The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) revealed on Monday, May 24 plans for the state’s first-ever dogbone-shaped roundabout at the intersection of Hwys. 74 and 42.
The plans were made public during a virtual concept team meeting hosted by GDOT and Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. on Monday. Among the attendees were Monroe County Manager Jim Hedges and Georgia House District 140 Representative Robert Dickey.
According to GDOT statistics, 31 crashes occurred at the intersection between 2013 and 2019, including six that resulted in injuries. Of the 31 crashes, GDOT calculated that 65 percent of the accidents involved a vehicle completing a turn or vehicles stopped waiting for another vehicle to complete a turn.
Therefore, the new proposal is designed to improve the safety and operations of the existing intersection of Hwys. 74 and 42. Rather than going with a traditional circular roundabout, GDOT is proposing a dogbone-shaped roundabout that will align within the existing skewed intersection (Hwys. 74 and 42 do not bisect at a 90-degree angle). According to GDOT, the dogbone roundabout will also have minimal impact on existing on-site utilities whereas a circular-shaped roundabout would require additional right-of-way acquisition and the significant relocation of existing utilities. A third option of making the intersection a four-way stop would also create the need to acquire additional right-of-way in order to reduce the skew angle on the west side of Hwy. 74 that currently exists at the intersection. The speed limit around the dogbone roundabout will not exceed 25 miles per hour.
County Manager Hedges said while the dogbone roundabout concept has never been previously used in Georgia, it has been employed in Florida. County Manager Hedges, who suggested the design shape could also be described as a “peanut roundabout”, said the contract will be released for bid in January 2023 with an anticipated price tag of about $5 million.
According to GDOT, off-site detours are not expected during construction, but temporary pavement will be required and constructed. GDOT intends to coordinate with local residents to maintain access to nearby homes and mitigate the construction project’s impact on the local community.
(Design Artwork courtesy of GDOT and Parsons Transportation Group, Inc.)
