A road diet on U.S. 278 could produce more efficient traffic patterns through Avondale Estates according to Andrew Heath, who spoke during a recent forum hosted by the citizens advocate group Second Century Avondale.
“The important thing is to harmonize traffic, to have less dramatic movements like sudden speeding and stopping,” said Heath, a state traffic engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation. “One thing we know, changing speed limit signs doesn’t do anything. But a road diet does slow traffic and it could, in Avondale, move traffic through in a smoother manner.”
When questioned afterward, several city officials were skeptical. Two years ago the city determined, with input from GDOT, that a road diet (along with a roundabout at the 278/Clarendon Road intersection) wasn’t feasible.
Instead the city is currently pursuing an estimated $2.8 million project that would include continuous sidewalks on both sides of 278 from Ashton Place to Sams Crossing. It would also have four medians with refuge islands and flashing-signal crossings.
But Second Century organizer Lisa Shortell vowed to continue pursuing a road diet, which she believes most city residents favor.
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