Oak Ridge Today

Railroad tracks removed from South Illinois, Emory Valley

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South Illinois Avenue Railroad Track Removal

A work crew from Rogers Group removes unused railroad tracks from South Illinois Avenue just south of Lafayette Drive and Scarboro Road on Saturday night. After the tracks were removed, the railroad crossing was repaved, and the road reopened on Sunday.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:30 p.m.

Unused railroad tracks that crossed Briarcliff Avenue, Emory Valley Road, and South Illinois Avenue were removed on Thursday and Saturday night.

Railroad company CSX split the traffic control costs with the city and paid to remove the tracks, Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder said. In exchange, the city agreed to repave the roadways as part of street maintenance. The crossing lights were removed as well so that commercial vehicles, including school buses, no longer have to stop at the abandoned crossings and, in the case of school buses and other vehicles that carry children, open and close their doors before proceeding.

The project has been in the works for two years.

“We’re thrilled to finally get to this stage,” Cinder said last week. “It’s been a long time coming.” [Read more…]

Emory Valley Road to be closed temporarily as railroad tracks removed

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Emory Valley Road Railroad Crossing

Emory Valley Road will temporarily be closed between Briarcliff Avenue and Fairbanks Road as railroad tracks that are no longer used are removed.

 

Emory Valley Road will temporarily be closed between Briarcliff Avenue and Fairbanks Road as railroad tracks that are no longer used are removed on Thursday.

Rogers Group Inc., a city contractor, is removing the railroad tracks that cross Emory Valley Road and Briarcliff Avenue on Thursday. The project should be completed on Friday, a city press release said.

The road closure is designed to help make the construction project safe for workers and motorists, and it will will require that traffic be detoured. The detour routes will be clearly marked, the press release said. The closures will affect only one direction of traffic at a time. Message boards will be located on Lafayette Drive to remind motorists of the closure so an alternate route can be taken. All residential and business properties will have access during this closure; however, streets will be posted for no through traffic. [Read more…]

Florida runner finishes first in Secret City Half Marathon

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Secret City Half Marathon Start

Five hundred thirty-six runners start in the Secret City Half Marathon on Briarcliff Avenue on Sunday morning.

A Florida man finished first in the Secret City Half Marathon on Sunday morning, crossing the finish line almost eight minutes ahead of the second-place runner.

Jason McLeod, 21, of Orlando, Fla., finished the 13.1-mile course in 1:11:53. It was his first half marathon.

McLeod has never competed in a full marathon either, but he did run cross country for four years at Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn.

Gina Rouse, 34, of Knoxville finished second with a time of 1:19:50. She was also the top female runner among the 536 athletes who started Sunday. She has competed in marathons, including the Nashville Marathon in 2006 and Atlanta Marathon in 2011. [Read more…]

Some road, lane closures during Secret City Half Marathon Nov. 30-Dec. 1

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Secret City Half Marathon Course Map

The course map for the Secret City Half Marathon is pictured above.

Some traffic lanes and roads will be closed, and several main roads and intersections will be affected by the Secret City Half Marathon road races next weekend, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, officials said Thursday.

About 800 runners are expected to race on the streets and greenways of Oak Ridge during these family-friendly athletic events, the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a press release Thursday.

“Motorists should be aware of runners and walkers in the race areas and try to avoid these roads and find alternate routes if possible,” the release said.

The first-ever Secret City 5k and 10k races will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 a.m. The Oak Ridge Police Department will shut down portions of the race course during the affected time periods. Both races start and finish on Badger Avenue near Oak Ridge Associated Universities and continue along the following route through central Oak Ridge: [Read more…]

Apartment manager who saw son hit by car files $750,000 lawsuit

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An apartment manager who saw her son struck by a car at an Oak Ridge apartment complex in June has filed a $750,000 lawsuit against the driver and the driver’s husband.

Kimberly Roark filed the complaint on behalf of her and her son in Anderson County Circuit Court on July 19. [Read more…]

UT Medical Center can’t comment on condition of child hit by car in Oak Ridge

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The University of Tennessee Medical Center could not provide information on the condition of an eight-year-old boy hit by a car on Wednesday afternoon in Oak Ridge—or even confirm whether the child was at the hospital.

An Oak Ridge Police Department report said the boy was hit by a 1998 Toyota Camry in the parking lot of British Woods Apartments at about 4:35 p.m. Wednesday. The four-door sedan was driven by Zhenfeng Han, 33, who lives at the apartment complex on Briarcliff Avenue. [Read more…]

More than 600 register for Secret City Half Marathon, road closures scheduled

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Secret City Half Marathon

More than 600 runners have registered for the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Hundreds of runners from 20 states will compete in the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race.

As of Monday, more than 600 runners were already registered, according to information from organizer Frank Chmielewicz.

The 8 a.m. Sunday race starts and ends at the National Fitness Center on Briarcliff Avenue.

Here are the race day road closures:

  • Emory Valley Road will be closed from about 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. between the Oak Ridge Marina and Briarcliff  Avenue.
  • Briarcliff Avenue will be closed between Emory Valley Road and Laboratory Road from 7:30-8:15 a.m.
  • One lane of Oak Ridge Turnpike traveling east will be closed.
  • Delays could be encountered on Melton Lake Drive due to runners crossing the street to run on the greenway.

The race is being organized by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau with help from the City of Oak Ridge, a press release said. The course includes Oak Ridge streets and greenways, including Melton Lake Greenway on the city’s waterfront.

The event includes a Secret City Half Marathon 4 Kids. This free 13.1-mile fun run is for children from first through sixth grade. It encourages children to exercise by giving them a fun and exciting goal, the release said.

By Sunday morning, participants will have run or walked a total of 12 miles. On race day, children will run the last 1.1 mile. All participants get an official race number, race shirt, and goody bag. Medals will be given to those children who are pre-registered and cross the finish line. The children’s log can be downloaded at http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/register/half-marathon-4-kids.

For more information, visit http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/ or the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov, or contact Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Director Josh Collins at (865) 425-3540.

Race proceeds benefit the Anderson County Child Advocacy Center, which helps children who have been victims or witnesses to physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other crimes.

There will be a Saturday evening pasta dinner before the race to raise money for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.