Work to make Rosemark safer

New left-turn lane planned for Austin Peay

By Cassandra Kimberly, Commercial Appeal
November 29, 2007

For motorists driving along Tenn. 14 (Austin Peay Highway), making a turn into a driveway or onto a side street can be scary.

But for families with children attending Tipton-Rosemark Academy on Rosemark Road, it's a nightmare, said Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville.

"Several families who attended the school called to express concern about (the intersection of Austin Peay and Rosemark) several years ago," he said. "With that many children coming in and out everyday, we just needed to get something done."

After two years of surveying and traffic counts, some relief for the intersection is on the way. Scheduled for completion by the spring of 2008, a new left-turn lane on northbound Austin Peay will allow motorists safer access to Rosemark Road near the school.

In addition to the $100,000 project mostly funded by a federal spot safety grant, flashing yellow caution lights or "beacons" will be added to the intersection with help from Shelby County.

In Tipton County, improvements along Austin Peay are already under way, but widening the two-lane highway to four lanes in Shelby County won't begin for at least another year.

That was too long to wait for relief at the intersection, said Norris.

Earlier this year, a fuel truck headed northeast on the highway exploded after it was struck by a Toyota 4-Runner pulling north onto Austin Peay from Rosemark Road.

If that isn't frightening enough, according to the Shelby County Sheriff's 2007 crash statistics, Austin Peay made the list of the Top 10 most dangerous roads in Shelby County in March, April, June, August, September and October.

Traffic accidents on Austin Peay have been increasing as of late due to more people moving into Tipton County and commuting to Shelby County for work, said Pamela Marshall, West Tennessee spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

With more than 6,000 vehicles a day traveling along the highway, the improvements were needed.

"Tennessee 14 has become a major artery," she said. "This project will improve safety and traffic flow in the area."