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Oak Ridge police conduct water rescue

Posted at 1:46 pm February 23, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy ORFD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy ORFD)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

The vehicle was on Oak Ridge Turnpike (Highway 95) in west Oak Ridge, one of several roads in the area that has had at least a portion of it closed.

“We are asking everyone to stay home and off the roads today while we respond to flooding in Oak Ridge,” the Fire Department said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, Weather, Weather Tagged With: flooding, Highway 95, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, rain, road closures, water rescue

No injuries reported when car crashes into school bus

Posted at 12:25 pm February 15, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

No one was injured when a car crashed into an Oak Ridge school bus on Thursday, police said.

The two-vehicle crash was reported at about 6:55 a.m. Thursday in the eastbound lanes of Oak Ridge Turnpike at Salem Road.

School bus #64 was struck on the driver’s side near the rear axle by a car pulling out onto the Turnpike from Salem Road, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: crash, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, ORPD, school bus

Signal timing project would be eligible for 100 percent federal funds

Posted at 7:34 pm October 7, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Turnpike-South-Tulane-Dec-10-2015

The intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Tulane Avenue is pictured above in this file photo from December 2015. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A $2.8 milion signal timing project that could affect traffic lights on Oak Ridge Turnpike would be eligible for 100 percent federal funding, according to a resolution to be considered by Oak Ridge City Council members on Monday.

The project, the second phase of a project to improve the city’s traffic signal system, could cost $2.86 million, and it would focus on 14 locations along a 2.7-mile section of Oak Ridge Turnpike between Illinois Avenue and Florida Avenue. It would include:

  • the installation of advanced traffic controllers at 11 intersections,
  • the installation of aerial and underground fiber optic cables to connect all 14 signals within the city’s existing fiber network,
  • the replacement of loop detectors with radar vehicle detection at stop lights, and
  • the establishment of a traffic operations center that would be located in the Oak Ridge Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane to manage the signals.

In addition, the city would replace older existing traffic signal heads with LED signals that operate more efficiently, more reliably, and provide better visibility, according to a memo that accompanies the resolution and was written by Oak Ridge Public Works Director Shira McWaters. She said new pedestrian-accessible signals would be installed at appropriate locations along with new signing and pavement marking upgrades. And two signals would also be reconstructed to receive new mast arms. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, State, Top Stories Tagged With: CMAQ, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, Kimley-Horn Engineers, Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, Multimodal Access Grant, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Public Works, Oak Ridge Turnpike, pedestrian connectivity, radar vehicle detection, Shira McWaters, signal timing, TDOT, Tennessee Department of Transportation, traffic controllers, traffic lights, traffic operations center, traffic signal

Temporary lane closure on Oak Ridge Turnpike this week

Posted at 8:54 pm July 22, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

One lane of a short section of Oak Ridge Turnpike will be closed this week.

“Southern Contractors Inc., working under contract to the City of Oak Ridge, will have the outside eastbound lane of Oak Ridge Turnpike from Lafayette Drive to East Division Road closed starting Monday, July 23, at 7 a.m.,” a press release said.

The work is necessary to set new forms along the roadways as part of the Intersection Improvement Project, and it is expected to last until the evening of Wednesday, July 25, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, lane closure, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Southern Contractors Inc.

Some roads, including part of Turnpike, to be closed for Veterans Parade on Saturday

Posted at 10:40 am June 5, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Some roads, including part of Oak Ridge Turnpike, will be closed for a Veterans Parade on Saturday morning. The parade is part of the Secret City Festival celebration this week.

The road closures were announced by the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Police Department.

The Veterans Parade route will run from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) parking lot off of Badger Avenue to ORAU Way. Participants will then make a right turn onto Oak Ridge Turnpike and end in the Oak Ridge Public Library parking lot. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Badger Avenue, City of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, ORAU Way, road closures, Robertsville Road, Veterans Parade

Emergency sewer line repair work on Turnpike starts Monday

Posted at 4:55 pm August 17, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department will start emergency repair work on a sewer line that runs underneath Oak Ridge Turnpike on Monday.

Hurst Excavating LLC, a contractor for the City of Oak Ridge, will repair the sewer line at Robertsville Road and the northwest corner of Alvin K. Bissell Park. The work is expected to continue through Thursday, August 24.

“The Oak Ridge Turnpike will not be closed during the repairs,” a city press release said. “However, there may be work vehicles along the side of the roadway. Please use extreme care and caution and allow extra time when driving in this area.

Questions can be directed to the Oak Ridge Public Works information line at (865) 425-1875 or by email at [email protected].

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Alvin K. Bissell Park, City of Oak Ridge, emergency sewer line repair, Hurst Excavating LLC, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, sewer line

Crashes with injuries reported in Oak Ridge, Clinton

Posted at 9:51 am July 16, 2017
By John Huotari 1 Comment

A three-car crash was reported at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue on Friday morning, July 14, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A three-car crash with injuries was reported at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Florida Avenue on Friday morning, July 14, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Three crashes with injuries were reported Friday morning in Oak Ridge and Clinton. A University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopter was reported to have responded to the crash in Clinton.

The first two-vehicle crash was reported at 9:18 a.m. Friday on Laboratory Road at Bus Terminal Road. One vehicle ended up on its side, trapping the driver, who had to be extricated, or freed from the vehicle. That driver was taken to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, authorities said.

