The Flowery Branch City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a new roundabout for the McEver Road and Gaines Ferry Road intersection.
Council members addressed concerns over the intersection during a work session earlier in the evening on December 1. The primary consideration was whether or not to build a new traffic light at the intersection or to construct a roundabout. After concerns from citizens were heard and council members asked questions about the financial cost, it was decided that a roundabout would be the best option.
Many citizens and council members affirmed their belief that a roundabout would be a safer option for the congested intersection, preventing car crashes due to the fact that all cars must slow down on approach.
Council member Joe Anglin said the intersection improvements come after a long process of deciding how to allocate available funds. A $2 million SPLOST VIII reserve will be used for the improvement.
“There's been an area we've been looking at for a long time, and we had some money that was allocated towards SPLOST, that was going to improve the area around 985,” Anglin said. “But since the state is no longer going to extend or expand on 985, then we've had to move that money elsewhere. And because of that, we're looking for a project, obviously, that we can use it for. And this is a very high need area that needs something done.”
Three Flowery Branch natives spoke to the council about their concerns, detailing hopes for the roundabout option. Anglin agreed with their concerns, commenting on the current dangerous approach to the intersection.
“It's a rough intersection, especially approaching from the western side of Gaines Ferry there,” Anglin said. “It's rough. I mean, it's the different elevations and stuff, it's dips and all that kind of thing. And right now there's only one turn lane there, and it's just—with all the growth that's occurred. Obviously, there's more volume coming through there and there's just, it's a dangerous intersection and just trying to do something to kind of rectify that and reduce the danger there at that intersection.”
Council members voted for the roundabout, but will now consider one option with a right-turn dedicated lane, and one option that is solely a traffic circle. It is estimated that construction will take roughly one year once final decisions have been made.
You can visit the Flowery Branch government website to learn more.
