Community Concerns with Shannon
Our next question comes from Billy Laird of Martin. He asked, “Turning towards Meek Street towards Dresden from Martin is impossible to not cross the center line on the highway. So many vehicles over the years have dropped off in the ditch and damaged their cars. Why can’t the culvert be extended to make turning safer?”Laird said that when school is letting out that cars try to turn and drop off the road.
I first reached out to Mayor Randy Brundige who stated, “that’s a state highway Meek Street enters and TDOT is responsible for access into state highways since entry is on the state right of way.”
Then I reached out to Weakley County Road Supervisor Jeff Cosby who said, “TDOT is responsible for extending a culvert on any state road. The county cannot work on State right of ways or any state intersection. It is unlawful for us to do it.” Cosby suggested contacting someone who works for TDOT.
Nichole Lawrence, Community Relations Officer and media contact for TDOT in West Tennessee contacted the press and stated, “word has gotten to me you had a question about Meek Street in Martin. From what I understand of your questions—while Meek Street connects to a state highway, the culvert is under the city of Martin’s Street. We have partnered with locals on work before, but the city would need to conduct a traffic study regarding the turn movement and reach out to us if they need help. We would then work with them if it was something we could help with.”
I relayed the information to Brundige who stated, “We’ll look at it in the future budget.”
Billy, I hope this helps to answer your question and that the problem will soon be fixed. Thank you for being our first to ask a question for the column! Billy said that he hasn’t found an answer to this question in 25 years. Laird has contacted his alderman over the years.
We hope to be able to answer a question every week from a member of the community. Just send us your questions by Monday every week. Email questions to smerrell1@murraystate.edu. Text questions to 731-819-4497, stop by the office, give us a call at 731-587-3144 and ask for Shannon or message us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. We look forward to serving the community better by answering the concerns you may have surrounding any issue in Weakley County.
Meek Street and Hwy 431. I am not a resident of Martin. Only reason I am putting my two cents in is because of his response to his question or lack there of. One can understand why it seems “the buck was being passed” when you see the area. I used Google Earth since it has been a while since I passed through there. Yes, that is a difficult turn and potentially dangerous. It is a tight area with a light pole, numerous lines, tree and stop sign. Alternative 1, maybe Meek Street could become a one way street. I’m guessing that would require a board meeting and public input. Some would see it as an inconvenience but it would be a move toward safety. This would require some time but no large expense of funds. Alternative 2, the city could buy a portion of the empty lot and move the road down some requiring dirt work, gravel, asphalt and more thus preventing moving of electrical lines requiring city and state workers and materials. Alternative 3, widening the area by moving electrical lines, dirt work, adding culverts, gravel and blacktop requiring electric company, city, state employees and materials. I don’t know about anyone else but I know what I would try to do. Maybe it won’t take another 25 years for a fix. Y’all stay safe out there.
Back to the first question in the article. Why can we not let inmates clean up the roadside. I pay there housing food and medical let them work for us. If this action is degrading to them let that person think about why they are a inmate to start with. I will not pick up trash on the roads not that I think I am too good but I work and pay my taxes while we have inmates sitting on there butts doing nothing. Times need to change.
It is a bad ditch.. I have a SUV and have no problems turning.. Ppl just need to learn how to drive 😊😊
The city is excellent on diverting questions to someone else. It is always about money. The amount of corners that are cut within the city are staggering. People just don’t know where to look or who to talk to.