New store highlights traffic concerns at WM intersection

New store highlights traffic concerns at WM intersection

Jackson- Avalon crossing gets look from Public Works

news@theeveningtimes.com

As the new Family Dollar goes up, so do citizen concerns about traffic at the corner of Jackson and Avalon.

City Councilman James Pulliaum in turn passed the remarks along to the Public Works Committee during its Dec. 6 meeting. Councilman Willis Mondy echoed the complaints. City Engineer Phillip Sorrell responded to the concerns.

The intersection has been a sore spot from drivers for a while and the new store at the corner presents a new rub. Drivers complain that poles and phone company control boxes block the view for westbound traffic forcing them to pull forward onto Avalon to see.

The corner is particularly busy with parents shuttling their children back and forth to school. Both Aldermen said there is nothing new about public outcry about the corner, but the new store has amplified worries among their constituents.

“I have got to bring this up even though I’ll get beat up for it overtime in the paper,” said James Pulliaum. “We need to work on the corner of Avalon and Jackson. I am getting beat up. I was going to meet with the people in the area and have them come down hear to voice their concern themselves but I am the voice for the people living there. I am their mouth piece and I am going to continue to say it.”

Both the Planning Commission and the City Design review board approved the plans for the new dollar store. Each considered set back for the building along with proper driveway and sign placement and deemed

SeeTRAFFIC on Page 3 it all good.

But as the structure is erected the complaint calls are on the rise too.

“My phone is ringing off the hook about and people always expect something to happen,” said Pulliaum.

“Since the dollar store is coming in there, you know the obstacles there and already traffic is backed up.

They ask me what’s going to happen now? It most certainly is a problem to get out there on Avalon in the morning time and the evening time. They are caught trying to get out there. They are afraid it is going to get worse.”

“It’s big problem at school time,” said Mondy. “I totally

agree. I travel there all the time. It is difficult at school time with kids crossing and getting out

(onto Avalon). Traffic is hectic. It needs a light.”

“We are glad to see the store coming in,” said Pulliaum. “It’s just the part where the traffic problem will get worse. People need to know I am working it.”

The City Engineer acknowledged peak hour concerns and pointed out school drive challenges elsewhere in the city but said justification for a traffic control signal at the Avalon and Jackson would have to be something other than a traffic study.

“I don’t dispute during the school rush when you got kids moving around there that is not problematic,” said Sorrell. “I’m not opposed to put a signal there if you all feel that strongly about it. But as the traffic situation stands it doesn’t warrant one. A traffic study had been presented last year that showed flow rates were too low for a stop light.

Pulliaum insisted regardless of flow rate, west bound drivers just cannot see around the pole on the corner creating potential danger of an accident.

“You’ve got to pull out past that pole which puts you out in the other street,” said Pulliaum. “You can’t see to the north. So drivers pull out.”

Councilwoman Ramona Taylor asked if the pole could be moved. It is a big pole that carries lines for Entergy.

“There is also an AT& T box,” said Sorrell. “There is a lot of stuff right there.” “I am asking for relief,” said Pulliaum.

By John Rech