Expecting a future increase in traffic, the Fayette County Commission on Feb. 13 approved $164,170 for work needed to produce right-of-way and construction plans for intersection improvements along Ga. Highway 92 and Hampton Road in Woolsey. A roundabout is anticipated for the intersection.
Hampton Road is a much-used 2-lane cut-through route to the Atlanta International Raceway and to downtown Hampton in Henry County.
Public Works Director Phil Mallon said county staff, including the county engineer, have been working with the Town of Woolsey and Ga. Department of Transportation to find a solution to traffic problems in the center of Woolsey by looking at traffic counts and various concepts to improve traffic flow on Ga. Highway 92.
This task order is the third and final order anticipated to complete design and permitting for the project, said Mallon.
Currently, Hampton Road and Hwy. 92 is an offset intersection, separated by a distance of over 500 feet. With Hwy. 92 being a two-lane roadway, vehicles traveling east-west on Hampton Road are creating traffic delays for through traffic on Hwy. 92 when making necessary left turns, Mallon explained.
Mallon said staff and consultant are anticipating a roundabout at the south intersection, an R-CUT (restricted crossing U-turn) at the north, pending Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) Analysis approval.
Commenting on the decision, Woolsey Mayor Gary Laggis said the need for a roundabout is understood locally.
“Travel through the town has been increasing, and we need to do something for long-term functionality,” Laggis said.
Mallon noted that Hampton Road is a portion of a regional east-west route that, due to developments outside Fayette County, is expected to see an increase in traffic.
Commissioners at the March 8, 2018 meeting voted to program unallocated 2004 SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) funds to various transportation projects throughout the county. Hampton Road in Woolsey was one of the approved projects.
