Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | A roundabout explanationIntersection proposal deemed confusingBy JOHN MUNFORD Perhaps as soon as summer 2006, motorists on Peachtree Parkway and Walt Banks Road will temporarily ditch their left-hand turns thanks to the new roundabout intersection design now in the planning stages. Recognizing the potential trouble of locating the unique intersection near McIntosh High School, city officials plan a campaign to inform students and parents who drive to and from McIntosh High School in addition to residents in nearby neighborhoods who will also be affected, said City Engineer David Borkowski. Its going to throw a lot of people off, Borkowski said. Cars will enter the roundabouts circle going counterclockwise (a la NASCAR) until they exit the circle. Once in the roundabout, a car has full right-of-way, according to Jeff Dyer at Qk4, the engineering firm working on the project. Cars entering the roundabout must yield to those already inside the circle, Dyer added. There is enough traffic during peak morning and evening drive times to put a traffic light at the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and Walt Banks Road, Dyer said. The roundabout will look nicer than a traffic light, he added. The design will allow cars to move better than the current four-way stop, as they can enter the circle unless another auto is approaching, Dyer said. It will definitely be interesting to see how it operates when its constructed because there arent a lot of them out there yet, Dyer said. The roundabout wont likely be ready to go until summer 2006, Borkowski said, adding that date was his best guess. The city has preliminary drawings, but its not known how much right of way the city will need to accomplish the project, Borkowski added. Currently, opinions on the roundabout are being solicited from other city departments, he said. The project is budgeted for $283,000, Borkowski said. Along with Ga. Highway 74, Peachtree Parkway is one of the main arteries used by local commuters heading to Atlanta via Interstate 85. |
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