Fayette County to consider bridge near school complex

Fayette County may be changing lanes in its plans to put a better traffic crossing near the Starr’s Mill school complex. After hearing an updated concept plan from Public Works Director Phil Mallon on Aug. 26, the Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to allocate $18,000 from 2017 SPLOST funds to do a feasibility study for a pedestrian/golf cart bridge over Redwine Road at Panther Path. The change was prompted by the impending construction of 74 new homes opposite the entrance to the three-school complex, which would add even more cars and golf carts to the already busy traffic there.

Mallon said previous plans to put a tunnel at the site proved to be unfeasible, which leaves either a bridge or an at-grade signaled crossing as the remaining options. But a recent traffic study recommends the bridge as the safer measure, despite a cost that could go as high as $2.5 million. The board consensus was to move forward with the bridge study and pursue a partnership with Peachtree City and/or the Board of Education to assist with the cost.