fail to comfort victims. On 17A strongest winds expected today INSIDE ON PAGE 6A Find out what members ofthe tax commission think about tax structure. FUTURE OF GREER Living the high life Stunt pilot likes to fly any way but straight LIFE, 5 A look at the possibilities ifSounds get new digs ON 1E UT VS. UNLV Vols will find out what freshmen QBs are made of SPORTS, 1C Jay Cutler S.C. gives Vandy dose of reality Turnovers, inability to stop the run spell disaster SPORTS, 1C SPECIAL REPORT Please see INCOME TAX, 8A Please see RUSSIA, 15A Third of six parts Series schedule Aug.

22: Motorists crawl through construction on the I- split east of downtown. Aug. 23: Flyover ramps to ease traffic at I-40 and White Bridge Parkway Today: It be long before maneuvering Interstate 65 north of downtown will become easier. Tomorrow: Funding and timing explain why all this road work is going on at once. Tuesday: Does adding lanes solve the congestion along the interstates? Experts weigh in.

Wednesday: rank in a national traffic-congestion study. Online: Visit www.Tenness- ean.com and type in the keyword TRAFFIC to read previously published stories. AP Gabriella Adorno and her father, Joseph, of Indialantic Beach, shield their eyes from blowing sand. Inside class swamped by Tennesseans wanting to help. On 12A Please see FRANCES, 11A I-65 drivers should see some reliefahead.