Oak Ridge Today

State grant of more than $900,000 to be used for Turnpike sidewalks

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Oak-Ridge-Turnpike-Sidewalks-July-6-2016 600

A state grant of more than $900,000 will be used to complete sidewalks along the south side of Oak Ridge Turnpike from Illinois Avenue to Fairbanks Road, including along this stretch of roadway between Lafayette Drive and Division Road, pictured on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:45 a.m. July 7.

Oak Ridge has received a state transportation grant of more than $900,000, and it will be used to complete sidewalks along the south side of Oak Ridge Turnpike between Illinois Avenue and Fairbanks Road, officials said Wednesday.

The $927,021.40 Multimodal Access Grant is from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

It’s one of 14 grants worth a total of about $10.3 million awarded this year, according to information from TDOT. Other cities receiving grants in the Knoxville area were Lenoir City—$899,394.30 for an SR2/Broadway Multimodal Access Project—and Gatlinburg—$396,036 for US 321 Safety Upgrades and Trolley Stop.

In Oak Ridge, the grant will be used to help build a continuous sidewalk on the south side of the Turnpike from Illinois to Fairbanks.

The current standard requires sidewalks in front of new buildings when they face the Turnpike. So, there are short stretches of new sidewalks in front of The Donut Palace and Zaxby’s restaurant, both relatively new businesses, interspersed with sections of no sidewalks in front of Martin Funeral Home and First Presbyterian Church between Lafayette Drive and Division Road. [Read more…]

West end Weigel’s closed temporarily after car crashes through front door

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Crash at Oak Ridge Turnpike Weigels July 3 2016

The Weigel’s on Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge was temporarily closed Sunday afternoon, July 3, 2016, after a car crashed through the front door. Above, workers clean up about one hour after the crash. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Weigel’s gas station and convenience store on Oak Ridge Turnpike was closed temporarily Sunday afternoon after a car crashed through the front door.

It wasn’t clear how soon the store, which is in west Oak Ridge, might re-open. The front door has been removed, and workers were cleaning up about an hour after the crash, which was reported around 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

There were no immediate reports of injuries. [Read more…]

Rogers Group patching parts of Illinois, Turnpike today through Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Rogers Group Inc., a contractor for the City of Oak Ridge, is expected to start patching parts of two state highways today. The two state roads are Illinois Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The work is expected to last most of the week and be complete by Thursday, June 30, unless interrupted by weather or unforeseen problems, a press release said.

“Motorists should be aware of short-term temporary lane closures while this work is being completed,” the press release said. “Please take extra caution near Methodist Medical Center at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Tennyson Road. Thank you for your cooperation and patience while this work is being completed.”

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Man dies after two-vehicle crash in west Oak Ridge on Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Dodge Ram Pickup Fatal Crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike June 2 2016

One man died after a two-vehicle crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Thursday evening, June 2, 2016. Authorities said a 2015 Toyota Prius was turning out of the Weigel’s parking lot onto the Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge and pulled into the path of this 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck, which was hauling a livestock trailer. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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

An Oak Ridge man died after a two-vehicle crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Thursday, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday in front of Weigel’s at 2385 Oak Ridge Turnpike, on the west end of town.

A 2015 Toyota Prius was turning out of the Weigel’s parking lot onto the Oak Ridge Turnpike and pulled into the path of a 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck hauling a livestock trailer, the Oak Ridge Police Police Department said.

The driver of the Toyota Prius, Lawrence Landau of Oak Ridge, was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he later died, the ORPD said. [Read more…]

Warrants: Narcotic pain-reliever suspected in fatal crash

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Christy-Duncan-Memorial-Oak-Ridge-Turnpike-May-10-2016

The driver charged with vehicular homicide in a fatal three-vehicle crash in Oak Ridge on Friday, May 6, 2016, is suspected of using a narcotic pain-reliever, authorities said. The crash at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Jefferson Avenue killed Christy Duncan, a 37-year-old Harriman mother who was an employee of Roane County Schools and attended church in Oak Ridge. A Mother’s Day memorial was set up near the crash site on Sunday, May 8, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The driver charged with vehicular homicide in a fatal three-vehicle crash in Oak Ridge on May 6 is suspected of using a narcotic pain-reliever, authorities said.

Vicki G. Gilmore, 61, of Oak Ridge, had constricted pupils and droopy eyelids after the Friday night crash, Oak Ridge Police Department Officer Derek A. Burchfield wrote in affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.

The crash was reported at about 9:47 p.m. Friday, May 6, at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Jefferson Avenue.

All witness statements said Gilmore was driving fast in the westbound lanes of Oak Ridge Turnpike, Burchfield said. A blue Nissan Altima was on the inside lane at the red light. Inside that car were Christy Duncan, 37, of Harriman, and her four-year-old daughter Janna.

In the outside lane was a silver Lexus occupied by Jason Watson, according to the affidavits, which are attached to arrest warrants.

