Officials in Suwanee are considering eliminating left turns at the intersection of Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road and Sawmill Court, a move they hope will create easier and more efficient access to Interstate 85.
The plans call for connecting the medians on either side of the intersection along Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, making it so drivers can only turn right to get on or off Sawmill Drive, which would also eliminate the need for a traffic light.
"The way the closing and removal of a signal works is you undertake a temporary closing, you study the impact of the temporary closing and you make a determination of whether to make it permanent or not," said Marty Allen, city manager.
The temporary closure would likely begin in August, if city council members ultimately approve the plan, and it would last until the end of 2017, unless council members opt to make it permanent.
Removing the light would allow for an extended turn lane for drivers headed east on Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road to get to I-85 northbound, and allow transportation officials to re-time the lights on either side of the I-85 bridge.
"You can, perhaps, give some directions a longer green (light) to improve the flow," said Allen.
Council discussed the plans at their work session Thursday night.
