Residents react to proposed study of Ooltewah roads

OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF)- It’s been nearly a month since a 16 year old boy died while driving on Snow Hill Road.

Now, Hamilton County has announced they are looking into how to fix that and other roads in Ooltewah.

Jean Rogers has lived and gone to Fairview Baptist Church on Snow Hill Road for over 50 years.

“When I first moved on this road there was hardly any cars, and now we have 500 new houses this way and so many that way. This is just like a race track, and for years and years we have dealt with it,” she said.

She described how the population boom of the Ooltewah area has made driving much more dangerous, even just to go across the street to church.

Rogers described, “It’s scary for me because I have to go right there to that driveway and get into my driveway home. Especially at night, the oncoming cars, they don’t slow down. They don’t dim their bright lights. You’re just taking a chance that you’re not going to get hit by a car coming from that direction.”

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp announced Wednesday that a study will be conducted on Snow Hill and Hunter Roads to see how their safety can be improved.

County Commissioner Dr. Steve Highlander took us on a ride on these roads and pointed out the various dangers including a lack of turn-offs, steep ditches, and windy curves.

This leads to difficulty in his view of controlling speeds.

Dr. Highlander said, “Sheriff Garrett and his deputies, and several people have said, “Why don’t you get out there and check radar, check speed? They’re driving too fast.” And this is basically the only pull off for several miles.”

Rogers says the increase in difficulty in getting on and off Snow Hill Road has gotten to the point where she’s even willing to give up some of her property to see improvements to the road.

“Well, I would be willing to give some of my yard so it can be wider because like I said there are new houses this direction and there is new houses in that direction, and I am in the middle of it,” she said.

The Hamilton County Commission must vote to approve this safety audit next Wednesday.