Wednesday, April 17, 2002
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Wednesday, April 17, 2002 |
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'Always green' unlocks Hwy. 54W By JOHN MUNFORD
Though motorists have experienced some inconveniences due to construction in the Ga. Highway 54 West area in Peachtree City, they're already reaping some of the benefits from the road improvements, too. The westbound "through lane" on Hwy. 54 beginning at Huddleston Road is already open. The "always green" lane allows one westbound lane of vehicles to continue without stopping through the traffic light at Hwy. 54 and Huddleston. The new arrangement creates a separate lane for vehicles turning left from Huddleston Road westbound onto Hwy. 54. Those westbound lanes later merge into one lane before reaching MacDuff Parkway. Currently, the lanes are separated for a short distance by orange barrels; later, raised pavement will be added as a permanent separation mark, said Peachtree City Engineer Troy Besseche. "Westbound traffic has improved dramatically, just from what I have noticed," Besseche said. "It is functioning a lot better than in the past." And though it hasn't opened yet, the eastbound turning lane feeding traffic off Hwy. 54 to Huddleston is finished. Beginning west of the entrance to Planterra Ridge subdivision, the lane will have a more noticeable appearance once striping is complete, Besseche said. All these improvements are being funded by RAM Development, which is building the Home Depot and Wal-Mart Supercenter buildings. They were required by the city through an ordinance designed to make sure the developments don't worsen traffic in the area. For a while, it appeared as if the stores, which total over 300,000 sq. ft., wouldn't make the cut. But the concept of the "through lane" convinced the city's traffic consultant engineering firm that the developments wouldn't significantly worsen traffic.
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