A new round-about is being constructed at the 2200 block of Ooltewah-Ringgold Road at the intersection of Standifer Gap Road. This new round-about, ultimately designed to relieve traffic congestion once completed, is temporarily causing unintended traffic redirection through the Quail Run Subdivision while being constructed.
Local motorists are now utilizing the Quail Run Subdivision (primarily Quail Mountain Drive) to bypass construction slow-downs thus resulting in excessive speeding and increased traffic flow in a highly residential area.
Numerous school children and bus routes traverse the Quail Run Subdivision and nearby side streets which is further posing temporary safety issues for local residents. East Hamilton Middle – High School and Westview Elementary Schools’ are both in close proximity also further adding to increased traffic slow-downs.
Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond said, “The HCSO has received numerous complaints from residents concerned about the safety of their children and the excessive speeding taking place from detouring traffic trying to avoid the construction of this round-about. In response, I have dispatched deputies to increase patrols and issue traffic citations in these particular subdivisions in order to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Traffic studies show that 31% of the vehicles travelling through the Quail Run Subdivision are speeding at citable levels. Despite numerous attempts by deputies to calm and redirect detouring traffic, the HCSO will now begin ticketing drivers who are speeding and driving recklessly in residential areas surrounding the round-about’s construction location, including the Quail Run Subdivision and Quail Mountain Drive.
The HCSO is requesting drivers who utilize this particular area to leave early and allow extra time to deal with construction delays and to not use local subdivision roads to bypass slow-downs. Residential subdivision roads such as those in the Quail Run Subdivision are not designed for external high traffic flows and speeding causes serious safety concerns for residents, especially children.
With the Halloween events coming up, residents are urged to use caution when driving in highly-populated areas.