Lane reductions proposed as fix for Cleveland’s ‘Monument Crossing’

A vehicle sits in the Eighth Street crossing of Ocoee Street, waiting for northbound traffic to pass. Proposed safety changes call for removing the Ocoee Street northbound left-turn-only lane, which feeds traffic into the crossing zone, located near a pair of Cleveland's monuments. A vehicle sits in the Eighth Street crossing of Ocoee Street, waiting for northbound traffic to pass. Proposed safety changes call for removing the Ocoee Street northbound left-turn-only lane, which feeds traffic into the crossing zone, located near a pair of Cleveland's monuments.

By Paul Leach August 16, 2015 3 min read

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – A new traffic safety improvement proposal calls for the reduction of Ocoee Street northbound and southbound lanes in the vicinity of the Eighth Street intersection, which is landmarked by a pair of monuments.

The intersection, which includes a midway space where vehicles must stop as they cross Ocoee Street, long has been cited as an accident-prone trouble spot by Cleveland officials.

In a recent meeting, Cleveland Development and Engineering Services Director Jonathan Jobe discussed the plan and its $244,000 price tag with city leaders.

Out of the total estimated cost, Cleveland and the state will have to pitch in only $11,400 apiece. Federal dollars will cover the balance of the project.

“We’re getting quite a bit of project for a small amount of money,” Jobe said.