News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County’s first roundabout is open, replacing an intersection on Highway 136 North.
The roundabout will provide access to Old Kentucky Road, Airport Road and South Cookeville Lane. White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said he originally didn’t support the roundabout until T-DOT showed him the data compared to a four-way stop.
“Your accidents in a roundabout are normally glancing blows, side to side hits and it really limits the personal injury,” Robinson said. “That’s what kind of sold me on it and backed me off from fighting it so much, because it may not decrease accidents but it will save people’s lives.”
Robinson said this is a state road and T-DOT is trying to spread the word on how to use the roundabout, but Robinson said he wants to get information out locally. There is a misprint on the roundabout sign, the exit that says Randolph Mill Road should say South Cookeville Lane.
“They put the sign up late last night, I started getting calls on it and I went out there this morning and met with them and discussed it,” Robinson said. “They didn’t give me a timeline but we’ll get it corrected.”
Robinson said the conception idea on this began about four years ago. Robinson said if the roundabout is a success, the county will look at adding more.
