Push being made for Pike Hill traffic light

By LISA CHAPMAN / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

A local resident is urging McMinnville officials to place a traffic light at the intersection of Smithville Highway and Pike Hill Road to help prevent serious accidents.

A local man and business owner is outraged about the city’s decision to hold off on installing a traffic light at the intersection of Pike Hill Road and New Smithville Highway.

“I can’t believe it when the city claims they don’t have the funds or an old traffic light to install there,” said Paul Erving, who recently appeared before the city’s Streets and Sanitation Committee. “If your son, daughter or wife gets killed at that intersection, that’s worth more than $40,000.”

City officials did discuss options during the meeting. Those options included:

The use of old lights taken from downtown.

“The old lights are so old,” said Alderman Donald Hillis, “that would just create new problems.”

Installing curbs for that intersection.

“Installing curbs would at least give more room for people to see before they pull out,” said Mayor Royce Davenport.

Purchasing and installing new lights.

“I don’t think the city can afford $40,000 for new lights,” said Davenport. “Not right now.”

Adding to the problem is that two lanes are combining to make one lane right before that intersection.

“People speed up before they merge over,” said Herb Llewellyn, city administrator.

Smithville Highway remains one of the county’s most dangerous roads. There has been one recent fatality at the Pike Hill intersection. Mollie Marie Crim, 79, died in March when her car was hit by a truck as she attempted to cross Smithville Highway.

“I’ll be back in front of this board,” said Erving, “when someone else dies.”