ALCOA, Tenn. — Alcoa leaders and the Tennessee Department of Transportation held a meeting on Tuesday, aimed at learning way the community wanted Hall Road to improve.
The section road runs through much of Alcoa, spanning almost 2 miles. For many people, it's a main road used to access businesses and residential areas alike, connecting to Alcoa Highway and leading to Washington Street. At Tuesday's meeting, several people said safety improvements were their primary concern.
"They (drivers) do not differentiate between sidewalk and road. And, on at least three occasions, I was almost hit by a car," said Jakie Hill, who lives in the Alcoa area.
Alcoa leaders discussed the preliminary findings of a traffic and safety study on Hall Road. During the meeting, leaders also said they wanted to learn specific ways the road can be improved and ways they can address people's concerns.
"We want our community, when you're coming into it through this road, to feel calm and collected, and just a good place to be." said Emily Assenmacher, the Public Information Officer for the City of Alcoa. "We hear that speeding is a concern, as well as just safety for our Hall Road community residents — making sure that they can safely get to the corridor."
Leaders said 479 crashes have been reported on Hall Road from 2019 through 2024, along with two deaths and 80 reported injuries.
"I've been a lifelong resident of Alcoa. I've lived here for all my life, so I think what we're doing here is very important for the community and for the people who travel through the Hall Road section," said Dexter Stweart, another Alcoa resident.
The next public meeting about Hall Road is planned for October.