Over two years ago I wrote an article about the problem on east bound Emory Road at I-75. Those of you who travel this route wishing to turn right onto the interstate know the problem. Since there is no designated turn lane. traffic backs up because of those people who are not turning; they are going straight east.
Over two years ago, I brought this to TDOT’s attention. I proposed that they make the east bound side a mirror image of the west bound side. They looked at my proposal and said this was very doable in that there was plenty of room to add a third lane and designate the right lane as turn only.
I checked back with them two weeks later and was told this was now on schedule.
Over two years later, nothing has been done. The excuses given were amazing: bad weather, too many more pressing jobs and budget. The one that topped the cake: they had to tear out the pavement and replace it to restripe. I find that amazing. If you travel the roads at all, you will know that restriping is done frequently by grinding off old striping and painting the new stripes.
I’ll not use names. I have spoken to one TDOT individual 8-10 times over the last two years. Stories ever changing.
I have spoken to a person from Knox County Engineering Department to find out that it would be the county who actually did the striping, not TDOT.
I spoke to our county commissioner who said they really had nothing do with this.
I find it unconscionable the TDOT runs the expenditure of millions of dollars up the flagpole on major highway projects while bypassing very cost-effective plans that would be a great improvement for drivers in the Powell area.
I apologize for having reported two years ago that relief was coming. In good faith, I believed what I was told. Guess I was naïve.
If you have any connections, reach out to them on this issue. It’s easy to spend money. Apparently, it’s difficult to save money.
Dan Arp is retired and lives in Heiskell with wife Cindy.
