Council to consider Falcon Design plan for Mirror Lake Boulevard left-turn lane; staff recommends approval

Staff presented Falcon Design’s plans for a left-turn storage lane on Mirror Lake Boulevard approaching Villa Rica Parkway and asked the council to approve final design so staff can complete utility coordination, finalize right-of-way needs and prepare bid documents.

The proposal widens the roadway to the north to avoid conflicts with stormwater infrastructure, a water main, conduit and utility poles on the south side of the boulevard. Staff told the council Falcon’s approach avoids reconstruction of hardscape on the development side, minimizes the need for construction easements and reduces guardrail impacts. Falcon’s recommended left-turn storage lane provides 230 feet of storage with a 50-foot taper; staff noted that a minimum passing-lane design established by GDOT would use a shorter storage length and assumed tapers, and that the Falcon design reduces the risk that long left-turn queues — for example, multiple left-turning tractor-trailers — could block tapers and create unsafe passing conditions.

Staff also reported that creating a right-in/right-out would require a raised or divided center median and therefore would not save appreciable cost compared with the proposed design. Staff said the project would not require purchase of private right-of-way or easements for the multi-use path portion and that the Mirror Lake HOA had been briefed. Staff recommended approving Falcon Design’s plan; council members raised no objection and the item was placed as consent item number 5 for the next regular meeting so staff can finalize bid documents and submit permits to the state.

Staff emphasized they would complete underground utility locates and finalize construction documents before bidding.