HISTORY
POA Highway Advisory Committee
(prior HOA HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMITTEE)
The origin of this committee can be traced back to 2015 when the president of the Home Owners Association of Tellico Village (HOA), Bill Taylor, created a subcommittee of the HOA to engage with TDOT on aesthetic improvements to Hwy 444. This new committee was chaired by Dennis Stanczuk.
The POA General Manager at that time, Winston Blazer, was not interested in engaging the POA with TDOT or working with the HOA on this initiative.
Shortly after the committee’s initiation in 2015, TDOT informed the HOA-HSC committee that it planned to resurface Hwy 444 in 2017. Working diligently with various departments within TDOT, the HOA-HSC negotiated numerous enhancements to the original plan. Some of these enhancements included: creating six turn/acceleration lanes, replacing much of the old guard rail with brown National Park guard rail, updating signage along the parkway, and application of highly visible paint for roadway striping.
Additional enhancements achieved by the HOA-HSC at that time were eliminating sand bags along the Hwy 444 merge ramp onto Hwy 321 toward Lenoir City and adding a merge lane from Hwy 321 to Hwy 444 toward Tellico Village.
At the biannual POA Nominations awards luncheon in November 2018, the POA Board President Bruce Johnson presented the HOA-HSC with the “President’s Award” for exemplary service to the community for their work with TDOT on the Hwy 444 paving project.
In addition, at the initiative of Ed Wilson, a member of the HOA-HSC, the POA, at their biannual Nominations Program in 2019, presented Todd Sexton, TDOT’s Operations District Manager, a special award recognizing TDOT for their ongoing engagement with Tellico Village.
During the two bridge repairs in 2021, HOA-HSC provided updates to the Village.
In September 2021, the HOA-HSC initiated a meeting with TVA to discuss mowing the north end of Hwy 444 and parking overflow issue at the Hall Bend dog walking area. The result of that meeting was an agreement by TVA to mow the area north of the Tellico Village north entrance fountain. TVA also agreed to increase parking at the Hall Bend dog walking area. That project created 20 additional parking spots on the lower level.
Furthering improving the aesthetics along 444 leading to the Village, the HOA-HSC requested that TVA review overnight parking restrictions at the TVA yard north of the north entrance fountain. This resulted in new signage by TVA and parking enforcement by TVA police.
In July, 2022, the HOA-HSC met with Loudon County Highway Department superintendent Billy Pickel responding to homeowner safety concerns regarding visibility, signage, and traffic flow at the Vonore Rd/Watkins Rd/Chogi Way intersection. HOA-HSC worked closely with the Loudon County Roads department which resulted in several intersection improvements.
A long-time concern for Kahite residents has been the traffic light at Niles Ferry and 411 – a left hand turn from Niles Ferry Road onto southbound Hwy 411 is frustrating, challenging and
a safety concern to all drivers. The substantial growth of Tellico Village [both main village and
the Kahite neighborhood], as well as surrounding neighborhoods in the City of Vonore and
Monroe County added to this vexing, frustrating safety issue. HOA-HSC member Deb Marshall attended in May 2019 the first formal meeting to advance a project to improve this intersection. At that meeting, Representative Russell committed to help champion a traffic light at that intersection, but funding was challenging. Over the five-year period 2018 – 2023, Deb attended City of Vonore council, meeting four to six meetings per year to continue to push this initiative with the involved parties resulting in August, 2023 with the project becoming fully funded by federal monies administered by the state through TDOT. The project is underway with the bulk of the construction to occur in 2026, and completion likely in 2027. The City of Vonore is fully supporting this project and will take over maintenance of the traffic light upon completion.
During Spring 2023, the Loudon County Highway department, at the request of the HOA-HSC installed additional “No Jake Brakes Allowed” signs on Loudon County roads approaching 444 which will reduce noise to neighborhoods.
During the past few years, the HOA-HSC worked with TDOT and continues now under the POA HiAC, on several other potential highway 444 safety/traffic flow improvements including:
- Mialaquo/Cheeyo/444 intersection review: The Mialaquo/Cheeyo/444 intersection review conducted by TDOT (2022) indicated the intersection did not meet warrant (requirements) for a Traffic Light. However, it did meet the criteria for a Traffic Circle (Roundabout). HOA-HSC was advised by TDOT this was approved and funded as a project in Aug 2023. However, it was later advised by TDOT late 2024 there was a miscommunication from TDOT, that state funding was not available, and therefore not an approved project but had potential for private funding. Options to fund are being researched by the HiAC.
- A 444/Sequoyah/Maple Hill Road Traffic review: This review conducted by TDOT (2023) indicated the intersection did not meet warrants for a traffic light, but did meet sufficient numbers to warrant a traffic circle. TDOT has added the traffic circle to their list of Projects pending approval and funding.
- SR-72/444 intersection: TDOT performed a crash review and traffic study (2023) at SR-72 and SR-444. The intersection warrants a traffic signal and has been placed on the list of Projects pending approval and funding.
- Tanasi Rebuild Consideration: The potential for a deceleration and an acceleration lane to be designed and added. While verbally agreed by TDOT to HiAC, official approvals have apparently not been received so HiAC looking to secure from TDOT.
Beginning in early 2024, many discussions between the HOA and POA resulted in ending the HOA-HSC and moving the committee under the jurisdiction of the POA and it now operates as the POA Highway Advisory Committee (HiAC). Members of the HOA-HSC were to become members of the newly established POA advisory committee.
On July 30, 2024 the POA HiAC held its inaugural meeting (workshop) after the members were accepted by the POA Board of Directors.
At a meeting with TDOT on Aug 27, 2024, TDOT informed HiAC that the Mialaquo/Cheeyo roundabout was not currently an active TDOT project, but is a regional concept. As TN is a pay as you go state and there is no funding for this, there remains a possibility to privately fund and/or get money from the federal government as a Highway Safety Improvement Project (HSIP).
The Committee has established an excellent working relationship with TRDA which has resulted in several improvements at public landings along 444 including parking repaving and most recently (Dec 2024) the installation of white railing which enhance the visual aesthetics along the highway.
The POA HiAC will continue to work closely with TDOT, Loudon County Highway Department, and the Monroe County Highway Department, and coordinate project efforts with the Tellico Village POA, TRDA, TVA, TN State Representative Lowell Russell and other local government officials as required.
Updated Feb 2025
