GAINESVILLE -- The Hall County Commission addressed three items Thursday evening as they attempt to begin work on Martin Road in the southern part of the county.
The commission approved a traffic study that will serve as a formality before any work can begin to prepare the residential road for the upcoming I-985 exit that is proposed to empty onto it. That work is expected to include stop signs and some form of improvement to the busy Martin Road-J.M. Turk Road intersection.
The board also gave first reading to an amendment to take the road out of the county's Gateway Corridors Boundary, a set of plans that had initially planned to widen the road to four lanes which took strong opposition from residents. The amendment will be given a second reading at the board's August 24 meeting before receiving a final vote.
Meanwhile, the commission voted to table a request from Georgia Power for easement on the property of the Hall County fire station that sits at the corner of Martin Road and Falcon Parkway. The company wants to use the extra space to build power poles as the new 985 interchange arrives. Some commissioners had expressed concerns about possible interference with the fire station's operations earlier in the week.
Each of the items were also addressed at the board's Monday work session.
