A resident urged the Highway Commission on Oct. 6 to move quickly on a dangerous intersection at Latimer Lane and Hillop Pike, and county staff described initial steps for a project that would add turn lanes and a traffic signal.

The project is at an informational stage: staff said the county will advertise a request for qualifications (RFQ), begin survey and design work, and seek to build turn lanes on every approach and install a signal. County staff said using county funding only would be faster and could allow completion in 2026; the Tennessee Department of Transportation has expressed interest but county staff emphasized they needed a plan to take to the state.

The resident, Mike McClure of 102 Tioga Trail, Intersville, described long-term safety problems at the intersection and urged quick action. "It is totally dangerous," McClure said, describing trucks cresting the hill and drivers passing on the right. He said the stretch has become more hazardous since school traffic increased and urged a turn lane "in there both ways." McClure spoke during the meeting's recognition of the public.

A staff member identified in the meeting as Marshall said the county has held multiple meetings with Paul Diggs and TDOT and that the project had risen to the top of local priorities after public input and technical briefings. "We're gonna advertise an RFQ, start the survey design, get that done, and then just kinda go through step by step," Marshall said, describing the process as similar to a recent intersection project.

When a commissioner asked about timing, Marshall replied, "2026," and added that delivering the project solely with county funds would be "a much quicker process than if we were to involve state and federal funds." The discussion referenced that the commission had previously set aside more than $3,000,000 toward getting the project started.

Commissioners and speakers linked the intersection's risk to nearby school traffic and heavy trucks. One commissioner said the stretch creates a bottleneck and noted students sometimes sit in traffic 20 to 25 minutes post-school dismissal, increasing the chance of risky driving maneuvers when exiting the roadway.

County staff characterized the presentation as informational only; no vote or formal action was taken at the meeting. Staff said the next steps are to advertise the RFQ, complete survey and preliminary design work, and return with updates to the commission.

Separately, a commissioner reported that school-related pavement repairs referenced at a prior meeting are being done this week while school is out of session and that the contractor work carries no cost to the county; that work is expected to appear on the commission's agenda next month.

What happens next: staff will advertise the RFQ and proceed with preliminary design and survey work. TDOT has indicated interest but county staff said the pace and final funding approach remain to be determined.