Engineers say traffic light needed at Ingles intersection

Karla Poshedly, traffic engineering consultant for Moreland Altobelli Associates, Inc., presented county commissioners with a traffic study of the Hull area Monday. The company examined Hwy. 29 from the Clarke County line to Piedmont Road.

Poshedly said the study shows two primary needs: a traffic signal at the Hwy. 29/Old Danielsville Road intersection and turn lanes at the Hwy. 29/Glenn Carrie-Fortson Store Road intersection at the CVS and Golden Pantry.

“US 29 at Fortson Store Road/Glenn Carrie Road is recommended to be improved with left turn lanes on both side streets,” the report states.

The Moreland Altobelli report also shows that accident rates at the intersections are higher than state averages.
“Calculated accident and injury rates for US 29 were compared to the statewide averages for their corresponding roadway class,” the report stated. “These comparisons indicate that the accident and injury rates for the two-lane rural section of US 29 has rates much higher than the statewide averages. A reduction in traffic congestion on US 29 through widening and intersection improvement would have the potential to reduce traffic accidents, thereby reducing accidents and injuries.”

Poshedly said Hwy. 29 from Glenn Carrie Road to Piedmont Road should be widened to four lanes by 2013.
“With this widening, the intersection of US 29 at Fortson Store Road/Glenn Carrie Road should be realigned to improve the skewed angle of the intersection and additional turn lanes should be added at Glenn Carrie Road and Piedmont Road intersections,” the Moreland Altobelli report stated.

Commissioner Mike Youngblood suggested that turn lanes be installed at Piedmont Road until the highway is widened. And Poshedly said that would be a good idea.

The Moreland Altobelli represenative noted the DOT’s well-publicized $1 billion shortfall for budgeted projects. But she said she’s confident the DOT will go along with her company’s recommendations. She noted that rights of way for the projects won’t be an issue.

“I think you have a good chance of getting state aid,” said Poshedly.