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Interchanges on 316 will enhance safety: Give input
University Parkway is 39.08 miles long, and while its first 5 miles is a freeway design, the remainder is at-grade, offering many signaled intersections where accidents are plentiful. Too many have been seriously injured and killed.
Looking at the designs for three intersections which will be transformed into interchanges when money is available, the opportunity to separate oncoming vehicles from each other can’t come soon enough.
Money is the holdup, but you can stress the need to your representatives in Atlanta and in D.C.
The designs can be studied online at www.dot.ga.gov. On the home page, select "Information Center" and Public Outreach" then select the county and choose "Go." For Barrow, pick the University Parkway interchanges.
Plans can be also viewed at the Georgia DOT Area Office located at 450 Hurricane Shoals Road in Lawrenceville or at the Georgia DOT District Office located at 2505 Athens Highway in Gainesville.
Any comments on the design can be sent to Glenn Bowman, Georgia DOT, 3993 Aviation Circle, Atlanta, GA, 30336 by Feb. 18.
news@barrowcountynews.com
Nearly 150 people stopped by the Georgia Department of Transportation’s three-hour public meeting Thursday to see the designs envisioned for limited access University Parkway interchanges for Highways 11, 81 and 53.
Although there is not identified funding for the trio of projects, the community input on the design packages is being sought now in anticipation of federal and state money being freed up for any of the safety improvements that have long been identified as a need.
GDOT is looking to the federal government to assist with only four projects at the current time. Barrow is fortunate to have these three interchanges among them since the safety enhancement plans have languished for many years. The projects would be funded 80 percent by the feds and 20 percent by the state, said GDOT’s Teri N. Pope
Safety and moving traffic more efficiently would be the goal of each project as ramps improve safety, said Pope.
Three tight urban diamond designs – each of which will take 24 months to construct after the final design and environmental are completed which could take up to two years as well – were shown.
GDOT and Parsons Corporation personnel were on hand to answer questions and provide information about other projects. When asked why Patrick Mill Road wasn’t considered for an interchange, citizens were advised that project is part of the West Winder Bypass, which is possibly moving forward in connection with two smaller companion projects. (See related story.)
Russell McMurry, P.E., State Design Engineer, was on hand along with GDOT District Preconstruction Engineer Robert Mahoney, P.E. McMurry said he is looking to Atlanta for additional funding as Gov. Sonny Perdue is presenting a $300 million per year bond proposal. He said Georgia is also likely to be blessed with additional stimulus money, although the stipulations requiring "shovel ready" status would likely still be in place.
"We want to be in a position to move ahead," said McMurry. "It’s all about timing."
Pope provided information about each project – including the project length and estimated costs for right-of-way purchase and construction. She also supplied traffic count data and information about the number of parcels which would be impacted by the current design. The Sunday print edition of the Barrow County News carries the complete information.
The Highway 53 project is the least expensive and would impact fewer individuals since GDOT has previously purchased corners which had been under imminent development. The Industrial Development Authority of Winder-Barrow owns the other two corners. On the Winder side of the property is where the future Lanier Technical College campus is envisioned along with other economic development.
The public meeting was designed to get comments, and input is being received through Feb. 18. Citizen input will help finalize the design so that when funding is available – hopefully sooner than later, said Pope – the project can move ahead.
Pope said the majority of the 148 people in attendance said, "Yes, please" to the projects. Their next comment was usually "When?" said Pope.
Jimmy Gilreath of Bethlehem was among them and spoke of the Highway 11 project.
"I think it will help since traffic backs up a lot at the traffic light," said Gilreath.
