Portland, Tennessee Blog

If anyone can help me...I would love the help...My cousin was killed in a accident somewhere between Portland and Springfield in a fatal motorcycle accident...I would love to have any information about the accident.. I cant find any information and not really sure what happened..All i know is that my cousin died and I have no answers...please someone repsond...you can email me at rwright06@sbcglobal.net

I know this is an old blog, but, where can I find a map of the new bypass to be constructed around Portland? I know some is started, but am wondering specifically about it's route across Hwy 76 going north.

For sure, driving in Portland now is becoming a challenge ! Being a car caught between lanes filled with semi-trucks is getting to be a pain.
I don't know anything about it, really, but I think that unless an alternate route is provided around a town that nothing can be done to keep them from using 109 -- it's a state route, isn't it? So, until a bypass is provided, we are stuck with them, it seems.
What's worse, and something I think the police need to deal with...is the allowing of people riding on lawn mowers to drive them to town same as a car. Not to mention battery powered wheel chairs on the roads. Someone is going to get in an accident over these, hurt, or killed one day.

Something does need to be done. I have lived in Portland for over 5 years and the traffic in town is getting worse. With all the buisnesses and the school on 109 I don't think trucks should be allowed in town unless they are going to deliver in that area. I know that is how Franklin Ky does and it does cut down the traffic issues.

I too have felt the crunch coming thru town in Portland. Many times I am sandwhiched between two 18 wheelers one in the right lane and one coming the opposite way. The one next to me in the right lane will always come over into my lane around the "s" like curve in the road going thru town.

I thought they were building an alternate route around the ridge, I know they have talked about it for years? I could have swore I read that in the paper not to long ago. I also thought they were coming up with the money to have a business route put in to route the truck around downtown Portland too? Isnt it suppost to start at Kirby drive and connect to 52?

I would like to thank everyone for the responses, they helped me focus my story. We're just finishing printing the paper for this week and there will be a story about traffic issues. Hope you get a chance to read it.
Thanks again

I totally agree with Denise.

Something must be done asap about these big rigs overtaking our streets in Portland.

Just last Friday I was coming up on the stop light at 52/109. I was moving southbound on 109 toward the stop light when an 18 wheeler started to move over into my lane. When he realized I was there he slammed on his brakes. After thinking about this situation, he either really did not know I was there.....which is alarming....or he just thought if he started moving over I would let him in....which is even more alarming.

I think there should be a ordinance or law or whatever...that does not allow these rigs through downtown Portland. These rigs should have to stay on 31.

There needs to be something done asap...before someone is killed.

We've lived in Portland for about 3 years. I am often frustrated by the trucks on 109 going to or from Gallatin. Some of that road gets pretty snakey and it's scarey having a truck behind you going down the hill and frustrating coming up the hill because they are going so slow. It is also scarey meeting one coming from the opposite direction because they do not necessarily stay on their side of the road!

And in town, it is definitely difficult to make left turns at any of the lights without turn arrows and it is difficult to turn left out of a business on 109.

We have lived in several states before Tennessee and I have seen may cities who have alternate routes for large trucks to keep them from clogging up the main arteries of the smaller towns and creating safety hazzards, even if the road in question happens to be a state road. These alternate routes are marked "No through trucks" and or "local traffic only", or "trucks take route or road ____." Why don't we study this option?

Why not make trucks continue down 31W and then get back on the interstate via State Route 25, before they get to White House and mess up their traffic?

I was traveling down main rd going towards gallatin there was a rig behind me just staying on my bumper then he layed down on his horn it scared me i pulled over i was shaking.Iwas going the speed limit but it was like he was pushing me to go faster im not sure what can be done but i dont think this should happen in portland.It truely made my heart race.

We are new to the area too and have noticed the considerable amount of traffic through town. Granted we moved here from Nashville, and this is a blessing compared to what we are used to! There are a lot of big rigs coming through town. Is this primarily for them to avoid the scales on I65? I have noticed they go straight up 109 then get back on the interstate in KY. I take it this cannot be discouraged since it is a state highway, but is there not away to deter the rigs from using this as a route??

Deb nailed it...is this unresolved problem worth one life...easy one! NO

You are right ara, that light really needs a turn signal. I also think we need a traffic light at Freedon Dr. It is almost impossible to turn left off of Freedon Dr around 3:00-3:30 in the afternoons. As for the traffic thru town, it is scarey, especially with all the big rigs coming and going. I would like to see a by-pass from Hwy52 to Freedom or Kirby Rd. This might or might not hurt the business in downtown but it could also save a life.

Funny I was sitting at the red light this morning at 109 and Portland Blvd.(going toward town)thinking we need a turn signal here. It is bad in the morning and afternoon times.