Crestview Avenue Barricade to Remain in Place

A barricade put in place over 20 years ago to block through traffic from a commercial to residential area will remain in place.

The Harrison City Council on a split vote denied the request by the Harrison Board of Realtors to have the barricade removed which would have opened up a connector from Crestview Drive to Wal-Mart Drive near the Dollar Tree Location. 

The request, which has been brought up and defeated three times since the barricade was put in place in 2000, had some support from residents in that area as well as some city officials stating it would help emergency response times in that area and would give motorist another connection for the residential neighborhood to the nearby commercial businesses without having to get on Highway 65. Several residents however still are opposed to the removal of the barricade also citing safety as well as costs to bring some roads currently not in the city up to code. 

After discussion, a vote was taken and the Resolution failed on a 4-3 vote with one council member, Wayne Cone, not being present for the meeting. Chairman of the Public Safety Committee Jeremy Ragland made the motion to approve seconded by Mitch Magness with Joel Williams also voting in favor while the other four present members, Mary Jean Creager, Liz Darden, Reed Petty, and Larry Phillips voted against the motion which leaves the barricade in place. 

Following the vote, Public Works Director Wade Phillips said they will work at revising the current barricade and also look at traffic turnarounds to better facility traffic flow on both sides of the barricade.

More on the discussion and other business handled at the council meeting can be seen on the Hometown Television Facebook Page.