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BY IVAN SANDERS
CITY OF ELIZABETHTON PIO
After initially telling City of Elizabethton GIS and Engineering Manager Matthew Balogh that the 30-mile-per-hour signs would be taken down along the Highway 91 corridor between the G Street intersection with Highway 91 to the Mill Street intersection, TDOT (Tennessee Department of Transportation) representative Camren Yarberry informed Balogh that wasn’t going to be the case.

Although the signs indicate that the speed limit will be 30 mph, that still is only temporary as the signs are being left up until the Highway 91 Project is completed, which, according to Yarberry, could be in the spring of 2024.

According to Yarberry, thermoplastic (pavement markings) must be added to the resurfaced highway with TDOT waiting until the paving portion is completed before the thermoplastic is put in place.

A matter of concern is the project is heading into the winter months and the temperature must be warm enough for asphalt resurfacing and pavement markings.

Balogh said, “The City has done all it can do in regard to getting the speed limit signs changed, if the public has any further questions or concerns, they will need to contact the numbers listed on the TDOT link below and speak with their representatives.”

The link is as follows: https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-route-91-elk-avenue-elizabethton/contacts.html

There have also been questions about potholes located along the corridor, specifically one at Pals, that TDOT said would be addressed with the wrap-up of the project.

Also, the traffic signal at the intersection of Lynn Avenue and Broad Street has been adjusted to allow more time for motorists to clear from Lynn Avenue as they cross the intersection.

Balogh stated, “The increased use of Lynn Avenue as a detour for the SR 91 project has created issues with timing at this intersection. We have addressed this issue with additional time for northbound traffic on Lynn Avenue.”