Now that the drainage construction project on South Broad is complete a major traffic restriction has emerged from the settling dust –the Riverwalk crossing. In keeping with its motto of “Never let a traffic artery go unrestricted” the Chattanooga City Engineering Department has installed the ”South Broad Street Choke Point”. It’s cleverly disguised as a Riverwalk crossing that reduces traffic flow to one lane each way.
If you happen to be heading downtown on Broad in the late afternoon be prepared for a slowdown; if there’s trouble on I-24 Cummings Highway becomes a parking lot. After traversing the “Choke Point” be prepared to wait at least three cycles of the stoplight at Broad and Tennessee Avenue. So much fun in so little space! It’s time to re-time the Broad Street/Tennessee Avenue light.
I hope we’ll see the turn off on to 37th Street/St Elmo Avenue from Cummings Highway become truly one way and a left turn lane added to St Elmo Avenue for traffic going toward Tiftonia. At least something to prevent left turns from both areas.
Okay, job done, now go plan another traffic “Choke Point”; maybe a roundabout or two?
Doug Howerton