Crosswalk site foes can’t stop BOMA 5-0
Despite three residents’ objections to Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s approving a contract with Cannon & Cannon Inc. in the construction of a pedestrian crosswalks on McFee Road, the Board unanimously approved the contract during its Thursday, June 8, meeting.
Town engineer Darryl Smith said Cannon & Cannon will provide an engineering design of two mid-block pedestrian crossroads — one at Grigsby Chapel Road and another at McFee Road, near McFee Park, for $22,500.
However, residents such as Clark Brekke, who must use a walker, said the proposed location of the crosswalk is “too dangerous.
“I’m not convinced this is the right spot for (the crosswalk),” Brekke said. “I would like to see if there’s some way to get an island because they speed on McFee … I don’t think I can get across.
“There may still be a danger even with an island,” he added.
On Grigsby Chapel Road, the crosswalk is planned near the intersection of Grigsby Chapel Road with Weatherly Hills Boulevard and Woodchase Drive.
“The crossing will include a ‘pedestrian safety island’ and flashing beacons like the Grigsby Chapel Greenway crossing,” Smith said.
The crosswalk planned for McFee Road is “just north of the northern entrance to McFee Park on McFee Road,” he said. “Pedestrians and bicyclists on the McFee Greenway — east side of McFee Road — traveling the park will often cross McFee Road at this location,” Smith added.
While there is no island designed for McFee Road, as Smith said the road is to narrow, resident George Ellis requested one should be included, while resident Craig Smith suggested removing one of the sidewalks to make way for the island.
When asked when there would be public input on design, Smith answered, “Anything we do like this would have to go before the (Farragut Municipal) Planning Commission before we move forward to construction.”
He added including an island on McFee would be “far more expensive.”
“But (it) would serve a purpose in providing a mid-block crosswalk, diverting out; and then, as we come back in, that traffic-calming (island),” Vice Mayor Louise Povlin said.
Ellis said residents from one end of McFee to the other came together, signing a petition, to make McFee safer. “The people are getting agitated, just by mentioning the roads. You, as a Board, have heard residents who want something done.”
