Depot Street segment is now one way

Members of the Shelbyville Public Works Department were busy Thursday morning restriping East Depot Street near the public square to change the road into a one-way route for the next 90 days. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Order this photo]

Shelbyville's city council chose to test the concept of one-way traffic on East Depot Street for 90 days, despite hearing about some criticism of the idea from two local merchants.

While he did not appear Tuesday night to address the council on the topic, city manager Ed Craig said that merchant Wayne Hix had objected to making East Depot Street one-way.

Craig said Hix had called him about three weeks ago after the council heard a presentation about safety issues regarding the move to direct traffic on the route to move outwards from the public square.

"He had a problem with it going outbound," Craig said. "He thought it detrimental to the square."

Councilman Lee Roy Cunningham said the move might steer traffic away from his business and "he didn't blame him" for expressing that feeling.

Craig also said that businessman Wayne Hitchcock also spoke to him and mayor Wallace Cartwright about his opposition to the plan.

"I told Wayne (Hitchcock) that the train has left the station and is moving down the track," Craig said, explaining to the council that he would give Hitchcock and other merchants the chance to express their opinions.

But Craig noted that neither Hix, Hitchcock or any other merchants were in attendance to voice their concerns over the traffic issue.

Councilman Al Stephenson said Hix also contacted him about the issue and Stephenson advised collecting signatures for a petition to the council over the matter.

"I don't know if he's going to do that or not," Stephenson said.

Last month, Lt. Trey Clanton, of the Shelbyville Police Department, told the council that if Depot Street was made to be one-way inward towards the square, drivers wanting to stay on Depot Street would have to take a detour onto South Main Street and then make a left onto McGrew Street.

This would lead motorists to South Jefferson Street (Highway 82), and Clanton said that a blind spot caused by a hill before the road intersects with McGrew Street would cause an increase in accidents.

Craig said the answer in his mind was for the street to go one way outbound, or to conduct a 90-day trial phase.

Another merchant told Craig that he did not care which way the traffic would flow, but that the current situation of a two-way street creates a safety issue. Craig mentioned how difficult it was to simply cross the street.

"Most of the people on Depot Street don't care which way it goes," Craig said. "They want it to be one way. I also think Wayne's and Wayne's concerns are legitimate."

Cunningham said that regardless what the council does, "we are not going to satisfy everybody."

Council members said they will proceed with the 90-day trial period for one way on Depot Street and if it doesn't work, "we'll try something else."

Workers from the public works department were busy Thursday morning on Depot Street making the changes for the trial period.