Authorities ask drivers to follow parking rules at flea market, allow access for emergency vehicles

 

Authorities are asking drivers to follow the parking rules at the Saturday morning flea markets at Oak Ridge High School. That will allow emergency vehicles to access the parking lot in emergencies, they said.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and Oak Ridge Police Department were called to Oak Ridge High School again on Saturday morning to correct the parking situation at the Flea Market, which is operated by the school as a fundraiser, a press release said.

“Cars continue to block access for fire and emergency vehicles all around the venue and are interfering with the new traffic signal,” the press release said.

“We have had a reported car fire and an emergency medical situation in the past and could not get to the incident because of where vehicles were parked,” Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said. “I have worked with the school system to correct the situation, and they have taken the appropriate steps to resolve the parking problem. The problem remains that drivers are not following direction of signage and continue to park inappropriately.”

Two trucks were actually parked on the traffic sensor for the new traffic signal on Oak Ridge Turnpike, at the entrance to the high school, on Saturday morning, Kerley said.

“This caused the traffic light to constantly cycle, keeping traffic stopped on the Turnpike,” the fire chief said. “The Police Department made several announcements in the crowed flea market and were preparing to have the trucks towed when the owners returned and were cited for parking in the turn lane.”

Public safety authorities ask that if you are going to attend the Flea Market on Saturday mornings at the High School, that you park appropriately, follow the posted signs, and do not block access or park in the driving lanes, Kerley said.

“Violating the parking rules places everyone visiting the flea market at risk in the case of a fire or medical emergency,” he said.

For more information, contact Kerley at (865) 755-5364.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

 

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