Survey results collected by the Georgia Department of Transportation reveal the majority of those who responded do not want a roundabout at the intersection of Ga. 197 and Ga. 385/SR 17 in Clarkesville.
The proposed roundabout would eliminate the four-way stop at the intersection and replace it with a circular, counter-clockwise traffic flow.
According to GDOT, 578 people weighed in on the proposal during the agency’s public comment period that ended on May 24. Of those, 398 (68.74%) said they oppose the project, while 130 (22.45%) said they support the Clarkesville roundabout. Another 47 respondents (8.12%) said they could support a roundabout at that location under certain conditions, while three others (.52%) remained uncommitted.
Now, the Georgia Department of Transportation must decide what, if any, changes it will make to the plan. GDOT’s decision will be based on public comments and project data, says agency spokesperson Natalie Dale.
There are plenty of comments for the agency to consider.
Nearly 400 people commented on the project online. Some say they would prefer to see a traffic light at the intersection instead of a roundabout. Others expressed their view that money needed for the roundabout — $4.6 million at last estimate — would be better spent improving the quality of local roadways and enhancing safety on Ga. 365. Of all the various concerns expressed, one of the most frequent was how the proposed project would impact Stoney’s Family Restaurant.
The family-owned business has been a Clarkesville mainstay for decades.
“Why would anyone be okay with you destroying a business that has been here for over 50 years when there are so many other options?” one person asked. Added another, “We urge the GDOT to reconsider this project and don’t destroy this family small business especially after fighting to stay open and support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic!”
Still, for all its detractors, there are those who support the plan.
“I believe the roundabout will make passage of this intersection safer and more efficient, and believe it will make traffic flow much more smoothly. I fully support this project,” someone commented. Another said they were “thrilled” by the prospect of a roundabout being built. “The concept is the same as the old-fashioned town square (as in Cleveland, GA, where I grew up). So happy!”
Several survey respondents offered up their own solutions on how GDOT should manage traffic flow at the intersection. One closed out their suggestion stating, “If you think people are confused by a 4-way, just wait until you give them this ’roundabout.'”
Whether the roundabout is installed will be left up to GDOT.
“This is a GDOT project, so whether they plan to move forward or not, I do not know at this time,” says Clarkesville City Manager Keith Dickerson.
Dale says the next step is for the state transportation department’s Environmental Office to collect all of the comments that have been submitted and respond in writing to those who left addresses. “It usually takes a few weeks to collect the comments and work with the team to get responses,” she says. That means there will be at least a few more weeks of waiting to learn the fate of a project that’s been under consideration for five years.
Dickerson points out that since the roads are DOT property, Clarkesville has no alternative plans for the intersection. However, he remains as interested as others to see what will happen.
“My experience with roundabouts is that they do move traffic safer and more efficiently, but this is a very unique intersection, and I will be very interested in the final plan.”
