The Oak Ridge man injured in a rollover accident on South Illinois Avenue has been discharged from the University of Tennessee Medical Center, a spokesperson said Wednesday.
Montgomery Lloyd Samu-Dodson, 21, of Nevada Circle was flown by Lifestar helicopter to the hospital after the 9 p.m. Monday wreck at the Bethel Valley Road overpass.
An Oak Ridge driver was injured in this rollover accident at about 9 p.m. Monday on South Illinois Avenue near Edgemoor Road, authorities said (Photo by Tom Scott)
An Oak Ridge driver injured in a rollover accident Monday night reportedly passed other cars at high speed and changed lanes before drifting off South Illinois Avenue, striking a cement bridge rail at Bethel Valley Road, and traveling a total of about 100 feet through the air, an accident report said.
The driver was trapped inside the vehicle, an Oak Ridge Fire Department report said. Rescuers cut the unidentified driver out of the 1995 Jeep Cherokee, removing the vehicle’s roof, windshield, remaining side windows, and driver’s side doors.
The driver was then flown by a Lifestar helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, an Oak Ridge Police Department report said.
The ORPD report identified the driver as Montgomery Lloyd Samu-Dodson, a 21-year-old Nevada Circle resident
A new traffic signal is expected to start operating Wednesday, Nov. 14, in front of the Woodland Town Center on South Illinois Avenue.
The new shopping center includes a Aubrey’s restaurant and a larger, relocated Panera Bread.
The traffic light is at the intersection of South Illinois and a new road called Woodland Terrace East. It replaces a short section of Quincy Avenue that was removed to make way for Woodland Town Center.
A new, larger Panera Bread will open Sunday morning on South Illinois Avenue, and a new Aubrey’s restaurant will open Monday.
Panera Bread will open its new store Sunday morning, and Aubrey’s restaurant will open Monday, staff members said.
Panera, which already has an Oak Ridge store, is moving into a new, larger restaurant on South Illinois Avenue. The old store is now closed, a staff member said Saturday evening, and the new diner will open at 7 a.m. Sunday.
Aubrey’s is next to the new Panera store and will open at 10:30 a.m. Monday, a staff member said.
The two restaurants are located in a new four-acre shopping center called Woodland Town Center. It’s across from the former Dean Stallings Ford.
Cars driving east on Oak Ridge Turnpike could soon be required to stop before turning right onto South Illinois Avenue.
And those vehicles will no longer be able to use the short acceleration lane on South Illinois Avenue, a city press release said.
It’s part of a series of changes that include new traffic signals, pavement markings, and traffic control signs at that busy intersection.
City workers expect to start implementing the changes on Thursday, the city press release said. The new systems are meant to make the intersection safer for pedestrians, but they could be delayed due to bad weather.
For more information, contact the Oak Ridge Public Works Department at (865) 425-1875, City Engineer Steven R. Byrd at (865) 425-1807, or visit the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov.
The Oak Ridge City Council has approved a rezoning and two driveways for a Weigel’s on South Illinois Avenue.
With almost no discussion, the Oak Ridge City Council on Monday voted 6-0 to approve a rezoning and two driveways off South Illinois Avenue for a new Weigel’s gas station and convenience store.
In previous meetings, city officials had been concerned about potential traffic problems at the new 16-pump gas station, particularly with more vehicles turning left to get on and off busy, seven-lane South Illinois Avenue.
But a traffic study completed by Knoxville engineering firm Cannon and Cannon in September appears to have alleviated those concerns. Prepared for Weigel’s, that study said the new store would have a minimal impact on traffic.
“Much to my surprise, this is a good idea,” Oak Ridge City Council member Ellen Smith said before Monday night’s vote.
Note: This story was updated at 12:10 a.m. Sept. 22.
The proposed Weigel’s on South Illinois Avenue would have a minimal impact on traffic, according to a study completed this month by a Knoxville engineering firm.
A few Oak Ridge officials had expressed concern about cars turning left to enter and leave the store on the busy, seven-lane roadway, which is used by about 27,000 vehicles per day.
The City Council approved a rezoning for the project in a 6-1 vote on Sept. 10, but members said they expected a traffic study before considering the rezoning on second and final reading on Oct. 8.
The Oak Ridge City Council has approved a rezoning for a Weigel’s on South Illinois Avenue in the first of two readings.
The Oak Ridge City Council has approved a rezoning that could allow a Weigel’s on South Illinois Avenue.
Council approved the rezoning in a 6-1 vote during the first of two readings on Monday. It will be considered during a second and final reading on Oct. 10.
The rezoning would allow the proposed gas station and convenience store on a 1.5-acre parcel south of TNBank. The 3,900-square-foot store could open by 2013.
There are more hurdles to clear before a Weigel’s can be built on South Illinois Avenue, but a city board has recommended that a 1.5-acre parcel south of TNBank be rezoned for the proposed gas station and convenience store.
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission recommended the rezoning in a 7-3 vote Thursday.
