Hamilton County Commissioner pulls Hunter Road resolution

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – Commissioner Steve Highlander believes Hunter Road is the most dangerous road in Hamilton County.

He drafted a resolution to stop rezoning property along Hunter Road for up to a year and half.

On Wednesday, he pulled that resolution. But that doesn’t mean the winding, narrow road suddenly became safer.

“If you assume that most people have two cars, then how many cars is that going down a road that is curvy, has no shoulders, and is too narrow? It’s just a terrible road,” said Hunter Road resident Gary Boles. 

Meanwhile, Mayor Wamp hopes to form a task force.

Wamp says it will work to make sure Hamilton County roads can catch up with county growth. 

“One of the reasons this is timely to do it now, is that we have Regan Smith under contract. So, you have already got an engineering firm working for the county in a planning capacity,” Mayor Wamp said. “So, for them to come alongside for a six-month engagement, we could talk through the county public works.” 

Still, Mayor Wamp understands Commissioner Highlander’s concerns.

“No question, Mr. Highlander, that you raised a reasonable concern about the traffic that roads like Hunter Road and Snow Hill Road face. They were designed for wagons and never designed for the kind of traffic they are getting these days,” Wamp concluded.

The planning commission is hosting a meeting on August 14 to talk about the rezoning request.