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photo by Hannah Reel
Construction crews work on the traffic lights at the continuous flow intersection at John R. Junkin Drive and Sergeant S. Prentiss Drive Thursday afternoon.
Continuous flow intersection opens
Published Friday, December 4, 2009
NATCHEZ — After three years of discussion, construction and asphalt, motorists traveling around the junction of Seargent S. Prentiss and John R. Junkin drives experienced their first day on the continuous flow intersection.
The continuous flow intersection opened to the public for the first time Thursday at approximately 1 p.m.
And while some drivers were not sure about which road led where, Resident Engineer Jim Eggleston said he was pleased by what he saw.
Photo by Hannah Reel
Natchez patrol officer Nikita Stone directs traffic through the continuous flow intersection at John R. Junkin Drive and Sergeant S. Prentiss Drive Thursday afternoon after road crews opened the intersection and were working to synchronize the traffic lights.
“We were expecting some initial confusion, but it went away fairly quickly,” Eggleston said. “At first I was concerned that there would be a long learning curve for it, but from what I saw this afternoon, I was pleased.”
However, for some Natchez citizens, the term “continuous flow,” and the roads’ design raise a few questions and concerns.
A retired truck driver, Natchez citizen James Harris has lived in Natchez since 1992, and has seen his fair share of roadways across the country, he said.
Harris has been watching construction on the intersection for the past two years, and said the roadway has been a source of conversation among his friends.
“A fellow told me a week ago that this highway out here wasn’t continuous, and it’s not. You have to stop in four or six different places. Now, where do they get ‘continuous’ from?,” Harris asked.
Eggleston said he’s been hearing questions along the same lines as the one Harris asked.
“My theory is that in a normal intersection, there is a period of time when all people are stopped. In this intersection, there is always someone moving,” Eggleston said.
Jerri Goldmon and her family have been living in Natchez for two months, and on her way to and from work Thursday, she said there wasn’t much of a noticeable change in traffic.
“It’s the same,” Goldmon said. “But the flow did go a little better tonight.”
Goldmon said the new roads that are now open to drivers should be better identified to alleviate doubt for drivers accustomed to the old routes.
“They need to clarify what it more and lay out what roads lead where,” Goldmon said.
Natchez resident Jamie Gibson said the old layout of the intersection caused a few problems for her, and she’s glad to see the intersection closer to completion.
“It’s about time they got close to finishing it,” Gibson said. “Now, I’m waiting for the congestion to clean up.”
“The problem I had with the former intersection during construction was coming from John R. Junking and trying to get on 61 South,” Gibson said.
“It was easier today. I haven’t really seen too much confusion. I think they prepared everyone (for Thursday,)” she said.
Eggleston said to ensure the successfulness of the intersection’s opening, engineers from ABMB Design Company and groups and representatives from W.E. Blain & Sons, B&B Electric, Striping Traffic Control Products, the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the City of Natchez Traffic Department and the Natchez Police Department were present.
“There was a time when we had all the lights off, and we were relying on the police to direct the traffic. That was a big help out there with that complicated intersection,” Eggleston said.
“It was definitely a team effort with all these people out there. That’s why it went so well, I think.”
Eggleston said drivers should remember to pay attention to the new changes.
“Don’t drive through there by habit,” Eggleston said. “Follow the signs, and everything will be fine.”
Eggleston said there is still work to be done to the intersection, and motorists can expect to see crews laying two more layers of asphalt along with landscaping projects in the future.
Comments
Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
An Over Pass or Under Pass is the only way to "Continuous Flow"
Posted by friendofjimmy (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 2:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“They need to clarify what it more and lay out what roads lead where,” Goldmon said.
...from John R. Junking and trying to get on 61 South,” Gibson said.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 6:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Coming from the bridge you drop into a big pot hole to get in the lane that goes north. When you make the turn north towards Walmart there is a sign that says right lane ends merge left, the road doesn't end. I was behind an out of town truck and trailer trying to follow the signs and they almost ran over everything on the road. I still fail to see any improvement in traffic flow. As far as road surface goes, it is worse than before construction began.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I for one love progress. I'm just not sure this is!! There's certainly no CONTINUOUS flow with hundreds of traffic signals hanging all over the road..
Posted by fightingthebattle (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It was pretty cool!
Posted by echo (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We were promised change and continuous flow. We got the same old stuff in a new package.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Went through it 3 times yesterday from 3 different directions. Had to stop a total of 7 times. Wow, continuous flow is great.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
continuous flow intersection + snow tonight + Natchez drivers = big business for the ER tonight.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a Chinese cluster. I was going to turn left, an ambulance was coming from the right, so a woman on a cell phone in a black Mercedes pulls around me directly in the path of the ambulance. Women+cellphones+driving should be against the law. They are just as dangerous as drunks. Idiots!
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For a long time now we have all been shaking our heads wondering just how this was going to work & just who exactly thought of this. We'll see.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought it worked great. On my way to work I looped through it a couple of different ways, just for fun. Took 4 minutes total. So far, I would have to say it's an improvement. Too bad nothing MDOT or Butch or anybody can do will fix bad driving habits of local motorists. By the way, has anyone noticed the ambulances driving through there with their sirens and lights, only to cut them off when they get to Parkway? Somebody told me they turned them off when they got in the drive-through line at McDonalds one day, but surely that is just a vicious rumor.
