Whitfield County -(WDEF)Crews have shut down Mount Vernon Road and Houston Valley Road to begin building a new roundabout — a project county leaders say will save lives and money.
Whitfield County is handling construction in-house, reducing the price tag from about $600,000 to roughly $250,000. Officials say completing the project with county crews instead of contractors will save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Safety was the top priority in selecting a roundabout over a traditional traffic signal. County Engineer Kent Benson says roundabouts force drivers to slow down and enter intersections more cautiously.
“Roundabouts have a much better safety rating,” Benson explained. “High-speed crashes are converted into lower-speed side swipes or fender benders, which reduces injuries and fatalities.”
Benson added that installing a signal would have required major widening of all four approaches — including extra left-turn lanes — driving up the overall cost.
“When you factor in all of those extra dollars for widening, we think the roundabout is going to be a more economical option,” he said.
The intersection will remain closed for about a month, weather permitting. Detours are clearly marked, and emergency vehicles will continue to have access throughout construction.
Drivers are urged to follow detour signs and allow for extra travel time.
