W. Alan Beckelheimer "Something To Think About ..." Published Dec. 29, 2004

Recently expanded Miller bypass may yield expanded problems

Change and progress are simply the way of things. Fight it as we may, it is inevitable.

Some see the benefits of progress and herald it in with wide-stretched arms while others remain skeptical and wonder why something has to change when it is already good enough as is.

This is the dilemma faced by Cumberland Countians with the recent expansion of the Miller bypass.

Although the bypass has been open for less than two weeks, there have already been accidents on it. While this is a road and accidents will occur on any road, preventative steps can be taken in the planning and engineering phases to lessen their likelihood.

Yes, the bypass has its obvious benefits such as relieving some of the congestion on Main St. and providing some with quicker and more direct routes to and from work.

But the bypass does have some problems that anyone who has had an occasion to drive on it knows firsthand.

When driving on the Miller bypass there is a traffic signal hung but it doesn't operate. Instead, it flashes incessantly and oblivious to the many accidents that it almost causes everyday.

There may be some merit to the argument that a traffic signal should remain visible, i.e. flashing, for a period of time to get motorists accustomed to it before it is brought into operation, but when the merits are outweighed by the problems, a new solution is needed.

If the Miller bypass had a speed limit of say, 35 m.p.h., then the flashing light solution might be feasible. But when motorists are traveling a new road at 50 m.p.h. (or faster as you will note) the last thing I would want to happen is to be confused and not know when or where I am supposed to stop.

On several occasions I have either experienced a traffic backup or accident at the flashing light because people are unsure of what they are to do when approaching the light.

If it was operational, our color coded drivers training would instantly kick in and tell us stop or go depending on the color we see.

Another problem I have experienced on the Miller bypass lies with the intersection of Peavine Rd. and Hwy. 70.

When traveling on the bypass and approaching Peavine Rd., motorists see a stop sign. Ok simple enough to figure out. But under the stop sign is another sign that tells you the traffic on Hwy. 70 doesn't stop.

But motorists don't see this sign until they are almost to the intersection. Even when they do see the sign, the printing is rather diminutive, making it difficult to make out what exactly this important sign has to say.

Seems to me that common sense would dictate that there be warning signs concerning the intersection before you come to it.

The situation would be better resolved by moving the blinking traffic light to the Peavine Rd. intersection so as to ensure that no one dies from a combination of the factors of confusing signage, the newness of the road and the less than perfect visibility provided by the layout of the road and the lay of the land.

To make matters worse, the recent opening of a gas station next to the bypass on the Peavine Rd. end will guarantee that there will be added traffic on this busy end of the bypass.

While the Miller bypass may be new and improved, a little extra forethought in the planning phase of the road could have prevented a situation such as the one facing motorists each time they traverse the bypass and brave the gauntlet of the blinking light and the intersection that is guaranteed to test your luck.

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W. Alan Beckelheimer is a Crossville Chronicle staffwriter. His column appears Wednesdays in the Chronicle.