Police, residents don’t want trucks using Highway 30 as shortcut around I-40 closure

Police in Tennessee are attempting to crack down on the use of Highway 30 as a shortcut around Interstate 40 closures. 

Officers in Polk County, Tennessee say that GPS directions list Highway 30 as a shortcut for drivers, resulting in concerns from residents about safety. 

According to News Channel 9, in response to the increased truck traffic, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has installed signs all along Highway 30 restricting truck traffic, except for local deliveries, but the signs haven’t solved the problem. 

“Signs are signs, but not everybody obeys,” said Polk County Sheriff Steve Ross. 

For now, Ross says that the Tennessee Highway Patrol will help to manage traffic during school drop-off and pick-up hours to prevent any issues with semi truck and bus traffic on narrower parts of the highway, but a permanent solution has yet to be found.