TDOT EXPLAINS RATIONALE BEHIND PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT AT 70E & MILLER BYPASS
CNF reached out to the Tennessee Department of Transportation after learning of a possibility for the 70E and Miller Bypass intersection being converted to a roundabout. 
TDOT has replied to our request for more information with the following statement below. We are grateful to Rae Anne Bradley for her attention to our request. CNF sent Ms. Bradley a message explaining we had received, in one day, over 240 comments from our readers who disagreed with the idea of constructing a roundabout intersection after reading our story “TDOT PONDERS ROUDABOUT FOR HWY 70 AND MILLER BYPASS. We included most of the comments with our message and asked her to pass them along to the ‘decision makers’ within TDOT. Below is the official TDOT statement on the proposed roundabout:
TDOT OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON ROUNDABOUT:
Back in February 2021, the Regional Traffic Engineering office submitted 22 projects for spot safety funding. One of these projects was the 4-way intersection of US 70 (SR 1) @ SR 101 & SR 392 on the east side of Crossville. The intersection is currently an all-way stop and TDOT is proposing the concept of a roundabout.
Generally speaking, roundabouts are a free-flow intersection design used as a proven safety countermeasure because they can substantially reduce crashes that result in serious injury or death. Roundabouts improve safety, promote lower speeds and traffic calming, reduce conflict points, lead to improved operational performance, and meet a wide range of traffic conditions because they are versatile in size, shape, and design.
During our 3-year study of this intersection (from 2018 to 2021), there were 14 reported crashes. Seven of these crashes were right-angle crashes. Furthermore, there were seven crashes with injuries. At an all-way stop, this should not be occurring.
TDOT is proposing a single-lane roundabout that would keep the existing bypass right turn lanes on all four corners. Fortunately, the department already has enough right-of-way at the intersection to accommodate this design. This roundabout would include a 10’ mountable truck apron to allow large vehicles with trailers to negotiate the intersection. The roundabout would be designed in accordance with all state standards, which are largely copied from federal standards.
Across the nation and across the State of Tennessee, roundabouts have been installed at crash-prone intersections with great success. They are a proven countermeasure to combat the type of crashes and traffic operations we are seeing at this intersection in Cumberland County. Furthermore, TDOT would not recommend a roundabout unless confident that it would be successful in reducing delay and congestion and affording a smoother commute for all motorists.
Best,
Rae Anne Bradley | Community Relations Officer
John Longway
December 7, 2021 at 5:11 pm
Worst idea ever. I’ve been to Tacoma Washington . They have round abouts everywhere and what a nightmare. Intersection needs a traffic light nothing else.
Gerrie Jastrem
December 7, 2021 at 5:48 pm
only useful if everyone uses turn indicators. Otherwise you have to guess, just like most other corners in Crossville. Is he going to turn?? Is he not?? Should I pause?? Should I go ahead?? Why is this so hard?????
Jeff Breeding
December 7, 2021 at 6:24 pm
All this is about maintaining a traffic light. It is less expensive to install a round about. A traffic signal requires upkeep. This area has needed a traffic signal for years.
Pam
December 8, 2021 at 2:50 am
Not from here. But I have travel some frequently and they are useless.
Sometimes not every wide enough unless you hit the side . And semi never has the space. Bad ideal for that area. We come to cross like off and on. And eat there used to shop until the outlet shut down.
Sheila Drake
December 8, 2021 at 6:40 am
Why not put a red light which would ease pulling out of 1st street during heavy traffic times
Mitzi Rice
December 8, 2021 at 1:53 pm
A traffic light would work just as easy, (probably easier) and would be a quicker, cheaper solution for that intersection.
Charles Thompson
December 9, 2021 at 6:44 am
Glad to know the area has so many traffic engineers offering their educated opinions on the virtues of physics and geometry. People are killed at signalized intersections every day due to human error, speed(physics) and point of impact (geometry). A round. About mitigates all these factors and reduces traffic conflicts. This has been proven time and time again. Let the engineers do their jobs.
Someone
December 9, 2021 at 11:19 am
Thank you O’ Great One for your condescending remarks. We peons are better off for having you to correct us.
A. Person
December 9, 2021 at 11:24 am
A roundabout will never work in Cumberland County. People here have a hard enough time functioning at a four-way stop. I was born and raised here so I am not some know-it-all outsider who moved here and think we all are the dumbest people ever. I have seen too many people run the stop signs hereat this intersection, people that don’t have a clue as to how the proper order of operations work at a four-way. A traffic light would work much better here. Leave the roundabout’s to the “other” people and places.
DW
December 9, 2021 at 12:02 pm
A roundabout is a good idea as long as there are signs saying to yield right of way to traffic on the “right” . Also, lanes need to be wide enough for semi trailers, as there are many that go through that intersection every day.
HA
December 13, 2021 at 8:51 am
While I’m sure a rotary would be the best choice here…. the engineers should also take into account the people that will be using it. Just put up a traffic light cause because apparently most southerners can’t even use a 4-way stop appropriately – let alone a roundabout! I’ve lived in TN my entire life – people here drive like crap.