News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Baxter officials expressed frustration Wednesday over efforts to install a traffic signal at the Highway 56 and Highway 70 intersection.
The frustration came after a three car accident occurred at the intersection’s four way stop.
Baxter Mayor John Martin said the state should be moving at a faster pace to get the project underway.
“This has been an ongoing problem for seven years and we’ve been spending a lot of energy trying to correct this problem and to keep someone from getting killed out there,” Martin said. “We’ve had a fatality at this intersection and it could have been a fatality this morning. We want to expedite this project and get it done as soon as possible.”
Tennessee Department of Transportation conducted a study several years ago, which warranted the need for traffic signals at the intersection. TDOT plans to begin construction sometime next year, but Baxter Police Chief Danny Holmes said that’s not soon enough,
“It’s just frustrating that there’s not a signal light there. I’ve been in meetings after meetings and it seems like they forget about Baxter,” Holmes said. “We are on the agenda to get one, but I want it today. I don’t want it a year from now. The study has been done and it warrants a traffic signal.”
Holmes said Wednesday’s crash put traffic at a standstill in four directions as teachers and students tried to get to school.
“I think the traffic light should have gone up when the new school was built, but here we are in 2018 and the start of a new school year,” Holmes said. “You would just have to come down here and observe what happens at that crossing each and every day, it’s unbelievable.”
In the meantime, Martin said he will continue to push for an expedited project and he’s encouraging city residents to get involved as well.
“I think it would be good if people would give Senator Bailey a call and air their frustrations to him. He’s the chairman of the transportation committee in the state of Tennessee and I know he’s got to have quite a bit of influence,” Martin said. “It would really be good if people air their frustrations the way I’ve aired mine.”
City officials estimate that 7,000 people drive through the intersection each day.
