PIGEON FORGE — Motorists using the Parkway through the northern part of the city may soon face an unexpected slow down thanks to a request from some business owners in the area.

Representatives from the Black Bear Jamboree and the under-construction Titanic museum attraction have asked city leaders to consider installing a traffic light at the intersection of Music Road and the Parkway, a move they say will not only make accessing their businesses easier, but will also make driving safer.

Vice Mayor Kevin McClure said during a work session Thursday he has been approached by John Joslyn, owner of Titanic, and officials from Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment, which operates Black Bear Jamboree. They’ve paid to have a traffic study done and are looking for ways to move forward with putting up a light, despite the fact Titanic is still several months from opening.

McClure reported Joslyn offered to buy the signal now and pay for its installation with the understanding the city would repay him later. The offer was made, McClure said, because Joslyn understands the city doesn’t have the money in its current budget to cover the work.

City leaders seemed to unanimously support the proposal.

“That is a major intersection,” Mayor Keith Whaley said. “I would think we need to look at that.”

Pointing out there are already multiple turn lanes from the Parkway onto Music Road and from the secondary street onto that main thoroughfare, Whaley speculated there may have been an original intention in the construction of the intersection for it to include a signal.

“It looks like it was set up for a red light,” Whaley said.

Though the idea has support, it appears Joslyn’s suggestion may not be feasible.

City Manager Earlene Teaster told the group municipal attorney Jim Gass, who had to leave the work session prior to the discussion, told her state law doesn’t allow for the city reimbursing a private developer for previously-completed work.

dhodges@themountainpress.com