Update: According to Jim Snowden: The construction contract is in the amount of $520,308.25 and is 100% county capital dollars. “We haven’t closed out the project yet, so I’m not sure about the final cost, but we anticipate it to be at or below contract value.”
Knox County’s Engineering and Public Works is putting the final touches on a project that improves safety for drivers and pedestrians at a dangerous intersection on Maynardville Pike near Halls High School.
“At the intersection of Ledgerwood Road and Maynardville Pike, we’ve installed a traffic signal, several hundred feet of sidewalks and added pedestrian crosswalks,” said Jim Snowden, director of Engineering and Public Works. “This is a great project where we were able to kill two birds with one stone. This signal will make it much safer for people driving through here as well as pedestrians.”
Ledgerwood Road provides access to the rear entrance of Halls High School as well as residential areas. The new signal improves traffic flow and prevents drivers from having to turn across several lanes of oncoming vehicles on Maynardville Pike.
“In the past, there have been a lot of bad car crashes in this area. There were also some near misses with pedestrians. Kids were having to walk [on Ledgerwood Road] in the ditch line and cross the road where there really wasn’t a crosswalk,” said Snowden. “Now you’ll be able to press a button, it’ll stop traffic and safely cross this road without the fear of getting struck by a vehicle.”
Traffic lights went live on Oct. 5.
The traffic signals for vehicles went online October 5. Snowden said the pedestrian crosswalks should be operational within a couple of weeks. Crews still have to finish some striping as well as paving curb ramps to provide sidewalk access for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
“This has been a dangerous intersection at a busy location where you have Halls High School and several businesses,” said Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “I would like to thank the folks at Knox County Engineering and Public Works for all the work they’ve put into making it safer for everyone.”
You can see a video about the intersection improvements on YouTube.
Abbey Harris is deputy director of communications for Knox County.