>> MILLEDGEVILLE TRAFFIC
North Columbia Street near the Milledgeville Mall has been the scene of many accidents and near-mishaps over the years, but some help for that heavily traveled area is in sight.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) earlier this year approved what will be a temporary traffic signal, and workers put up the light last week that will create a new intersection and safer entrance and exit for the mall. The signal light will be at the drive just north of Ruby Tuesday’s.
While there have been reports the new light will be functional by Nov. 1, GDOT officials will not confirm that.
“We’re coming together to talk about a date,” GDOT District Traffic Manager Kedrick Collins said Tuesday. “Right now, we’re just trying to get the signal up. We’ve got some roadway changes that need to go along with this. So, we’re trying to coordinate those efforts as well.”
State Sen. Rick Williams of Milledgeville made the traffic light one of his top priorities when he was first elected to the State House of Representatives. He continued that effort when he moved to the State Senate.
“I know they did a study of the traffic flow in the area of the mall around 2007 and said a traffic light was warranted,” he said Tuesday afternoon. “But, for some reason, it never got done. There have been many accidents there. A traffic light has been needed there for many years” he added, “and I am glad we were able to get the support to get it done.”
The new three-way intersection was first unveiled in June when District Engineer Corbett Reynolds and several assistants met with local officials and showed design plans; he stated then the drive at the entrance to Longhorn Steakhouse was first considered but rejected due to concerns about moving traffic through a congested portion of the parking lot.
Reynolds also said then that another drive into and out of the mall would be affected, which Williams explained Tuesday.
“The drive between Ruby Tuesday’s and Starbucks will be a right-turn only. You won’t be able to try to turn left when you go out of that drive. Also,” he added, “that won’t be an entrance to the mall anymore. There will be plastic poles as barriers there to keep you from turning left. Drivers will have to go on down to the light to turn into the mall.”
Williams said the location of the new intersection and traffic signal will require additional engineering work.
“Since it is so close, they will have to synchronize this light with the ones at the intersection of North Columbia and Dunlap Road/Roberson Mill Road. The engineers will have to figure out how best to work that,” Williams said.
The state senator said mall owners were on board with the new intersection.
“Mall businesses were very cooperative and all in favor of this,” he said. “They all realize how dangerous the area is and believe this will help the mall traffic.”
Williams said future plans call for a new intersection slightly north of the temporary location across from an entrance to the Big Lots shopping area.
“That will require a lot of work, relocation of utilities, drainage work, and other adjustments,” he said. “And, when that happens, there will be only one entrance to the mall off North Columbia. The Longhorn’s drive will be closed.”
Williams said he understands there is electrical work, engineering, and roadway lane markings still being completed for the current project, but he is hopeful the traffic signal will be functional within a few weeks.
“I was told it may happen by Nov.1,” Williams said. “That may not happen, but I think it will very soon.”