Chickamauga Battlefield Makes Interim Traffic Rule Changes
July 2002

FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. — Interim modifications have been made to traffic regulations at Chickamauga Battlefield (Civil War News June issue).

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Superintendent Patrick Reed announced that after intensive study of the issues and alternatives, public meetings, and in consultation with elected officials and National Park Service leadership, interim modifications were made effective May 31.

The speed limit on Lafayette Road south of the congested Visitor Center area was increased from 30 to 35 miles per hour on a trial basis. Reed said the park will continue to monitor motor vehicle accident rates, severity of injuries, traffic volume changes, and impacts on the park resources and the visitor experience.

The change will be re-evaluated periodically, when bicycle lanes are established on the Lafayette Road, and upon implementation of the city of Fort Oglethorpe's streetscaping plan for Lafayette Road just north of the Chickamauga Battlefield.

The speed limit on Reed's Bridge Road was increased from 30 to 35 miles per hour, subject to review when the battlefield self-guided auto tour is officially changed to include this section of road, and upon completion of the park transportation study in 2003.

Light commercial vehicles (5 tons gross vehicle weight or less) will be permitted only on Reed's Bridge and McFarland Gap Roads. All wrecker service activity will be considered emergency response and allowed per federal regulation provisions.

Reed said these actions will be reviewed following completion of the park transportation study in 2003, which will study this east-west traffic route and develop alternatives.

National Park Rangers and other law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction will enforce all park speed limits. The National Park Service will enforce commercial vehicle restrictions within Chickamauga Battlefield.

Reed said it is hoped that these interim changes will address many concerns expressed regarding the impacts associated with the relocation of U.S. Highway 27. When the relocated highway opened last October new regulations prohibiting commercial vehicle use within the park and reducing speed limits on two park roads were implemented.

While improvement in the visitor experience and motorist safety at the battlefield “has been dramatic,” business owners located near the eastern and western boundaries of the battlefield were affected and asked the park to consider changes that would permit small commercial vehicles to use some park roads and allow local wrecker services to respond to emergency calls.