“All statements say Gilmore failed to slow down or even hit the brakes, crashing into the rear of Duncan’s vehicle before sliding sideways into Watson’s vehicle,” the affidavits said. [Read more…]

Learn about secrecy, security, spies during Manhattan Project on Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Turnpike Checking station

The Turnpike Gatehouse on Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

A program in west Oak Ridge on Friday, May 20, will give visitors some insight into what life was like in the city during the Manhattan Project with all the security, the need for secrecy, and the concern for spies, a press release said.

The program will be presented by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. It starts at 3 p.m. May 20 at the Turnpike Gatehouse, which is located at 2900 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Visitors that are taking the U.S. Department of Energy public tour are encouraged to attend the program after the tour, the press release said.

This program is free and open to the public. Parking is limited, so please try to carpool if possible. [Read more…]

Woman charged with vehicular homicide, DUI after fatal crash on Friday

Posted at
By 5 Comments

Vickie Gay Gilmore

Vickie Gay Gilmore

Note: This story was last updated at 10:51 a.m.

An Oak Ridge woman has been charged with vehicular homicide and driving under the influence after a fatal crash that killed a 37-year-old mother on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Friday, authorities said.

The three-vehicle crash was reported at about 9:47 p.m. Friday, May 6, at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Jefferson Avenue.

When they arrived, officers attempted to immediately extricate the driver of one vehicle, Christy Duncan, 37 of Harriman, and her 4-year-old daughter from their vehicle, which was severely damaged, according to the Oak Ridge Police Department.

Both victims were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where Duncan later succumbed to her injuries, the press release said. It said the 4-year-old is being treated for injuries. Another driver, Jason Watson, was uninjured. [Read more…]

One person dies in three-vehicle crash on Turnpike on Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

One person died in a three-vehicle crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Friday night, authorities said.

The roadway was closed between Illinois and Louisiana avenues from just after 10 p.m. Friday until almost 2:30 a.m. Saturday, according to text alerts sent out by the Oak Ridge Police Department.

Additional information about the crash isn’t available yet, but the ORPD could have more information available later this evening.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Driver allegedly runs red light, causes five-vehicle crash that injures one

Posted at
By 18 Comments

Three-Vehicles-at-Oak-Ridge-Turnpike-Crash-April-30-2016

A driver who allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue caused a five-vehicle crash that injured one person on Saturday afternoon, April 30, 2016, authorities said. Three of the crashed vehicles are pictured above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:15 p.m. May 2.

A driver who allegedly ran a red light caused a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike that injured one person on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 2:11 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue/Lafayette Drive.

A westbound pickup truck allegedly ran a red light and caused the chain-reaction crash, authorities said.

The one person injured had minor injuries, according to emergency personnel. Also, one of the drivers who was involved said he thought his shoulder might be injured. [Read more…]

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

No-Parking-Flea-Market-March-26-2016

Vehicles are parked in front of a “No Parking” sign in the turn lane and fire lane during the flea market at Oak Ridge High School on Saturday, March 26, 2016. (Photo courtesy Darryl Kerley)

 

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.” [Read more…]

Police: Motorcyclist dies in two-vehicle crash on North Illinois Avenue

Posted at
By 7 Comments

North-Illinios-Avenue-Crash-Jan-31-2016-1

Authorities said a motorcyclist died in a collision with a car on North Illinois Avenue at the western entrance to the Kroger shopping center at about 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. Above, the Oak Ridge Police Department and Clinton Police Department reconstruct the crash. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:23 p.m.

A motorcyclist died in a collision with a car on North Illinois Avenue on Sunday evening, authorities said.

The collision between a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle and Cadillac STS four-door sedan was reported at about 6 p.m. Sunday, Oak Ridge Police Department Deputy Chief Robin Smith said.

Smith said he didn’t immediately have details on whether the driver of the car was injured.

The crash occurred on North Illinois Avenue between Oak Ridge Turnpike and Ivanhoe Road, at the western entrance to Westcott Center, the Kroger shopping center.
[Read more…]

North Illinois closed near Kroger as police investigate car-motorcycle crash

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

North-Illinois-Avenue-Crash-Reconstruction-Kelly-Smith-Jan-31-2016

Oak Ridge Police Department Lt. John Kelly, left, and Clinton Police Department Officer Max Smith reconstruct a car-motorcycle crash on North Illinois Avenue at the western entrance to Kroger on Sunday evening, Jan. 31, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11 p.m.

A short stretch of North Illinois Avenue is closed north of Oak Ridge Turnpike, at the western entrance to Kroger, as police investigate a Sunday evening crash between a car and a motorcycle.

The closure was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The closure affects both the northbound and southbound lanes between Oak Ridge Turnpike and Ivanhoe Road.

The crash involved a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle and a Cadillac STS four-door sedan. [Read more…]