ATLANTA - It may sound confusing at first, but the Georgia Department of Transportation promises that a new kind of intersection coming to Georgia 400 and Highway 53 in Dawson County will help traffic flow better through the area.<br />
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GDOT spokeswoman Teri Pope said the new configuration is called a 'continuous flow intersection,' and it is the first of its kind anywhere in the state of Georgia.<br />
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She said the DOT conducted studies and talked with residents in Dawson County to determine that the new type of intersection would be a good fit for the area around the busy North Georgia Premium Outlets.<br />
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Very basically, the continuous flow intersection allows vehicles turning left to move to the left side of the intersection before entering it.<br />
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"So if you're on 53 or 400 and you want to turn left at the intersection, you will actually get into a left turn lane about 500 feet before you get to the intersection," said Pope.<br />
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The idea is to alleviate the long queues that typically back up in the traditional left turn lanes. Not only will the new configuration save time for drivers, but also, it's safer, according to Pope.<br />
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"It's improves safety because it gets rid of people trying to get that left arrow and maybe going on yellow or even red," said Pope.<br />
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The $9 million project is slated for completion by the end of April 2017. Pope said construction should begin in the spring of 2015, although she did not have a specific date from the contractor.<br />
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