Avondale Estates residents can mark down most of next week (Feb. 25-28) for a series of design charrettes and a public information open house regarding the reconfiguration of U.S. 278, the city’s primary thoroughfare, from Ashton Place to Sams Crossing.
Next week’s schedule: Feb. 25, 6-6:30 p.m. a brief recap of the design process to date; Feb. 26-28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., design charrettes for residents to see developing concepts from consultant Stantec and to share ideas; Feb. 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m., a public information open house to wrap up the week’s work.
All takes place at Avondale Estates City Hall, 21 North Avondale Plaza.
The city has long desired a road diet, or a slicing of 278 from five to three lanes. Other plans call for safer and shorter crossings, bike lanes and wider sidewalks. Stantec will also study more efficient signal timing (there are five intersections with traffics lights throughout the three-quarter mile corridor) and eliminating some of the road’s infinite curb cuts.
It’s anticipated the design process will last through most of the summer. Since 278 is a state road, the Georgia Department of Transportation gives final approval on the design, including whether Avondale gets its road diet.
“We’ve gone through all the steps that [GDOT has] asked for including traffic counts,” said Assistant City Manager Keri Stevens. “All indications [for the road diet] are that it looks good. But I’m real cautious. We won’t know for sure until they give final approval.”
