The interim 4-way stop at Antioch and Goza roads in south Fayette County is operational. Beyond that, the Fayette County Commission on Nov. 9 approved funding for the installation of a roundabout at the intersection.
Commissioners on a 5-0 vote opted for a roundabout at the intersection.
During the discussion, commissioners considered two approaches to addressing accident issues at the intersection. One of those would be to install a permanent 4-way stop with the other being a roundabout.
In terms of national crash data pertaining to injuries and fatalities, a roundabout was the safer approach. Data showed injuries and fatalities reduced by 77 percent with a 4-way stop, and a reduction of 83 percent with a roundabout.
In terms of cost, a permanent 4-way stop would cost approximately $409,000 while a roundabout would run approximately $1.07 million. Both figures had significant contingencies built-in.
The timeline for installing the roundabout will not come overnight, due to the requirements for four months of design, along with purchasing right-of-way, acquiring requests for proposal for the work and construction time.
Meantime, the interim 4-way stop at the intersection was put in place on Nov. 16. Variable message boards, advance warning signs, pavement markings, rumble strips and LED lights are all being used to help alert drivers of the change.
The roundabout project will be funded using SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) revenues.
An accident analysis conducted by Heath and Lineback Engineering including 49 accident reports from 2010-2017 was provided at a previous meeting. The analysis showed:
• 44 (91 percent) involved motorist traveling east or west on Goza Road.
• 31 of 44 (70 percent) involved motorists traveling east or west on Goza Road that stopped and then failed to yield to Antioch motorists.
• 14 of 44 (32 percent) involved motorists traveling east or west on Goza Road that failed to stop entirely.
• 32 of 44 (73 percent) involved motorists traveling southbound on Antioch Road.
• 31 of 44 (70 percent) involved motorists traveling eastbound on Goza Road.
