Baxter Aldermen trying to address I-40 traffic backup issues.
Mayor Danny Holmes said whenever there is an accident on I-40 many drivers try to get off on Exit 280 to try and reach Highway 70 or Old Baxter Road. Holmes said when that happens it causes major traffic problems in Baxter. Holmes said aldermen want to use detour signs.
“Instead of truck traffic coming through the middle of town here we will send them on down Highway 56 to 70 and go that away to keep them out of the middle of town,” Holmes said.
Holmes said the traffic backup only happens two or three times a year. Holmes said the aldermen wanted to try and do something about the traffic as the last wreck that happened a few months ago brought several traffic complaints from citizens.
“Everything was at a standstill,” Holmes said. “School traffic buses you know were at a standstill,” Holmes said. “They can’t go anywhere and they can’t get the kids home. So basically it is for the citizens of Baxter to try and at least let our own traffic move and we will see what happens that’s the only thing that we can do.”
Holmes said the plan is not official as the city has to receive approval from T-DOT.
“We are gonna check with T-DOT before this ever happens to make sure that we have the authority to do this,” Holmes said. “But you know hopefully GPS is kind of a funny thing. We are not planning on planning on spending a lot of money on this and you know we don’t even know if this will work but at least it will give us something that we can go by.”
Holmes said the detour signs would be temporary signs and be stored in the back of police cars. Holmes said he is concerned that the plan may not work due to the size of Baxter’s police department. Holmes said most times the police department only has one or two officers on call.
