If the weather cooperates, the Georgia Department of Transportation will begin to wrap up the final phases of work on the roundabout project at Stone Pile Gap in Lumpkin County.
In a statement issued this week, GDOT officials said contractors are implementing two final traffic shifts to complete project located at SR 9/SR 60/Stone Pile Gap Road. Phases one through four are complete.
The traffic shift will occur in two phases, lasting one day for each. The fifth phase will occur Monday, May 25 to finalize alignment/configuration on State Route 9 and State Route 60. The sixth and final phase will occur Friday, June 5 to finalize alignment/configuration on Stone Pile Gap Road and remove the detour to open for traffic.
Motorists traveling south from Suches to Stone Pile Gap Road are detouring onto US 19/SR 9/SR 60 for 3.4 miles, turning right onto Ridley Road for 2.3 miles, then turning left onto Yahoola Road for 1 mile, and then back onto Stone Pile Gap Road.
Motorists traveling north from Dahlonega to Stone Pile Gap Road are detouring off US 19/SR 9/SR 60, turning left onto Ridley Road for 2.3 miles, then left onto Yahoola Road for 1 mile, and then right onto Stone Pile Gap Road.
GDOT officials said the roundabout is being installed to enhance safety at the intersection, which is located about eight miles north of Dahlonega. Crash data from 2004-2008 indicated that 28 crashes occurred at these intersections resulting in 11 total injuries. Of those crashes, 21% were angle collisions accounting for 27% of the injuries and the fatality.
