County officials request review of intersection
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank talks to Anderson County Commissioner and chair of the Anderson County Highway Committee Ebony Capshaw. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Commissioner Sabra Beauchamp made the motion, and Commissioner Anthony Allen seconded.
The action came as part of the Highway Committee report, presented by the committee’s new chairwoman, Ebony Capshaw.
Capshaw said she has heard concerns from residents, and has witnessed issues at the intersection firsthand.
She told The Courier News she was nearly “T-boned” from two different directions while approaching the Sinking Springs intersection from the interstate.
Mark Nagli, TDOT’s regional communications officer for East Tennessee, said proposed improvements include adding an offset right-turn lane from Seivers Boulevard (State Route 61) onto Sinking Springs Road. Construction is expected to begin next fall.
“The installation of the right-turn lane is expected to provide several operational and safety benefits, including improved sight distance for vehicles turning left from Sinking Springs Road, increased intersection capacity, better accommodation for large vehicles, and a reduction in crash frequency at the intersection,” he said.
Capshaw said she does not believe the additional turn lane goes far enough to address safety concerns.
“I mean, I’m not a highway expert, but because it’s so many people trying to cross over at the same time, I would think it would be safer to have a light,” she said. She added that traffic congestion from Anderson County High School must be considered before a signal is added, and said she would like further study.
Capshaw said county Highway Department had already sent a letter to Houck, but she was not satisfied with the response.
“We still have questions that need to be answered,” she said, noting she will work with county Law Director Jamie Brooks on the commission’s letter.
Houck said he believes the issue is TDOT’s responsibility, not the city’s.
The committee appointed Capshaw as its chair after Commissioner Jerry White resigned.
Also at the Nov. 17 meeting, Commissioner Tim Isbel asked the Highway Committee to discuss safety concerns on Carol Hollow, where he said a recent fatality occurred.
Commissioner Shain Vowell said he would like TDOT to further review safety issues on State Route 116 in the New River area.
“I’m not mad at them,” Vowell said. “I don’t wish any ill will on them, but I certainly wish that they could move just a little bit faster when it comes to severe safety issues that we have.”