Improving safety at Ga. 365's intersection with Mount Zion Road in Habersham County is a top priority for state officials following a recent two-vehicle wreck at the location that left five people dead.
According to a press release from Habersham County Government, plans are in the works to improve safety at the crossover, following a meeting Friday between local and state officials.
State Senator Bo Hatchett, Representative Victor Anderson and Representative Chris Erwin met Friday afternoon in a virtual stakeholder meeting with Georgia Department of Transportation district staff to discuss current plans and priorities and look toward future solutions.
Another wreck happened on Ga. 365 just one day prior to the fatal wreck, leaving eight people with injuries.
"In addition to scores of posts with hundreds of comments on social media, many area residents have reached out to the Habersham County Board of Commissioners and local legislators to call for changes along the Highway 365 corridor," the press release reads. "Those concerns are not going unheard."
Hatchett, Anderson and Erwin said while intersection modifications are costly, they realize their constituents want to see safety on the highway improved.
An R-cut intersection that allows only right turns costs around $200,000 while adding associated U-turn lanes costs around the same. Therefore an intersection modification can cost more than $400,000.
"Officials acknowledge the intersection at Mt. Zion Road is top priority, with Hatchett asking GDOT staff how quickly that project could go out for bids," the press release said. "An engineering, marking and signage plan for improvements at that intersection is complete and ready for review for any needed modifications."
Once any necessary modifications are made to the plan, it can go out for bids within a couple of months, GDOT staff told Hatchett.
However, changes to intersections on Ga. 365 are the responsibility of GDOT, meaning the state has the final say on changes and is responsible for funding the projects.
GDOT is currently in the first phase of a Ga. 365 planning study that will analyze the impact seen from the upcoming Northeast Georgia Inland Port in 2024. Additionally, the intersection at Mt. Zion Road has been confirmed to be in the preconstruction phase and will be "going out for a Quick Response bid shortly for an R-cut," GDOT officials said Monday.
An update was made to provide additional information provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
