GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — Sumner County residents are calling out a construction zone along a highly-traveled stretch of highway. 

Road construction along Highway 31 East near Gallatin has caused traffic delays and, in recent days, several crashes. On social media, residents are now calling the area a “death trap.” 

“There have been a lot of wrecks out through here, and we hear sirens every day going through here,” said Lee, who runs Smoke House restaurant, some 100 yards away from the main construction area. 

The restaurant has a front row seat to the traffic concerns, and Lee said it’s starting to hurt their business.

“We open at 11 (a.m.) and it really impacts us. I mean, big time. Sometimes I have to go to the store and get stuff, we run out of something, and sometimes I’ll sit here (in the parking lot) 25, 30 minutes before I can get out on the highway,” she detailed. 

Traffic delays aside, residents are saying it’s the unknowns surrounding the construction that concerns them.

“I think yesterday is when they changed the shift pattern, the traffic pattern. There was nothing to tell us that was happening,” said Katherine Alvarez. “The community had no clue. And from my understanding, as of this morning, there’s already been a couple more accidents!” 

Alvarez said her brother totaled his car Tuesday night, heading into Gallatin from the Bethpage area. According to Alvarez, he didn’t -- or couldn’t -- see the construction barrier’s new location in the road. 

“As soon as you go under the red light, there’s not a lot of lighting there… meaning, going southbound, you had to jerk real hard to the left to miss the corner of the barrier and be in your lane,” said Alvarez. “And on the barriers, there is no kind of reflective, there’s no lights on top.” 

The road work is a TDOT effort, having started several months ago. Gallatin’s Mayor, Paige Brown, told News 2 the city is aware of the issues and has been in contact with the agency.

For now, it remains a daily struggle for those who drive along Highway 31E, near Airport Road. 

“They probably should do it at night, instead of doing it at everybody’s business hours, school hours. It impacts a lot of people,” said Lee. 

News 2 reached out to TDOT for a comment on the project. Their communications manager, Erin Zeigler, shared this statement:

The project you're referring to at Airport Road and 31E (State Route 6) involves continuous lane closures and a lane shift, which is outlined by our lane closure report (published weekly).

TDOT does not maintain or install lighting; that is the responsibility of the city or county.

In addition to outlining work in the weekly lane closure report, TDOT posts “Road Work Ahead” or other warning signs as needed at work zones for any activities, disruptions, or changes to normal traffic patterns. Even though there may be no obvious work activity, the condition of the roadway may have been changed due to previous work. Those signs are posted to ensure drivers are aware they are in a work zone, so they can slow down and use caution.” 

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/a-death-trap-sumner-county-residents-express-concern-for-highway-construction-zone/