Preliminary plans approved for Watt Road roundabout
The Farragut Municipal Planning Commission approved preliminary plans for the roundabout at 301 N. Watt Road during its meeting Thursday, Feb. 19.
“This is a project that has been on our books for a couple of years,” Town engineer Darryl Smith said. “The idea is it will slow traffic and create a safer entrance to the park.
“The roundabout will also discourage heavy truck traffic that might be using Watt Road to avoid the truck scales on Interstate 40/75 just east of Watt Road,” he added. “The proposed roundabout has an outer radius of 70 feet. For comparison, the roundabout at Northshore Drive and Concord Road has an outer radius of approximately 66 feet, and the roundabouts on McFee Road have a radius of approximately 50 feet.”
“I think the other roundabouts that we have in town are on two-lane roads, and this is on a three-lane road,” Commissioner Jon Greene said. “North of that proposed roundabout is a crosswalk, and it’s been run over two or three times, so I’m curious about how we make a transition from three lanes onto the two-lane roundabout. Do you have any comments on that?” Greene asked Seth Bradley, designer with Thompson Engineering.
“Basically, that transition will happen on the island,” Bradley answered. “The center line runs east to west.
“There are concrete islands on the left and right side, so the striping will change to gore-area striping as it transitions into the concrete island,” he said. “And that curve helps slow traffic to maneuver into it.”
Bradley said warning signs will be installed to alert drivers as they approach the area.
“We want to warn drivers that they can’t use that center lane,” Greene said. “Based on what happened up the road, on the crosswalk, when people went through the middle of the island and wiped out the instrumentation and everything else, I guess it would be advisable to have clear markings that people can see.
“Because of the history, it might be a good idea,” he added.
“The truck traffic that we deal with on Watt Road — part of it is to bypass the scales and part of it is legitimate local truck traffic — I really do think we need to take into account the design,” Commissioner Noah Myers said. “I think the radius is a great thing. We’ve got a large radius on it, which should allow a tractor-trailer with a 53-foot trailer to get through there, but I would hate to see a lot of taxpayer dollars spent on elaborate landscaping because it’s going to get driven through.
“I would encourage you not to go overboard,” he added.
noting tractor-trailers are likely to use the shoulder of the island.
Bradley said a concrete apron will be included to accommodate large trucks.
When asked, Bradley said he did not have a timeline for when the project would begin or be completed.
