Lenoir City approves U

Drivers could soon see a traffic light on U.S. Highway 321 at the intersection of Elm Hill and City Park drives.

Lenoir City Council approved April 12 a contract for Tennessee Department of Transportation to manage and bid out the project to install the light. Councilmen James Brandon and Mike Henline motioned and seconded, respectively, with the vote passing 6-0.

“The next step will be us to sign the contract,” Amber Scott, Lenoir City administrator, said. “They’ll have to get their engineer and attorneys to sign off on it and then they’ll send it back. Then they’ll start the process of preliminary engineering. ... Ultimately they will bid out the work, tell us what the cost is and then they’ll move forward.”

Overall cost is estimated at $435,000, with Lenoir City paying $30,000. Scott could not determine when work would begin.

“Of course, this is a much-needed (project),” Tony Aikens, Lenoir City mayor, said. “Had two accidents over there today and I just hope we can get it up before somebody is seriously injured or killed.”

Mike Henline, councilman, agreed the light is needed for safety.

“The cost doesn’t matter if it saves lives, and it will save lives because that’s a terrible, terrible intersection,” he said.

Aikens said the city is working to use light poles near the intersection that had been taken down on U.S. 321. Installation will be at city expense.

“We’ll be able to utilize the power from the traffic signal to power those lights that we’re going to put in,” Scott said, emphasizing street lights would not be installed until after the traffic signal.

In other matters, Lenoir City Council:

• Approved closure of Broadway from Kingston to B streets 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 24 for the Historic Downtown Lenoir City Merchants Association’s Spring Fling.

• Approved closure of Broadway from Kingston to B streets 3:30-9 p.m. May 21, June 18 and July 16 for downtown’s Nights on Broadway. Depot Street will also be closed 10 a.m.-7 p.m. May 21 for the Taste of Loudon County Business Expo.

• Passed a variance for a sign at La Michoacana Ice Cream Parlor, 123 East Broadway.

• Authorized first reading to rezone property off Manis Road from R-4 Residential District to R-2 Medium Density Residential District.

• Moved forward to rebid for a sidewalk on the Central Park splash pad.