Nashville Working to Improve its Most Dangerous Intersections
Two years ago, the Nashville Metro Police and Public Works Departments released a list of the top 29 most dangerous intersections in the city, based on the number of traffic accidents that have occurred in each place. These intersections were also marked for improvement based on research dating back to 2007. Since then, the Metro Public Works Department has been slowly working through the list of intersections in an attempt to improve the city’s safety.
Improvements Made
According to the Metro Public Works Department, “Bell Road at Hickory Hollow Parkway, we’ve done some signal timing changes, and Lebanon Road at Andrew Jackson Parkway, we did some re-markings and some signal timing changes there.” The department has been granted the $3 million needed from the federal government for the improvement, and all of the designs are done for all 29 locations. However, more than half of the intersections listed still need some more work, including Nolensville Pike at Thompson Lane.
Issues Affecting Work
One problem is the concrete islands in the middle of the lanes at certain intersections, which have created many issues that involve pedestrian injuries or deaths. “There are these islands kind of in the middle of everything that get in the way of pedestrians,” Metro has said. “Good for vehicles but not good for pedestrians. Takes a whole lot of reworking of the intersection.”
The main obstacle to improving any intersection is the right of way. Obtaining the right of way acquisition has been the biggest impediment so far for the Metro Public Works Department. Officials from the department must find the property owners and come to a purchase agreement for the land that is needed to improve the area. For example, on Gallatin Road at Conference Drive, additional land is needed near the intersection to widen and post new overhead warning signs.
Considerations for Drivers
Until all of the improvements are completed, the department and the city’s police are urging drivers to be careful on the roads, especially at these intersections. “We want to meet in the middle on this,” said a spokesperson from Metro. “You do your part as a driver and a pedestrian and we’ll do our part as engineers. Hopefully we can get the number of accidents to go down.”
Thankfully, around a dozen intersections do not have right of way issues to contend with, including 21st Avenue at Church Street. Work should begin on these unencumbered intersections in the spring, adding to the number of completed intersections that the department has finished over the last two years.
Contact a Nashville Auto Accident Lawyer Now
Even with the improvements to some of the city’s most dangerous intersections, a number of auto accidents still occur every day in Nashville. If you or someone that you know has been injured in an auto accident in the Nashville area, let the experienced personal injury lawyers at Calhoun Law, PLC help. Call the office or contact us today for a private and free review of your claims.