If there’s something you’d like to say about the proposed roundabout in Clarkesville, now is the time to say it. The Georgia Department of Transportation is accepting public comments on the proposed $4.6 million project until Monday, May 24.
The proposed roundabout would eliminate the four-way stop at the intersection of Ga. 197 and Ga. 385/SR 17 and replace it with a circular, counter-clockwise traffic flow.
Why a roundabout?
Crash data shows that between 2012 and 2016, there were 40 accidents at this particular Clarkesville intersection. Thirty-five of those crashes resulted in property damage, and five resulted in injuries.
After conducting a feasibility study in 2017, GDOT officials determined a roundabout would be the best type of traffic control for that location. They say it would reduce the number and severity of accidents, help alleviate congestion, and improve pedestrian and bike access due to reduced speeds.
“Based on Federal Highway Administration crash modification factors, converting the intersection from an All-Way Stop to a single lane roundabout proposes to reduce the amount of injury/fatal crashes by 88%,” the GDOT project website states.
A price for safety
Such enhanced safety comes with a price tag. For the Clarkesville roundabout, the state allotted $1.25 million for preliminary engineering costs and estimates it will spend $783,000 to obtain rights of way, $2.4 million on construction, and $180,000 to relocate and connect utilities.
Similar sums are being shelled out across the state as Georgia relies more heavily on roundabouts for traffic control. Most are currently located in metropolitan areas, but more roundabouts are being built in rural regions.
In August 2019, GDOT opened up a roundabout at SR 52 and SR 115/Copper Mine Road in Lumpkin County. Another is in the works for State Routes 115 and 105/Cannon Bridge Road between Clarkesville and Cleveland. That project is estimated to cost $2.6 million.
According to GDOT, in places where roundabouts have replaced existing intersections, accidents have been reduced by 35 percent, and injury accidents have been reduced by over 60 percent.
The agency will consider all comments submitted as it develops its plans for the Clarkesville roundabout and will respond to those comments once the public comment period ends. To weigh in on the proposed project, click here. For more details on the project, click here.
This article has been corrected to reflect that the comment period ends on Monday, May 24, 2021.
