Can Macon afford to rebuild this funky downtown intersection? (Coleman: fit in, sales)

[Airforceguy]

Macon-Bibb County is spending about $95,000 on engineering costs for a potential realignment of Georgia Avenue and Spring Street, near the Hay House and Coleman Hill Park. But county officials will have to determine if there is enough money to pay for the reconfiguration of Georgia Avenue, which later turns into Mulberry Street, a main artery running through the city's core.

The funding likely would come from the special purpose local option sales tax if county commissioners decide to move forward, Macon-Bibb County Engineer David Fortson said.

The $280 million SPLOST has about $35 million dedicated to roads and other transportation projects.

Macon-Bibb considers downtown intersection changes | The Telegraph

[midgeorgiaman]

This is an odd intersection, but the current configuration allows traffic to flow relatively smoothly without a traffic light. If they align it and take out the island, it will need more structured traffic control (a light in my guess as a 4 way stop would pile cars all the way to Riverside due to the volume of traffic).

Do we really want a traffic light at the bottom of Coleman Hill and in front of the Hay House? Normally, I am all for some of these realignments if they are paid for with SPLOST funds, but I am not sure this is an overall win. It would slow traffic down and make it safer, but at the same time, I just don't see the benefit in changing something to require the addition of a stoplight. Newer traffic designs are supposed to reduce the need for lights.

We shall see.

[chipspeed]

a traffic circle might be the way to go.