A Smithville intersection known for some serious crashes over the past few years will soon be getting red lights installed. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has approved the installation of red lights at the intersection of Highway 70 and State Route 83 (New Home/Allen Ferry Road), near Kilgore’s Restaurant.

According to State Representative Michael Hale TDOT approved the project after conducting a traffic study at the busy intersection. The intersection will also see more traffic after a new Bizzy Mart convenience market/truck finishes construction.

“I got word this week that the red-lights request has been approved,” Representative Hale explained. “It’s about a $150,000 project but it’s been sent to TDOT headquarters to get the process underway. I am very thankful because this is a very busy highway and intersection. The state will install the lights and then they will be turned over to the city to maintain like all other traffic lights in town. TDOT has not given a time frame for when the lights will be installed. It may be a year or more down the road. Sometimes with government the process is slow and takes time.”

Landon Castleberry, P.E. TDOT Regional Traffic Engineer wrote to Hale stating, “TDOT performed the turning movement count and the signal warrant analysis for the intersection.  We concluded that enough traffic exists at the intersection to warrant a traffic signal.”

“What’s more, we pulled crash reports from our Department of Safety database and found that the intersection has a crash rate that qualifies it for safety funding.  This is very helpful because the cost of installing a traffic signal can easily fetch around $150k. Moving forward with this good news, my intent is to submit this intersection to my superiors in TDOT HQ to approve safety funds to signalize,” said Castleberry.