News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A proposed project creating a separate truck lane up Monterey Mountain on I-40 eastbound would help keep Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers safe on the job.
THP Captain R.C. Christian said the issue of trucks using the left lane going up the mountain is enforced but can sometimes put officers in harm’s way.
There’s always a safety concern there. The priority of keeping the troopers safe while they enforce that law is one thing,” Christian said. “You also have to worry about the traffic coming up through there while you’re doing the enforcement actions as well. I will say this, we do enforce that, and that’s one of many areas that we do.”
Chritian said tight traffic conditions makes Monterey Mountain a difficult area for officers to patrol.
“We have deployed troopers to that area before. I will say one thing as far as that mountain is concerned,” Christian said, “it’s a difficult area to work. Usually because of the tricks, the traffic is congested and it’s very tight going up through there even with the lane to pull the vehicles over into.”
Christian said a third lane for trucks would reduce the number of accidents that occur in the area. According to the Putnam County Transportation Committee, over 550 accidents have occurred on Monterey Mountain since 2013, with over 100 causing injury.
“I would love to see a truck lane there,” Christian said. “That would eliminate a lot of calls and I get consistent calls on that area. The key is you’re looking at an area where traffic is going through then all of a sudden, the trucks bog things down and… it creates an issue. That’s when we have the rear-end crashes and things like that up there.”
Christian said a third lane recently installed for trucks on I-40 eastbound in Cumberland County has improved traffic in that area and could do the same for Putnam County.
“The terrain of Monterey Mountain, it’s just got a reputation,” Christian said. “For the truckers that come through there, they know it’s there and they’re very aware of it. Any time you’re easing some of the burden on the motorists and making it that way, I definitely approve of it. It helps helps us on the highway patrol side of things immensely.”
The Transportation Committee’s recent public survey indicated a truck lane on Monterey Mountain was the most-needed for the county. Committee members agreed the project is needed, but is unlikely to be a top priority compared to other projects.
