What a drag
Citizens along Virtue, Turkey Creek, McFee, Evans roads want to slow ‘racing’ speeders
Six residents pleaded for a solution to the speeding and “drag-strip” use of Evans, Virtue, Turkey Creek and McFee roads to Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen during its meeting Thursday, July 13.
“We live along Evans Road and … basically it’s a drag strip, and a poorly lit drag strip at that,” said John McCarthy, president of Farm at Willow Creek Homeowners Association, representing 81 homeowners. “This has been going on for a number of years and really nothing has been done about it.”
He attributed the noise occurring to the speed of cars traveling along Evans Road.
“We have 18 homes that are directly impacted,” McCarthy said. “My wife and I live a quarter of a mile up the hill and we can hear it … it’s a constant problem at night.”
Additionally, he pointed out the peril of the intersection of Evans and Virtue roads.
“If you’re at Evans Road and you’re going to make a left onto Virtue Road …(making) a left (turn) is unbelievably dangerous,” McCarthy said. “There’s a hill there on Virtue that you cannot see the cars coming.”
“No one, I’ve seen, pays attention to the 30 mph speed limit on Virtue Road,” he added.
With an upcoming improvement phase to Virtue Road, McCarthy asked the Board to consider the Evans-Virtue roads intersection.
“What we’re asking is that something be done, anything,” he added.
On McFee Road as well, resident Karyn Smydra warned there is a similar problem. She presented a petition representing almost 200 residents of the area, asking for help with the speeding. “The cars consistently and constantly go higher than the two posted signs of 30 mph,” she said. “And, as you’ve heard, there is drag racing down McFee Road.
“There are three other (new) subdivisions that are going to add about 300 homes that will contribute to this issue,” Smydra added.
“I live in that area as well, and I think some of the speed estimates given are really off — I think they are a whole lot higher than 45, 55 mph,” Alderman Drew Burnette said.
“I think it’s an absolute shame when you have a roundabout with big crosswalks and you can’t safely get across,” he added.
“We are (committed) to be part of the solution and working with you guys in any way you deem appropriate to make these streets safer for everybody,” Smydra said.
Kristen Rose asked for speed bumps on McFee Road.
“It is a family road,” she said, pointing out there are small children living along it.
“I would like for my children to check the mail or walk to the greenway and the stream without the fear of a speeding driver … plowing them over,” Rose added.
“McFee Road is out of control with the speeding,” Stacy Daganhardt said. “It’s ridiculous. I have talked with (Knox County Sheriff) Tom Spangler, and he told me allocation for police officers out here, especially West Knox County, is very limited.
“We’re usually allocated about five a day — that includes Cedar Bluff, everywhere (in West Knox County),” she added.
Having sheriff’s officers sit along a road for a couple of days subdues speeding for those days, but then “the drag strip starts again,” Daganhardt said.
Virtue Road resident Steve Williams offered a solution.
“We represent about 5 percent of Knox County,” he said. “All we have to do is act.
“We need (the county) to (give) our share of the money for police enforcement,” Williams added, explaining if the Town could get 5 percent of the sheriff’s office budget for patrol and officers, “the Town of Farragut would get $3.9 million.
Moreover, “We would also get $96,000 for administration,” he added. “We can subcontract officers for $40 an hour. We need to take charge of our roads all over Town.”
Considering a solution, “I would like to talk to (Town engineer) Darryl (Smith) first, and then assemble you guys and have conversations about what we can and can’t do and what are the possibilities,” Vice Mayor Louise Povlin said.
