Get a preview of big change to 54/74

January 15, 2020

Cal Beverly

Headlines Peachtree City Top News

<b>Google map view of businesses around the 54-74 intersection.</b>

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Come to the City Council meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to see how the state is planning to make things better for thousands of motorists —

The Georgia Department of Transportation is calling it a displaced left turn, and it’s supposed to improve traffic flow through Peachtree City’s busiest intersection, the long-lamented junction of Georgia highways 54 and 74.

DOT engineers are giving a glimpse of their plans during the City Council meeting Thursday evening at 6:30 at City Hall. But that comes after Mayor Vanessa Fleisch delivers her state of the city address, part of which may touch on the traffic aggravations faced by drivers on a daily basis trying to get around in the state’s first planned city.

Installation of any additional or modified turn lanes at 54/74 may eventually ease traffic woes, but what’s described as a $9 million planned reconstruction project will cause some significant short-term unheaval to some businesses clustered around that major intersection.

The DOT preview Thursday night may hint at the extent of such changes, but a longer, closer look will be available during the DOT’s information open house the following Thursday at the City Library from 5 to 7 p.m.

“While there will be no formal presentation, the public is invited to attend any time during the open house to view the project, ask questions, and comment,” according to the city notice about the library event.

The displaced left turn will likely be the largest traffic disruption on the two state highways since the two-lane roads were four-laned two decades ago.

The problem intersection is much on the minds of the City Council and staff, as indicated during the Dec. 12 meeting.

Councilman Kevin Madden volunteered at that meeting to champion a bypass solution, but City Manager Jon Rorie noted that any solution would face head winds from Coweta County, Senoia and Tyrone.

Rorie said it was not as simple as building another road.

Cal Beverly

4 responses to “Get a preview of big change to 54/74”

GeorgeJDienhart

January 17, 2020

If only someone had brought this up in the past…

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PTC TRAFFIC

January 16, 2020

The time to put in a bypass or two is fast slipping away. As more and more land is developed into subdivision after subdivision and shopping center after shopping center, you will have NO MORE OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
There will be no difference in the traffic thru PTC and downtown ATL.
If a bypass solution is not addressed in the very near future, PTC will no longer be the vibrant place it once was.
And with the city unable to limit population density, where does the traffic go?
We have taken commuter traffic and placed it in the middle of shopping centers and residential areas, is this the solution?
Who is legally liable when someone dies on the west side because first responders are stuck in traffic, or an armed robbery on the west side?
It’s coming people, just wait for it

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PTC TRAFFIC

January 16, 2020

Rorie says any additional bypass to be contentious with Tyrone, Coweta, well maybe it’s time they share the pain of the commuter traffic. This is NOT a PTC only problem, it is a regional problem that needs a regional long term fix. We have already rerouted COMMUTER traffic thru Planttera and thru MacDuff.
It’s time for the state to step in and other communities to share in the pain in having ONLY ONE EAST/WEST ROAD IN THE COUNTY.
It’s time for the PTC leaders lead and tell the state to fix the problem once and for all, this is just another Bandaid on a bigger problem.
We were told that adding another light at Line Creek would have no impact, how did that work out………. And the light violates state law as to distance from traffic control devices…..

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1. Robert W. Morgan
  
  January 19, 2020
  
  Or, we could just live with the fact that there were plenty of mistakes made in the past and its too late to correct them. Yep, we only have 54 east/west and the whole 54 west retail area was poorly planned and made worse by the city council – ie. traffic lights. Ok, acknowledged. Now move on and live with it. The $9 (probably $15million eventually) creative lane-changing fix could work with creative leadership and cooperation, but sadly we have neither of those things, so don’t even bother. Waste of money.
  
  Sp, live with it. People will adjust. Some will use State 85 connector and 16, some others will use Sandy Creek. Palmetto-Tyrone Rd is for commuters. Huddleston Dr. can be used creatively. Others will telecommute. Some will move away. Most will do as I do – just live here, enjoy everything else and schedule my Home Depot trips carefully.
  
  Yes some housing values on the west side will not increase as fast as other areas, but they won’t tank. We can put in some carpool and commuter bus parking lots and give some tax breaks and incentives to encourage a serious PRIVATELY/LOCALLY OWNED bus or van company to service airport workers with regular and timely service. That would cost a lot less than $9million and take a bunch of cars off the road.
  
  If we decide we can live with that, only one road in and out from the east/west could be a huge benefit if we make use of aggressive traffic stops and cameras so we can record people coming and going. Drivers passing thru, crime-oriented youths and even the grifters who steal places in our schools would be reduced over time and I see that as a benefit. Yes a benefit – just like not having one single part of our county touching an interstate highway is a definite benefit. Again, all for a lot less that $9million.
  
  So Kevin, as you oversee all this please understand that we don’t always have to “do something” which always means spending money or chasing grants or other people’s money. Sometimes you can solve big problems by solving the little ones. Talk to the police chief about broken window theory and community policing before you encourage a $9million debacle.
  
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