TTU’s North Dixie Project Includes New Median, Roundabout

Tennessee Tech’s proposed street improvement plan for North Dixie Avenue would install a new median and a roundabout.

Cookeville City Planning Director James Mills said the university designed the upgrades with student safety in mind.

“I think that’s probably one of the biggest reasons they want to do this is to make it safer for kids to cross,” Mills said. “I mean they’ve done a lot to try and do that, but kids are kids and they just walk wherever. This would have controlled points through either fencing or vegetation, and it would also include a boulevard-type look with trees planted down the center.”

Cookeville officials discussed the project with University President Phil Oldham during Monday’s city work session.

The roundabout would be placed at the intersection of North Dixie, Mahler Avenue, and East 8th Street.

Councilman Eric Walker said the changes would also help improve the campus’s overall aesthetic.

“I think it’s really important. Up at the University of Tennessee, they did a project like this and it absolutely enhanced it amazingly,” Walker said. “They had crosswalks with [flashing lights] when students walked up to them, and it made it a lot safer and a lot better up there. So I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be the same for us.”

The project also includes limiting North Dixie to two lanes while creating two lanes for bike traffic.

Cookeville City Council will consider approving the university’s project design during Thursday’s meeting at 5:30 p.m.