This is "Actual Factual Gwinnett," a regular column in which I, Tyler Estep, answer reader questions about Gwinnett happenings and history. Read previous editions -- like this one answering where Beaver Ruin Road got its name -- by clicking the hyperlinks at the bottom of this column, where you'll also find information for submitting your own questions. Enjoy!
OK. So a couple weeks ago, I wrote about the development storm that's a-brewin' over off Ga. 124 in Snellville -- including plans for a Cracker Barrel, a Zaxby's, a Freddy's, a Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q and more.
Y'all understandably lost it, in a good way. But I was also flooded with questions like these:
From Barbara: "What about traffic? It is already terrible."
From Craig: "You recently answered 'What are they building on 124?' My question is 'Why are they building on 124?' Do they not think that it is congested enough?"
From Irene: "How do they plan on handling all the traffic? It's congested enough."
Fair enough, guys. You're right. Ga. 124 (a.k.a. Scenic Highway) can indeed be a navigational nightmare, one Gwinnett's worst stretches for "why in God's name is there traffic right now?" type of traffic.
So I sent a few emails and got a few answers -- but nothing you're gonna be overly enthused about, methinks.
You may already know about the nearby project at Ga. 124 and U.S. 78. DOT officials hope bringing a "continuous flow" concept -- which esteemed Channel 2 Action News colleague Tony Thomas explains well around the 1-minute mark in the video below -- will help reduce back-ups at the intersection.
Note that the video is from last August. GDOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale said this week that the project -- which is about 1.5 miles west of "The Cracker Barrel Development" near Pharrs Road -- is "moving along smoothly" and proposed to "go to construction" in June 2017.
So that will (hopefully) bring some relief in the long run -- but is there anything else planned? That's a negative, Ghost Rider.
"There is no immediate work slated for this corridor," Dale said.
That about covers it, but one more thing while you're wallowing: Several readers have also asked what's destined for the old Best Buy building on Ga. 124. It'll be a new location for 12Stone Church -- so you'll have traffic to look forward to on Sundays, too.
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I, Tyler Estep, am a staff writer with the AJC and a Gwinnett County native. To submit “Actual Factual Gwinnett” questions, contact me at tyler.estep@coxinc.com, @ByTylerEstep on Twitter or via the form below.
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