Big trucks moved off the square

The traffic situation on Shelbyville's public square will soon see some relief as 18-wheeled vehicles will be directed away from the crowded area.

City manager Ed Craig said that Mayor Wallace Cartwright had requested that the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) reroute state highways off of the square. The city received word from TDOT Tuesday that the request was approved.

As a result, signage at Veterans Memorial Bridge that currently directs Highway 64 traffic onto the square will redirect truck traffic to Lane Parkway to the Highway 82 bypass that connects with East Depot Street.

Instead, the roads marked Highway 64 and 82 on the square will become city streets with the state route being Lane Parkway and the bypass.

The state would also pick up the required maintenance of Lane Parkway, while the city will be responsible for maintaining the square.

"The 82 bypass will just become Highway 82," Craig said. The signs should be changed by sometime next week.