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Tennessee 2006 Five Percent Report

This report is in response to the Federal requirement that each state describe at least 5 percent of its locations currently exhibiting the most severe highway safety needs, in accordance with Sections 148(c)(1)(D) and 148(g)(3)(A), of Title 23, United States Code.  Each state’s report is to include potential remedies to the hazardous locations identified; estimated costs of the remedies; and impediments to implementation of the remedies other than costs.  The reports included on this Web site represent a variety of methods utilized and various degrees of road coverage.  Therefore, this report cannot be compared with the other reports included on this Web site.

Protection from Discovery and Admission into Evidence—Under 23 U.S.C. 148(g)(4) information collected or compiled for any purpose directly relating to this report shall not be subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in a Federal or State court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages arising from any occurrence at a location identified or addressed in the reports.

Additional information, including the specific legislative requirements, can be found in the guidance provided by the Federal Highway Administration,
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu/fiveguidance.htm.

5% Report

As part of the new HSIP, States are required to submit an annual report describing not less than 5 percent of their highway locations exhibiting the most severe safety needs [23 U.S.C. Section 148(c)(1)(D)]. The intent of this provision is to raise the public awareness of the highway safety needs and challenges in the States. The purpose of this report is to fulfill this commitment by the State of Tennessee.

Tennessee has approximately 90,400 miles of public roads. They consist of approximately 1,100 miles of Interstates, 12,700 miles of State Routes, 14,300 miles of Local Minor Collectors, and 62,300 of Local Other Roads (functionally unclassified). TDOT monitors the Interstates, State Routes, and Local Minor Collectors; and a large database is kept. The database is in the process of being updated so that Local Other Roads will be included.

The 2005 Hazard Elimination Safety Program (HESP) List identifies locations with the most severe safety needs. It was developed from an analysis of crash data on public roads from years 2001 - 2003 (the most current data available) and issued on October 31, 2005. Locations with a crash ratio (actual crash rate divided by critical crash rate) equal to or greater than 3.50 were placed on the 2005 HESP List. The 2005 HESP List was divided into two (2) road classes: Interstates/State Routes and Local Routes. The List was further divided into three (3) distinct emphasis areas: intersections (junction of two or more public roads), sections (length greater than 0.10 mile), and spots (length equal to or less than 0.10 mile). The locations were then ranked based on crash severity (injuries and fatalities as a percentage of total crashes at each location). See Attachment 6 for the locations on the 2005 HESP List.

There were a total of 55 Interstate/State Route locations on the 2005 HESP List, divided into 7 Interstate/State Route spots, 17 Interstate/State Route sections, and 31 State Route intersections.

TDOT began the Road Safety Audit Review (RSAR) Program to identify and implement improvements for each of the Interstate/State Route locations. In addition, TDOT used the RSAR Program to address the six (6) Local locations that had experienced a fatality. This fulfills our commitment to the 5% Report. Details regarding the number one ranked location in each emphasis area are identified below:

Spot Location Stewart County
State Route 46
Begin: L.M. 11.76 (Bridge over Honey Fork Branch)
End: L.M. 11.86 (A218 Honey Fork Road)

Section Location
Campbell County
State Route 9
Begin: L.M. 1.31
End: L.M. 1.77

Intersection Location
Maury County
State Route 245
L.M. 2.13
Intersection at Southport Road

The improvements that were recommended for each location and estimated costs are provided in the following table.

Tennessee Department of Transportation contact person:

Steve Allen
Director Project Planning Division

Highway Segments/Intersections Exhibiting the Most Severe Safety Needs (Minimum of 5%)

Location Potential Remedies Estimated Costs Implementation Impediments Comments
SR-46   Stewart County
  • Replace the intersection sign (W2-1R) at L.M. 11.65 with a fluorescent yellow warning sign and an oversize fluorescent yellow "15 MPH" Advisory Speed plaque (W13-5)
  • Remove the existing chevron signs (W1-8) from the main curve.  Add new chevron signs (W1-8) from the bridge over Honey Fork Branch, following along the long slight curve, and stopping at the end of the main curve.  Place ten signs in each direction for a total of twenty signs.
  • At the intersections with Lower Cross Creek Road (L.M. 11.85) and Honey Fork Hollow Road (L.M. 11.86), extend the white edgelines and yellow centerline through the intersections with 2' skip lines.  Also, add raised snowplowable pavement markers along the centerline.
  • Replace the curve sign (W1-2) at L.M. 11.92 with a fluorescent yellow warning sign similar as shown above (but with the main curve oriented to the left) and an oversize fluorescent yellow "15 MPH" Advisory Speed plaque (W13-5).
  • Clear the vegetation from the right-way around the main curve from L.M. 11.74 to L.M. 11.85.
 Total Cost $8,000 None Improved Signage
SR- 9 @ I-75 Campbell County
  • Install inside (next to median) acceleration lanes for vehicles turning left off of I-75 North exit ramp and for vehicles turning left out of Douglas Lane across from ramp.
  • Connect median edge lines with pavement marking skips.
  • Prohibit U-turns at median crossover.
  • Provide left turn lane (for U-turns) at next median crossover.
  • Provide pavement marking skips from ramp to acceleration lane.
  • Restrict access at convenience store to right-in/right-out and left-in.  Left turns out must do so from Douglas Lane.
 Total Cost $165,000 None Install inside lanes and provide left turn lane.
SR-245 Maury County
  • Relocate intersection warning signs (W2-2) on State Route 245 currently located approximately 700' in advance of this intersection on both approaches.  Current MUTCD guidelines recommend 175'.  The sign on the southbound approach should be relocated to a point approximately 175' from the intersection.  The sign on the northbound approach should be relocated to a point approximately 250' from the intersection.  This extra distance on the northbound approach is necessary to accommodate the bridge located just south of the intersection on State Route 245.
  • Replace the recently upgraded stop sign on the east side of the intersection with a double arrow intersection warning sign (W1-7).  The existing small arrow sign (M6-4) and State Route 245 marker sign should be removed.
  • Two State Route 245 route signs with auxiliary M5-1 and M5-1R directional arrow signs and with auxiliary M3-1 (North) and M3-3 (south) signs should be installed on Southport Road approximately (but no less than)300' from State Route 245 edge of traveled way.
  • A State Route 245 route sign and auxiliary M2-1 (JCT) sign should be installed on Southport Road, approximately (but no less than) 400' from State Route 245 edge of traveled way.
  • Remove the existing stop sign on the west side of the intersection and replace with two oversized stop signs (one on each side of eastbound approach) with high intensity sign facing.  Signs should be placed approximately eight (8) feet from State Route 245 edge of traveled way.
  • A Reflective sleeve should be installed on the post of both proposed stop signs to increase visibility.
  • Install a stop bar on the eastbound approach, approximately eight (8) feet from State Route 245 edge of traveled way.
  • Install reflective delineators on the existing guardrail on the east side of the intersection.
  • Remove the existing stop ahead (W3-1) signs on Southport Road approximately 1700' from intersection and replace with two oversized stop ahead (W3-1) signs (one on each side of eastbound approach) with high intensity sign facing.  Sign position should be relocated to approximately 175' from intersection.  Existing W3-1 signs located on Southport Road approximately 500' from intersection should remain.
  • The words "STOP AHEAD" should be painted with reflective paint on the eastbound approach of Southport Road, approximately 175' from intersection.
 Total Cost $5,400 None Improved Signage

 

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