State officials announced that they will be installing a traffic light on a road plagued with tragedy in Clarksville, following a crash that killed four people.
On Friday TDOT approved a signal at the intersection of Edmondson Ferry Road and the U.S. Highway 41A Bypass.
The city has been studying the intersection for years but renewed its efforts in July after May Kim McMillan, city street department officials and TDOT leaders met with citizens from neighborhoods near the intersection.
Those neighbors urged officials to consider a traffic light.
“TDOT Region 3 Traffic office reviewed the traffic study conducted by your office to determine the need for a traffic signal. We concur with your findings that the traffic volumes warrant a traffic signal at this intersection,” Phil Trammell, TDOT Region 3 Traffic Engineer, said friday in a statement.
In the statement, Mayor Kim McMillan said she was pleased TDOT has agreed with the city and will allow traffic signals to be installed.
“This shows that the City is willing to listen to citizens and act on their concerns,” McMillan said. “We told residents we would study the intersection, and work with the state to do what the data indicated.”
Records obtained by NewsChannel 5 show that at least eight fatal crashes have happened on Ashland City Road in the same area throughout the course of the last two years.
“People need to know that this action is not directly related to the tragic crash that occurred Wednesday,” Mayor McMillan said. “But I strongly support moving ahead with signals, and taking every reasonable action to make this roadway better for our citizens.”
The city's study shows traffic volumes have increased significantly in recent months because of new homes and retail near the intersection, and the numbers justify the new signal.
