The Georgia Department of Transportation has begun reconstruction of the intersection of Highway 85 and New Hope Road.
Their plan published earlier this year is to build a Reduced Conflict U-Turn (RCUT) intersection, which is expected to greatly reduce the potential for vehicle collisions in the area.
GDOT officials say construction could take as long as 90 days, depending on weather. Intermittent lane closures are expected during this time.
When construction of the RCUT intersection is complete, eastbound traffic on New Hope Road will only be able to turn right (southbound) onto Highway 85. If these motorists wish to travel northbound, they will need to first turn right onto Highway 85 and then make a U-turn at the next intersection.
The same will apply to motorists exiting the Satterfield mixed-use development across the highway from New Hope Road. They will only be able to turn right (northbound) onto Highway 85.
Northbound and southbound motorists along Highway 85 will still be able turn onto New Hope Road and into the Satterfield mixed-use development as usual at the new RCUT intersection.
GDOT officials point to the RCUT intersection on State Route 20 at Oakland Road/Simpson Mill Road in Henry County as a nearby success story, saying angle crashes were reduced by 73% over the five years following its construction.
More recently, GDOT installed RCUT devices in Fayetteville along Highway 54 East at the intersections of Rosewood Drive/Autumn Glen Circle, Weatherly Drive/Cobblestone Boulevard, and Knight Way.
While the construction work is contracted and managed by GDOT, the City of Fayetteville is coordinating with GDOT to keep the public informed of this RCUT project’s progress. Updates will be posted on the City’s website, www.fayetteville-ga.gov, and on the City’s social media channels: www.facebook.com/fayettevillega.gov and www.nextdoor.com.
For more information on GDOT’s RCUT devices, visit https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/pages/RCUT.aspx.
