Cookeville Wants To Add Turn Lane At Capshaw Elementary

The city of Cookeville wants to decrease traffic issues in front of Capshaw Elementary.

Cookeville Public Works Director Greg Brown said the city wants to add a turning lane along Hudgens Street and Elm Avenue. But the Putnam County School Board must approve giving the land to Cookeville before starting the project. Brown said the lane will allow parents to line up to pick up their children from school.

“When they (parents) line up on the street, sometimes it impedes traffic flow that is just going through the area,” Brown said. “So, hopefully, this will get the majority of the traffic out of the main traveling lane.”

Brown said the city and school system have both received complaints for traffic in this area. If the turn lane is completed, traffic will no longer have to pass the student pick-up line by entering oncoming traffic.

“We will probably have to do some planning and show the school board what our intentions are,” Brown said. “If they are good with it, we can get some right away donated and schedule when work begins.”

The school board approved exploring next steps for Capshaw Elementary at their meeting on June 4th.