MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS News) – A Murfreesboro Safe Streets review identified several heavily traveled roadways for possible safety improvements, including NW Broad Street, Veterans Parkway, Thompson Lane and Saint Andrews Drive. The corridors were evaluated using fatal and serious-injury crashes, bicycle and pedestrian crashes, overall crash rates, risk levels and community input. NW Broad Street ranked No. 8 in the study, followed by Veterans Parkway at No. 10, Thompson Lane at No. 11 and Saint Andrews Drive at No. 12. Proposed improvements include brighter and more visible traffic signals, enhanced crosswalks, flashing yellow arrows, improved pavement markings, better lighting, pedestrian refuge areas and intersection changes.
The review also incorporates comments from residents who reported speeding, red-light running, difficult left turns, recurring near misses and concerns about pedestrian safety. Some improvements are listed as short-term projects that are ready to move forward, while larger projects such as corridor access management, new pedestrian facilities and certain lighting or roadway changes could require additional right-of-way, utility relocation or longer-term planning. The recommendations are aimed at reducing crashes and improving visibility and safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians throughout Murfreesboro. Scroll down for keypoints and for full details of the area roadways outlined during a past
FULL DETAILS (WGNS News) – Over the past few months, you may have noticed an increased police presence on Shelbyville Pike (Highway 231 South), known as South Church Street in Murfreesboro (Photo above this section shows S. Church Street at Joe. B. Jackson Pkwy at night – looking north towards the S. Church St./ Veterans Pkwy intersection – Photo by Scott Walker). That increased presence may come as no surprise to area residents, as the roadway has seen its fair share of vehicle crashes, along with incidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists struck while crossing the busy roadway at locations without designated crosswalks. This past May, the roadway was ranked as a high-priority street after a four-year study identified 2,628 crashes involving injuries. The stretch of South Church Street between SE Broad Street and the Murfreesboro city limits, just beyond Walmart near Joe B. Jackson Parkway, received a score of 77.4. Evidently, a large percentage of injury accidents occurred on S. Church at Warrior Drive and S. Church at Veterans Pkwy.
Around three months ago, residents told council members they see a large number of “near crashes” daily on South Church Street at Innsbrooke Boulevard, with some asking for crosswalks to be added at the intersection. Others said “red-light runners” create additional problems in the area. Closer to I-24, drivers said some motorists use the center turn lane as they approach the interstate, appearing as though they plan to turn left onto I-24, but then merge back into through traffic at the last minute to continue straight…