News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A Byrdstown corridor study of Highway 111 revealed a need for more turn lanes, a flashing light and curb buffers for a parking lot.
T-DOT and a Nashville Engineering firm conducted the analysis through a state grant the town received. T-DOT Transportation Planner Rachael Bergmann said a mixture of traffic data, surveillance and accident records were used.
“The goal of them is to help communities in our rural town’s throughout Tennessee think about long range planning,” Bergmann said. “Say you have improvements happening around 111, you can go to this plan and see the suggested improvements.”
Five recommendations were presented to the Board of Aldermen Monday by Project Engineer Trey Todd. Todd said the highest priority is adding curbs and driveway separation for a parking lot at Noah Drive.
“Just from watching from video camera, it is apparent there is a lot of cars that are going in any which direction to get into the parking lot,” Todd said. “We’re proposing to have a little bit better circulation and adding a raised curb with angle parking. The second improvement we propose is in the southwest corner to have a raised island and striping.”
Next on the priority list is State Route 111 at Education Boulevard. Todd said the intersection had a high rate of angled collisions that warrants the need for a flashing warning sign. Todd said a northbound right turn lane would also help lower the number of accidents.
The other three recommendations included a left and right turn lane at the Dollar General, a two-way left turn lane from State Route 325 to Noah Drive and constructing a new combined driveway at Country Farm and Home.
Mayor Sam Gibson said his biggest concern was the roadway at Dollar General. Gibson said while he agrees something needs to be done, he doesn’t think a right and left turn lane is the answer.
“This is the one I kind of question,” Gibson said. “(…) If you are coming from Static, you got a right turn lane into the Dollar Store and the lane goes straight on. But if you are coming the other way, you got a left turn into the dollar store and the right side goes straight on. What I wanted was a turning lane coming where you can come into the Bobcat and the other one a turn lane turning left from the other direction to the Dollar Store.”
Gibson said moving forward, the town will consider the improvement plan and act as the Board of Aldermen directs. Gibson said the town would seek grant funding opportunities to make the work happen.
The corridor study was made possible through a T-DOT Community Planning Grant awarded to the town in March.
