DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Safety issues with the crossing of Jackson Street near the high school was brought to the attention of the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen during their recent meeting.

Citizen Christopher Harvey expressed concerns to the board of mayor and aldermen during the public comments part of their regular meeting on Aug. 11 about the cross walk, or lack thereof, at the high school on Jackson.

He said he happened upon nine school students trying to cross from the school to the opposite side of Jackson after the crossing guard had left and was worried for their safety.

“I believe there needs to be a light there for a safeguard for when police are not there to help them cross the road,” he said, noting the next closest cross walks to the school is by walking down to Walgreens or walking all the way down to Publix. “That’s about a mile walk.”

He pointed out there is no side walk from that crossing if you cross at Publix where there is a pedestrian crossing light. “There’s no sidewalk. It’s dangerous walking,” he said, adding it is even more hazardous for a person with mobility issues.

Harvey added that on the Publix side of the road there is no sidewalk all the way up to the Mexican restaurant.

“All of that is to cross 78 feet of street,” he said, referring to the fact there are no marked crosswalks on Jackson immediately in front of the high school.

The Publix crossing has a protected walking light with a button pedestrians can push on either side to cross the street, telling them when it is safe to cross. The Walgreens crossing has no protected walking light but does have a painted crosswalk.

Alderman Bobbie Wilson, after listening to Harvey, said she has also been concerned about that area of the street when it comes to students and citizens being able to safely cross what is normally a very busy portion of Jackson.

“I would like to investigate our options, especially with the businesses that have opened up nearby,” she said. “Maybe a cross walk light. There should be something there.”

City Administrator Jason Quick thanked Harvey for his concerns about the crosswalk. He pointed out that Jackson is a state highway so alterations concerning the crosswalks would need to go through TDOT.

It was noted there is normally a crossing guard present during school opening and dismissal and there is a school zone speed limit warning that flashes. However, other than the aforementioned times, there is no visible protected crosswalk or warning light on Jackson leading directly to and from the high school, leaving tardy students, late departures and football overflow foot traffic to their own means in crossing the street.