The wait for relief from traffic back-ups at the intersection of Ga. Highway 54 West and Planterra Way may be coming to an end. Intersection work was approved on June 15 by the Peachtree City Council and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.
The council unanimously approved a $150,000 contribution from the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) designated for the Planterra Way portion of the project.
A $650,000 project in total, the improvement at Planterra Way will eliminate the split-phasing of the traffic signal. Split-phasing means the left turn from Planterra onto Hwy. 54 and the left turn from the Walmart area onto Hwy. 54 cannot be operated at the same time and, consequently, increases the traffic cycling time and causes more back-ups.
The project, expected to be completed by Oct. 31, will accomplish several things, said city staff.
On the Planterra side, the current median will be removed and the finished product will include a left turn lane onto Hwy. 54 West, a thru-lane into the Walmart area and a right turn lane for traffic heading east on Hwy. 54.
For traffic leaving the Walmart and Home Depot area there will be two left turn lanes for traffic onto Hwy. 54 eastbound.
And for traffic on Hwy. 54 wanting to access either Planterra Way or the commercial area, the left turn lanes will be expanded.
The project will be funded with SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) revenues and the DOT contribution.
