Signal Light contract at I-40/Canada Road to be considered

A major safety and traffic hazard may be resolved in the near future as the Shelby County Commission will take final action on the bid for installing signal lights at the I-40/Canada Road interchange at a future meeting.

Tentative dates are Wednesday, August 26, for discussion at the Committee Meeting and Monday, August 31 for final action by the full Shelby County Commission. (This is a change from the original dates of August 12 and August 17.)

The signal lights will significantly improve the safety and efficiency of the I-40/Canada Road Interchange.

This bid will benefit residents of Memphis, Arlington and Shelby County as well as Lakeland residents. The traffic signals will reduce the congestion. The congestion at this interchange is a major safety hazard and increases air pollution.

A major concern is that this interchange is the major link between the areas south of I-40 and north of I-40. Traffic signals will significant increase response time for public safety vehicles responding to residents of Memphis, Arlington, Lakeland, Bartlet, and Shelby County.

We will publicize the time and dates of the meetings as soon as they are finalized.

All Lakeland residents and Shelby County residents who use this intersection are encouraged to attend the meeting and speak in support of the signal lights, or at least contact the Shelby County Commissioners and advise them of the importance of these signal lights.

The names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of all Shelby County Commissioners are listed under at www.shelbycountytn.gov (Click on the "Elected Officials" tab and then "County Commissioners".)

The bid for the traffic signals at I-40 and Canada Road has been approved by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Final action on approval of the bid is by the Shelby County Commission, since the funds are a 100% "congestion grant" that flows through Shelby County.

We will be reminding residents and the vehicles using this intersection of this opportunity to support traffic signals at the I-40/Canada Road interchange and making it safer for all future motorists.