CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Gary the Guardrail, a source of insider Clarksville humor for several years, is going away, thanks to a road-widening solution at the corner of Trenton and Tylertown Roads.
A lane shift begins today at the intersection, according to a Clarksville Street Department news release. Crews will be working in the southeast corner of the intersection to install a junction, eliminating the guardrail problem.
The turn is tight and challenging for tractor-trailers, which have repeatedly run into, and over, the guardrail. It’s been damaged and repaired so many times that residents began tying get-well balloons on it, named it Gary, and even started a Facebook page to track the guardrail’s repeated misfortunes, according to previous reports. Google Maps has acknowledged it as a hyperlinked “historical landmark” on the platform, with 23 reviews and a 5-star rating.
On Friday, Street Department crews will close the northbound right turn-lane on Trenton Road, resulting in right turns from the northbound through lane, the release said. To ensure safety, right turns onto Tylertown Road will be restricted to trucks. The shift is expected to last two weeks, with an overnight closure on Tylertown Road Oct. 2, from 2 a.m. until 6 a.m.
Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes during this time, use the detours set up on Rosscommon Way, be vigilant of workers and reduced speed limits in the area, and stay up-to-date with the latest news.
“Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to improve our city’s infrastructure,” the release said.
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