Council picks 3‑lane design for South Lumpkin Road project to limit impacts and keep costs near budget

Columbus City Council voted to move forward with a three‑lane streetscape design for South Lumpkin Road, directing staff to finalize engineering based on a concept that adds a raised or flush median, a 10‑foot multi‑use path on one side, a five‑foot sidewalk on the other and several pedestrian crossing improvements.

The vote followed a presentation from the city’s consultant team that compared a “preferred” three‑lane option with a more intrusive five‑lane alternative. The three‑lane concept is designed to keep traffic level‑of‑service at current levels while providing pedestrian and bicycle facilities and limiting utility and right‑of‑way impacts. Estimated construction cost for the three‑lane design was about $11.0 million; the five‑lane alternative was estimated at about $15.9 million because it would require substantially more right‑of‑way acquisitions and utility relocations.

Why it matters: The corridor links neighborhoods, businesses and schools and is a planned connection point for the city’s multi‑use trail network. Choosing the three‑lane option prioritizes active‑transportation investments and aims to avoid extensive property and business impacts while keeping the project within the current T-SPLOST budget allocation (~$10.1 million, including PE, ROW and construction).

What council heard: Consultants told council the three‑lane design keeps the corridor at an acceptable level of service and uses bus pullouts to prevent stopped buses from delaying traffic. City staff and consultants noted the 3‑lane option also minimizes pole and drainage impacts. Several business owners who attended the public information meeting expressed concern about potential right‑of‑way impacts and construction disruption; five of eight written comments collected at the meeting favored the three‑lane alternative.

Key technical points: - Project limits: north of the roundabout at Infantry Road to Victory Drive (approx. 1.82 miles). - Design elements: 10‑foot shared use path (one side), 5‑foot sidewalk (other side), rapid flashing beacons at key mid‑block crossings, a raised 12‑foot median along a southern portion adjacent to schools and bus pullouts to reduce traffic delays. - Projected traffic volumes were modestly higher in 20‑ and 25‑year projections and both alternatives were modeled to retain level‑of‑service A for the corridor.

Next steps: Staff will continue design work on the three‑lane alternative, complete right‑of‑way and utility coordination, refine cost estimates, and return with updated schedules; construction currently is programmed for 2027.

Ending: The motion to proceed with the three‑lane design passed by voice vote after council discussion and the public information meeting.