Traffic Lights Removed from Baxter Exit

Two traffic lights at the Baxter exit of I-40 were recently removed on Route 56.

Baxter Mayor John Martin said a construction company had installed the lights temporarily as crews worked to repair the Old Baxter Road Bridge at exit 276.

“The reason they did that was to do a detour through Baxter to divert people back through Silverpoint,” Martin said.

Martin said he would like to see traffic lights return to exit 280 in the future.

“Heading eastbound, I think there’s a need for [the lights],” Martin said, “There’s going to be quite a bit of growth that’s getting ready to happen on the south side of Baxter.”

Despite the lights being removed, Martin said the Tennessee Department of Transportation has awarded the town a $125,000 corridor study grant. The grant will be used to improve areas of Route 56 between I-40 and Highway 70N.

Martin said TDOT has approved traffic lights to be installed at the Route 56-Highway 70N intersection.

“TDOT said it was already a warranted situation,” Martin said. “We don’t know when they’ll be put up, but at least it’s a good sign that lights will be going there.”

A consultant has been hired by Baxter to assist in the corridor study, although the exact date of the study has not yet been announced by TDOT.

Martin said the original traffic lights were paid for by the construction company and not TDOT or Baxter.