The second crash was reported sometime around 11 a.m. Friday in the 300 block of Main Street in Clinton. At least two vehicles were reported to have been involved, and Lifestar was reported to have responded. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Bus Terminal Road, crash, crashes, Florida Avenue, Laboratory Road, Lifestar, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Turnpike, University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopter, University of Tennessee Medical Center

Council to consider engineering contract for pedestrian improvements on Turnpike, Illinois

Posted at 5:07 pm June 11, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge City Council on Thursday will consider an engineering contract of roughly $300,000 for pedestrian improvements on Oak Ridge Turnpike and South Illinois Avenue.

Under the resolution to be considered by Council, the $298,800 engineering services contract would be awarded to Kimley-Horn of Nashville.

The estimated budget for the entire project, including both engineering and construction, is about $975,811. The work is being funded mostly with a Tennessee Department of Transportation Multimodal Access Grant of $927,021.40, Oak Ridge City Engineer Roger Flynn said in a May 24 memo to City Council members. The grant money will be allocated in three phases during a three-year period.

A 5 percent match of $48,790 is required, Flynn said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: engineering contract, Kimley-Horn, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Turnpike, pedestrian improvements, Roger Flynn, South Illinois Avenue

Update: Truck driver was ill, but shipment was routine, posed no threat to public

Posted at 6:30 pm May 17, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Turnpike re-opened near Big Turtle Park after about 1.5 hours Wednesday afternoon, May 17, 2017, after authorities investigated a possible hazardous materials situation involving a truck pulling a flatbed trailer with two cargo containers marked radioactive. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge Turnpike re-opened near Big Turtle Park after about 1.5 hours Wednesday afternoon, May 17, 2017, after authorities investigated a possible hazardous materials situation involving a truck pulling a flatbed trailer with two cargo containers marked radioactive. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 6:45 p.m.

Authorities investigated a truck shipment labeled radioactive after a driver was reported ill on Wednesday afternoon, and they found the shipment was routine and posed no threat to the public, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responded to the call of the truck driver who was ill on Oak Ridge Turnpike near Newport Drive at about 11:50 a.m. Wednesday.

When they arrived, firefighters saw the truck and its flatbed trailer were transporting hazardous waste, so as they evaluated the patient, the Fire Department said in a City of Oak Ridge press release.

Firefighters also followed procedure to evaluate the shipment to ensure there was no association with the truck driver’s illness, the press release said.

“Officials closed that section of the Oak Ridge Turnpike as a precautionary measure until the patient could be evaluated and transported to the local hospital,” the press release said. “The truck was relocated off of the state highway to a city parking lot for additional evaluation and the highway was re-opened.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: Big Turtle Park, City of Oak Ridge, hazardous waste, Montana Avenue, Newport Drive, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Toxco

Turnpike re-opened, truck escorted to business after authorities investigate possible hazardous materials

Posted at 2:24 pm May 17, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Turnpike re-opened near Big Turtle Park after about 1.5 hours Wednesday afternoon, May 17, 2017, after authorities investigated a possible hazardous materials situation involving a truck pulling a flatbed trailer with two cargo containers marked radioactive. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge Turnpike re-opened near Big Turtle Park after about 1.5 hours Wednesday afternoon, May 17, 2017, after authorities investigated a possible hazardous materials situation involving a truck pulling a flatbed trailer with two cargo containers marked radioactive. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:45 p.m.

Oak Ridge Turnpike re-opened near Big Turtle Park after about 1.5 hours Wednesday afternoon after authorities investigated a possible hazardous materials situation involving a truck pulling a flatbed trailer with two cargo containers marked radioactive.

The Turnpike was closed between Montana Avenue and Newport Drive at about 12 p.m. Wednesday. It re-opened after the truck and trailer were moved to a parking lot at Big Turtle Park near the dog park and a soccer field.

At about 1:30 p.m., the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department escorted the truck and trailer through central Oak Ridge to Toxco on Flint Road.

It wasn’t immediately clear if there was any hazardous materials detected, although the truck and its containers were presumably deemed to be okay since they were escorted through town, and workers and police officers were standing near them at Toxco. Toxco repackages low-level radioactive waste. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: hazardous materials, Montana Avenue, Newport Drive, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Toxco

Bicyclist who died in SUV-bike crash on Sunday has been identified

Posted at 3:47 pm February 20, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The bicyclist who died in the Sunday afternoon crash between a bicycle and a small sport utility vehicle has been identified as Verne Gilbert, 85, of Oak Ridge, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 1:50 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike, or Highway 58, and Blair Road, or State Route 327, in west Oak Ridge. That’s just east of East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site.

Gilbert’s identity was not included in a City of Oak Ridge news release Sunday evening at the request of the family, a Monday afternoon press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Blair Road, crash, Highway 58, Oak Ridge Turnpike, State Route 327, SUV-bike crash, Verne Gilbert

Bicyclist dies after SUV-bike crash

Posted at 3:43 pm February 19, 2017
By John Huotari 1 Comment

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a fatal crash between an SUV and a bicycle at Highway 58 and Blair Road on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a fatal crash between an SUV and a bicycle at Highway 58 and Blair Road on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 5 p.m.

A bicyclist died after a crash between a sport utility vehicle and a bike on Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge on Sunday, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 1:52 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 58 and Blair Road. The male bicyclist had been taken to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge after the crash.

Highway 58 is temporarily closed at the intersection with Blair Road, and vehicles are being detoured as police investigate. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: bicyclist, Blair Road, Clinton Police Department, crash, Highway 58, Matt Tedford, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, SUV-bike crash

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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