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Natchez "continuous flow" intersection reminds me of the "Sunshine Bridge to Nowhere" south of Donaldsonville, LA...not to be outdone by the "Luling Suspension Bridge to Nowhere". Both of these ridiculously expensive and unnecessary projects came under the Edwin Edwards reign supreme....which, in fact, reminds me a lot of Butch Brown, the guy responsible for the "Continuous (NOT) Intersection to Nowhere".... heh, heh....;-))
--mojo
Posted by hawk1 (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THERE IS NO FLOW AT THIS INTERSECTION ITS A JOKE MONEY WASTED. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN MAYOR WEST IDEA OF TRAFFIC FLOW. Come on people lets spend what money we have for the things we need. How do you think the old people of this so called retirement city(ha ha lol) is going to do when they roll up to this intersection and have to sit at 1 redlight for 10 min. and then drive 40 feet only to stop at another red light for 10 more min. This is crazy the old way was better. Wasted money big time but leave it up to the so called leaders of Natchez the retirement city and this is what you get. It never amazes me anymore. What you expect this is NATCHEZ.
Posted by whysoserious (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is nothing continuous about it. I think it's worse for people coming from Vidalia and going toward 61 North.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been through the intersection 5 times
Caught the light three times
Had Continuous Flow two times
So it really should be called the Sometimes Continuous Flow Intersection
Posted by southernwoman (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mojo, I believe Jimmy (as in "You are my Sunshine") Davis built the Sunshine Bridge. But EE would probably have built it had it not already been there!!
Posted by SandraSue (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I first read this I thought it was a "Round-a-bout", but then it wouldn't have traffic lights. The round-a-bouts here in AZ have wrecks constantly. You always have a bully that tries to dart in.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have had the pleasure of going through this cluster. The only thing continous about it is, it is a fine example of the continous waste of tax payer money. Sometimes things are better left alone. I'm sure though some bloggers on here will say it will be a boost to tourism like the trace entrance was supposed to be (NOT)
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And I love the new Tracetown Drive entrance. Only here would we have a major new entrance built to a majorly defunct shopping center.
Posted by dirtcookie (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You dolts will complain about anything.
Posted by bigdaddy101 (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It looks like they are trying to funnel all the traffic from Vidalia into Tracetown. For what I don't know. I found it difficult to go 61 north. It kinda reminded me of some crazy figure 8 racetrack Jessie James would come up with! What exactly was wrong with the old intersection? Maybe Natchez had some extra money from fines collected from Dr. Vaughn!
Posted by 77shovel (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You idiots are just too stupid to know that all lanes are not yet open.
Posted by bigdaddy101 (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You stupid if you think opening any more lanes is going to make it better!
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It don,t matter..this will cause more accidents. Natchez drivers are physcos at best...anything new boggles their minds...They speed up when it rains....and drive like maniacs until the rain stops.
Posted by ray1976 (anonymous) on December 4, 2009 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
u all wouldnt be happy if they gave out 100.oo to each car. always gotta find fault!
Posted by trock100500 (anonymous) on December 5, 2009 at 12:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay I have seen it,and it may be better. but lets give it time to grow and we will all see it. Lanes are not done yet, and lets face it What can you do about it!! If all that some of you want to do is complain, then you should have voiced your concerns when it was initially brought up. Many meetings were held, plans were made, and where were the nays then....On their keyboards complaining!!!! Thank you City of Natchez, B&B, MDOT, and all whom are not mentioned.
Posted by mebb1 (anonymous) on December 5, 2009 at 5:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what's with the red light's in mexico city first one to intersection blow's the horn the other traffic stop's .so come on if your going to copy mexico copy mexico. take all the light's out and remember the one that blow's first goes first.
Posted by fortyhills (anonymous) on December 5, 2009 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Haven't been back to Natchez, to experience this traffic boondoggle, I can only imagine. Moved the lights 50 feet, and provided the owners of tracetown a real estate development opportunity, at taxpayer's expense. This is the same type of crap we see at the state and federal levels of government. Vote them all out, at least the new ones will experience a learning curve towards corruption, embezzlement, and malfeasance, thus maybe they can't steal their entire term.
Posted by suzee971 (anonymous) on December 5, 2009 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I went thru it yesterday on the way to Wally World, doesn't seem too different from the way it was, only more red lights.
Posted by consider_reason (anonymous) on December 5, 2009 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Waste of time (the publics because we dealt with all the construction)
Waste of money (again, the taxpayers)
And if that isn't worth complaining about, then sign me up for the dolt patrol.
I will now and will always complain about government mismanagement, and anyone who does not complain and simply takes it in the shorts over idiotic wastes of money like this are EXACTLY the type of brainless brain damaged inbred stump jumpers the government wants.
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on December 6, 2009 at midnight (Suggest removal)
Where are all the morons from the previous article posts championing Brown and his "accomplishments"?
What a cluster$%#@ indeed!! And this idiot wants to tax you more so he can get more $$ in those pockets.
Posted by Continental_Line (anonymous) on December 6, 2009 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Have there have been any accidents yet ?
Jackson has the "stack", we have the "Flow".
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 9, 2009 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And Dallas has the "mixmaster" which is really worth staying away from. However, there have been several fender benders already.
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