Motorists are requesting a left-turn signal on Vervilla Road at the intersection of Chancery Street and Morrison Street to make the onramp to Highway 55 toward Manchester easier to access.
The county Highway and Bridge Committee met with members Randy England, Gary Martin, David Rhea and Blaine Wilcher in attendance.
Commissioner Michael Shane Wilcher was in attendance and relayed the desire for a turn signal.
“I’ve been asked about the possibility of getting a turn-signal light at the intersection by the high school,” said Wilcher. “When you leave Hickory Lane and turn right. Rather than going right toward downtown at the intersection, you go left under the bypass and hit 55. There is no left-turn signal at that intersection before the underpass. They were wondering if they could get one.”
The area is within the city of McMinnville and on a state route, says Road Superintendent Levie Glenn.
“If it’s out in the county, it’s the county’s job to maintain the lights. I guess it’s probably the same thing in the city. They have to maintain. As far as getting them changed, I don’t know,” said Glenn.
McMinnville Mayor Jimmy Haley was in attendance and said city administrator Bill Brock or Public Works assistant director Brad Hennessee will check on the need for a turning signal but the final decision will be up to Tennessee Department of Transportation.
“I’ve brought it to the state’s attention,” said Haley. “Either Bill Brock or Brad will go out there two to three times to monitor the traffic flow just to see if there is anything we can do.”
School traffic in the morning and in the afternoon is what’s creating the turning problem.
“When you have 3,000 to 4,000 cars going thru there every morning, it wasn’t built for that kind of traffic,” said Haley. “You have 1,200 kids driving, plus parents dropping off school kids, plus Hickory Creek School, plus people going to work, plus people who live in the area. It just wasn’t meant for that volume. All we can do is monitor it and notify the state.”
England asked Haley to keep committee members informed.