News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Developers of the Shoppes at Eagle Point in Cookeville have prepared for any potential traffic issues as stores prepare to open next week.
Principal Mike McGuffin of CHM Development said traffic studies gave the firm insight as to what needed to be done to alleviate traffic woes.
“We went through the process of doing a traffic study prior to the full permitting of the project,” McGuffin said. “The traffic study by our traffic engineer recommended we do a [deceleration] lane on Interstate Drive providing access to people westbound on Interstate Drive to get into the Shoppes at Eagle Point.”
McGuffin said a separate truck entrance off South Walnut will also help reduce the risk of any traffic issues entering the Shoppes.
“There is a rear entrance where we’re encouraging all the truck traffic to utilize to get behind the shopping center for deliveries,” McGuffin said, “which would keep the truck traffic from [South] Walnut Avenue and keep it contained to behind the shopping center.”
McGuffin said a second entrance for shoppers will be located along South Walnut near the truck entrance.
“All the turning movements were studied, so what you see and the improvements that are out there are what were recommended by the traffic engineer,” McGuffin said.
The first two stores opening at the Shoppes at Eagle Point include Publix on Wednesday, Aug. 29 followed by Five Below on Friday, Aug. 31. Other stores coming to the shopping center include PetSmart, Ulta Beauty, Academy Sports, Chipotle, and Five Guys. Baskin Robbins, located on South Jefferson Avenue, will relocate to the Shoppes in the near future.
