DEMOREST - Demorest Mayor Rick Austin says travel will be safer for motorists on Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway by the end of the day Wednesday.
That's because a contractor from the Hart County area will pave over recent traffic markings in front of the new Piedmont Village housing development, located just up from Hazel Creek toward Palmer Alley.
During Tuesday night's Demorest City Council work session, Austin said the issue was created when traffic changes were designed by a landscape architect hired by the college for the project rather than a civil engineer. The changes created hazardous conditions in that section of the busy road, which links Demorest to Highway 365.
Demorest Elementary School, the Habersham Ninth Grade Academy, Habersham County Bus Shop, and Habersham County School System Maintenance Shop are located on that road, and traffic for the Habersham County Senior Center, Habersham County Health Department and other government offices must use Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway to access those facilities.
Austin said the contractor, who comes highly recommended and regularly does work for the Georgia Department of Transportation, will complete repaving of the section of the road by 1 p.m. Wednesday, with striping to follow by the end of the day.
Councilman Donnie Bennett said eight out of 10 vehicles traveling toward Demorest last week were across the new centerline or totally in the center turn lane serving the new housing facility.
Austin said he anticipates a civil engineer will make a recommendation for corrective measures quickly, and clarified the college will pay for those corrective measures, including the temporary repaving and marking.
"It's a dangerous situation out there right now," Austin said. "By the end of the day [Wednesday], that road should be safer."
