New Chick-fil-A across from existing Jackson location sparks traffic concerns
JACKSON, Tenn. — Residents are raising concerns about traffic congestion as a new Chick-fil-A is being built across the street from an existing location on Vann Drive.
Traffic is already backing up on Vann Drive, where the new restaurant is under construction.
“After lunch time, and for the rest of the day, I mean this is all week it’s not just the weekends, it’s every day. So that’s gonna make it worse,” said LaDawn Oneal, a Jackson resident.
Concerns about overcrowding
Holden Jamison said the current Chick-fil-A is already overcrowded.
“Chick-fil-A’s already overcrowded as it is over here. I mean, it’s a lot more crowded than it was in Chili’s, so, I mean, adding another Chick-fil-A like that, without any lanes, you know, it’s gonna be a lot of problem getting in and out,” Jamison said.
Cinnamon Robbison said she expects the intersection to become more congested with customers from both Walmart and the new Chick-fil-A.
“I think the intersection, it may get better, but I really feel like it’s gonna be more crowded with people coming out of Walmart, and then they’re gonna be coming out of a lot for Chick-fil-A or lining up to get into a Chick-fil-A. And so I think it’ll be good. I think it’ll be hectic, but I feel like it’ll be okay. Everybody kind of knows how Chick-fil-A is, ’cause they got good chicken, so,” Robbison said.
Ben Patrick said he thinks the new location will offer more parking and a bigger restaurant, but he expects traffic problems.
“I think it’ll be nice to have more parking over there, and a bigger restaurant, so it’s not crowded all the time, but I do feel like it’s gonna impact all that traffic over there. I feel like the right lane is gonna get very clogged up like, all the time,” Patrick said.
Existing traffic problems
Joe Dinkins said the intersection has been problematic since it was built.
“Ever since they built it, I’ve lived here in Jackson, on and off all my life. And soon as they built this intersection, it’s just not enough room for the cars that we have and the vehicles. And the lights, they don’t interact quick enough, so it lines up, and then you’re just backed up, people get caught in the middle of the red lights when they’re trying to get by,” Dinkins said.
There have been discussions about plans to adjust traffic lights or lane patterns once the new restaurant opens. City officials have not responded to requests for comment about specific plans.
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