McDonald's proposes traffic changes for new location on Putter Point Drive

The Gallatin City Council meeting on May 6, 2025, focused on the proposed development of a new McDonald's location, addressing significant concerns regarding traffic flow and site design.

During the meeting, city officials and representatives from McDonald's discussed plans for the restaurant, including the need for an opaque fence to mitigate light and sound from the ordering area. There were also suggestions to enhance the existing tree line as a natural buffer and to incorporate additional shrubbery around the site. The architectural design was another point of discussion, with a request for the new building to resemble the McDonald's located on Highway 109, featuring varied elevations along the roofline.

Traffic concerns dominated the conversation, particularly regarding the intersection of Putter Point Lane and Highway 25. Council members expressed worries about existing traffic issues in the area, noting that the intersection is already problematic. The McDonald's representative confirmed that there are currently no plans for improvements to the highway or the intersection, although a traffic impact study is underway to assess the development's effects on local traffic patterns.

The study will analyze key intersections, including Putter Point Drive and Highway 25, as well as Wildcat Road. However, there are no plans for a traffic signal at the intersection of Wildcat and Putter Drive, which raised concerns about potential traffic stacking and worsening congestion.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further review the traffic study results, which will inform any necessary adjustments to the development plans. The outcome of this study will be crucial in determining how the new McDonald's will integrate into the existing traffic landscape of Gallatin.