Butler calls for improvements on U.S. 72

By Jean Cole
jean@athensnews-courier.com

June 16, 2009 02:59 pm

— CLEMENTS — Alabama Sen. Tom Butler has asked the governor and the head of the state Department of Transportation for immediate safety improvements at the intersection of U.S. 72 and Hardy Road.
He has also asked for more state troopers enforcing the speed limit on 72 West and a quicker timetable for adding a turn lane from Athens to the Lauderdale County line.
The death of an Elkmont man, 64-year-old Gerald Burns, following a wreck at the intersection near Blue Springs Elementary School construction site has prompted motorists to call for action.
Butler said Monday he had sent letters to Gov. Bob Riley, to Alabama Department of Transportation Director Joe McInnes and to Chief Engineer and Assistant ALDOT Director Don Vaughn.
“I have asked for immediate safety improvements at Hardy Road and 72 West at the location for the new elementary school for the Clements community, increased state trooper presence and enforcement of speed limits on 72 West; and for moving up the timetable to add the fifth lane for safety reasons to 72 West.”
Butler said he met with McInnes and Mayor Dan Williams last week about road issues for Athens, at which time he mentioned the latest 72 West fatality and the need to improve the intersection of 72 and Hardy Road before the school opens.
More than 30 people have died on the 15-mile stretch of 72 between Athens and the Lauderdale County line since 1994.
Riley promised in 2004 to add a fifth lane to the stretch, which would allow motorists to turn left off of the busy, undivided four-lane highway without stopping traffic behind them or causing wrecks. However, the DOT's five-laning plan is in the environmental stage, with the engineering, right-of-way acquisition and construction phases still ahead. ALDOT has said this work will take five years.
Some motorists are distrustful of the timetable and many say the improvements should have come 20 years ago.