I read Mr. Ben Nelms’s article about a proposed intersection design for Ga. highways 54/74 (The Citizen online, 10/26/2016), and followed the link in the article.
I disagree with the idea of spending more than $5 million of taxpayers’ money by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) plus another million dollars of taxpayer money by the city of Peachtree City on an intersection whose design that will not solve the underlying problem.
The proposed intersection may eliminate separate protected left turn signals (only on Hwy. 74, as it appears in the diagram), but it will not prevent morning backups on Hwy. 54 eastbound, nor evening backups on Hwy. 54 westbound.
It should be clear that the problem stems from the amount of traffic going through the intersection and the intersections and signals on Hwy. 54 west of the intersection with Hwy. 74.
The proposal not only fails to address the underlying problem, but also has many flaws.
It does not address left turns from Hwy. 54 eastbound to Hwy. 74 northbound nor the backups on those left turn lanes that extend as far as the Huddleston intersection, and occasionally, farther west.
It does not address backups in both directions on Hwy. 54 caused by the split signal at the Huddleston intersection.
It does not address backups and fender-benders at the Huddleston intersection created by westbound drivers turning right from Hwy. 54 with no right turn lane.
It does not address backups on Hwy. 54 eastbound at McDuff, the green-T signal at Line Creek, the signal at Planterra, the signal at Huddleston, and the signal at Marketplace Connector.
It does not address the use of Marketplace Connector to avoid the left turn from 74 to 54, which further slows the flow on westbound Hwy. 54 when drivers bull their way into the intersection.
It does not address drivers who use The Avenue to avoid the intersection, and who cause traffic leaving The Avenue for Hwy. 54 to back up at times all the way to the circle.
It does not address the two driveways on Hwy. 54 westbound, one at a restaurant and one at a liquor store/car rental, and the effect they have on westbound traffic.
Specifically, the proposed intersection does not address the greatest need, which is for alternate east-west routes through Peachtree City to take pressure off Hwy. 54 and its intersection with Hwy. 74.
This proposal will at best simply move the problem downstream. By the time it would be implemented, the proposed intersection would already be obsolete.
GDOT and the city are proposing more than $6 million for something that won’t happen for at least five years, and won’t solve the problem.
Please, if you agree, send a message to the Peachtree City Council expressing your concern and opposition to this proposal. The email address is council@peachtree-city.org.
Paul Lentz
Peachtree City, Ga.
