News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
T-DOT has placed signs saying, “No sales or soliciting on state right-of-way,” under the Cookeville I-40 overpass on Jefferson Avenue.
That after local municipalities made the request. Public Information Officer Jennifer Flynn said Cookeville’s T-DOT offices received questions from local officials asking what could be done to increase safety.
“They were expressing concerns that there had been some issues in that particular area,” Flynn said. “And asked if there was anything that we can do. It is against the law. You can not sale anything or solicit or do anything like that on state right-of-way.”
The location off exit 287 has grown into a well known gathering point for panhandlers. Flynn said she is unaware of any other locations in Putnam County with the signage.
“In cases like that when the concerns are raised with us, if we can safely put additional sign out there, we will do that,” Flynn said. “It just kind of reinforces what the law is, so there is no question about it.”
Flynn said the additional signage is not only for the safety of drivers, but also for any pedestrians walking in the area.
“If you are somebody out on the side of the road like that, it is not safe for them either,” Flynn said. “Being on the side of the road is a very scary place, so nobody needs to be hanging out on the side of the road unless they know what they are doing like our T-DOT forces. It is really a safety issue.”
T-DOT bases its guidelines on the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
