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Consultant urges consideration of bypass, roundabouts and pedestrian crossings in Ware County traffic study
Summary
Atlas Technical Consultants presented a final traffic‑study update recommending evaluation of bypass alternatives to relieve truck congestion, roundabouts to reduce severe crashes, connected sidewalks and solutions for pedestrian railroad crossings, with phasing and a cost‑benefit analysis to follow.
Chris Kingsbury of Atlas Technical Consultants delivered the final work session briefing on a comprehensive Ware County traffic study on June 9, telling commissioners the public survey showed interest in improved biking, walking and running lanes, roundabouts in the city, pothole repairs and a bypass to address truck traffic.
Kingsbury said bottleneck analysis identified congestion points on Hwy 84, U.S. 1 and Hwy 82 and that train crossings contribute to longer bottleneck durations. He said about 6% of trips in the study area travel eastbound on U.S. 84 to U.S. 82 and about 5% travel north on U.S. 23. "Roundabouts can take from six months to a year for people to get used to using them; however, they minimize the severity of accidents, especially T‑bone crashes," Kingsbury said.
He flagged disconnected sidewalks (several sidewalks do not connect), nine posted bridges and the need for safe pedestrian crossings over railroad tracks. Kingsbury said all alternatives will be considered, portions of a bypass could be phased or separated, and his next step is a phasing and cost‑benefit analysis and a draft submission to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) including bypass feasibility for the county's final plan.
Commissioners received the update and the consultant will forward a draft to GDOT as work continues toward a final recommendation.
