Decatur is still waiting on two state-of-the art traffic cabinets, one at each of its two most complex and (for drivers) frustrating intersections, East College Avenue/North McDonough Street and East College/Candler Street. It’s for that reason a number of traffic lights at those crossings remain covered and read, “Not in Service.”
Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon initially told the AJC he thought those cabinets would arrive in March, but that deadline, of course, is long past.
“We are waiting on delivery from [the Georgia Department of Transportation],” Saxon said this week. “They’ve been very cooperative, especially considering they’re providing the boxes at no cost to the city. But I’m not sure when they’re coming—it should be soon.”
The boxes control and coordinate the signals. When finally in the place the critical innovation will be three new protected left-hand turns: one heading north on Candler and turning left onto College, and two in both directions on College turning left onto North McDonough.
This is the final phase of reconstructing both of those corridors, bisected by railroad tracks that essentially cram four intersections into two. In work beginning in the fall, 2016, and lasting about a year, both received smoother grading and far better pedestrian accessibility.
About the Author
