For motorists sick and tired of driving in near-standstill drive time traffic on Ga. Highway 54 West, completion of the road widening project this summer will be a luxury.

At the same time, however, the widening has caused a permanent inconvenience for a local business at the corner of Hwy. 54 and Huddleston Road.

Before the road widening began, Golf Rider Inc. had a parking lot at the front of its store and a clear view from Huddleston Road. Now, in its place is a massive grassed hill that blocks all but the tip-top of his store’s roof from view.

“My exposure and my visibility have gone away,” said Frank Kadkhodaian of Golf Rider Inc.

Previously, customers could pull in off Huddleston Road and park at-grade. Now they have to negotiate a driveway with a steep hill and sharp curve. The effect is similar to cresting the top of a roller coaster in the brief seconds before the final destination can be seen below.

Customers have told Kadkhodaian that the new driveway is dangerous. Delivery trucks now refuse to enter the driveway, parking on Huddleston Road instead. And the city fire department has told Kadkhodaian that they would likely keep their fire engines on Huddleston, using a lighter and smaller pumper unit to get onto the property should there ever be a fire there.

The DOT needed to raise the grade of Huddleston because the nearby railroad bridge was increasing in height, and Kadkhodaian said he understands that. He just wishes the DOT had stuck to the plan he was presented that would allow Golf Rider to maintain its own access to Huddleston Road. A simple retaining wall would’ve done the trick to preserve some of his property, Kadkhodaian said.

Instead, he’s got a massively-sloped hill blocking his business from view of anyone who turns onto Huddleston off Hwy. 54. City officials have recognized Kadkhodaian’s plight and allowed two road signs on Huddleston Road for the business.

“They have gone beyond what they were going to do,” Kadkhodaian said. And he has a legitimate question about the future of the hill in Golf Rider’s front yard: “Who’s responsible for taking care of this mess?”

In other words, who will mow the grass on the steep embankment? Kadkhodaian isn’t sure anyone will be able to mow it due to the extreme slope.

Kadkhodaian hopes the city’s code enforcement department doesn’t expect him to maintain it. The slope is so steep, he’s doubtful anyone could mow it.

Kadkhodaian is also upset because the parcel Golf Rider is on no longer has its own driveway. He owns the land immediately next door but the DOT’s action leaves him unable to sell that adjacent parcel.

Kadkhodaian wants the DOT to pay to have the Golf Rider parcel raised with fill dirt, even if that means relocating his business temporarily or perhaps permanently.

Kadkhodaian is not sure how much that will cost. A DOT attorney and appraiser both agreed that the hill creates a problem for Golf Rider, “but they are doing nothing about it,” Kadkhodaian said.

So far, Kadkhodaian has been paid $32,000 by the DOT. Half of that was for the actual land that was condemned by the agency and the other half was to pay for improvements to the Golf Rider tract that would be necessary once the road construction is complete, Kadkhodaian said.

Kadkhodaian has obtained the services of local attorney Doug Warner to seek some relief from the DOT.

The hill went in over the span of one weekend in October last year when the contractor had Golf Rider close shop up early one Saturday afternoon, Kadkhodaian said.

Now, looking at that hill, Kadkhodaian said he may have to pick up his business and relocate, no small feat considering he’s built up a clientele for more than nine years who are used to visiting him off Hwy. 54 and Huddleston.

Kadkhodaian said he wants to put a sign on his roof to enhance visibility, but city officials have nixed that.

The whole matter comes down to a principle of magic, Kadkhodaian said:

“Now you see it, now you don’t.”