POLICE URGE CAUTION DURING HOMECOMERS

JACKSON -- Jackson police have asked motorists to exercise caution and patience while driving in the uptown business area this week. The reason is Jackson Homecomers, which starts Tuesday evening, and the West Main Street paving project, which will not be completed by the start of Homecomers.

Lt. Richard Knaup of the department's traffic division said traffic during this year's Homecomers will be more congested than usual uptown because of the paving work under way on West Main Street.

The work was supposed to have been completed but was delayed when the city condemned the entire eastbound lane of pavement poured last month. Paving of the westbound lane was delayed until a new centerline could be set so it will align properly with the other lane.

"There will be two-way traffic permitted (in the eastbound lane) during Homecomers week along West Main, from Missouri Street west to the Hubble Creek bridge," Knaup said. "However, motorists should keep in mind the contractor has removed 10 inches of pavement from the north side of the eastbound lane; that means vehicles will be passing each other at a much closer interval than they were last week," Knaup said. "Obviously, no parking will be permitted on Main Street at any time while work is going on in the other lane."

Knaup said police will strictly enforce the 20 mph construction zone speed limit on West Main from Missouri to Hubble Creek to protect other drivers, pedestrians walking on the south side of the street, and construction workers in the other lane.

The paving contractor did complete all of the paving last week on West Main from High Street west to Missouri, which will allow the carnival, concession stands and booths to set up in time for Homecomers.

In addition, the intersection of Missouri and West Main will be reopened to allow north-south, through traffic to cross West Main. Knaup said this will eliminate the need for drivers to use the congested Hope (Highway 61) Street to the east, or Union Avenue to the west, to cross Main Street west of the courthouse.

Knaup said all other street intersections on Main, west of Missouri, will remain closed to cross traffic because of the paving work.

City officials said, weather permitting, paving of the westbound lane of West Main from Missouri to the Hubble Creek bridge will continue during Homecomers. Motorists are cautioned to watch for workers in the unfinished westbound lane and for cement trucks that will be traveling in and out of the area.

Knaup said the usual Homecomers street closings in the uptown business district will begin at 5 p.m. today after most of the businesses have closed.

"Longtime residents of the Jackson area pretty well know what streets are closed during Homecomers, but we have many people who have moved into the city and area since last year and may not be familiar with our Homecomers street closing schedule," he said.

Knaup said South High Street, from the courthouse south to Jefferson will be closed for the entire week of Homecomers. No traffic other than emergency vehicles will be allowed to use the fire lane in the two-block area of South High.

West Main will be closed to through traffic from Hope to Missouri for the entire week of Homecomers. The only exception is one block of West Main from Hope to Barton, which will be open for parking only during daytime business hours to allow citizens to get to the driver's license bureau in the Jackson Chamber of Commerce building.

Knaup said motorists who park on Missouri at the chamber building must either leave the same way they came in, or use the alley on West Main behind the Andrew Jackson store.

Knaup said Barton and Court streets on the east and west sides of the courthouse will also be closed during Homecomers. Barton Street will remain closed during Homecomers week, but Court Street will be open during daytime business hours for parking only to allow customers access to businesses on Court Street. It will be closed to normal traffic after 5 p.m. and used as reserved parking for Homecomers officials, he said.

"We realize the street closings will cause some inconvenience to motorists," Knaup said. "We're asking everyone to be patient and drive carefully. It's going to take a little longer than normal to get through town because of the street closings and extra amount of traffic during the day and at night."

Knaup urged motorists to take alternate routes through town to avoid the congested uptown area if they do not have business in the area or if they are not planning to attend Homecomers.