Published Sunday, October 05, 2008

Greison, Broad intersection to close Oct. 10-27

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

Traffic will be diverted starting Friday around the intersection of Greison Trail and East Broad Street/Lower Fayetteville Road in Newnan as construction on the roundabout continues.

The intersection will be closed starting Oct. 10 at 9 p.m. It will remain closed through Oct. 27. The project is two months behind schedule because of utilities activities, according to Newnan city officials.

In the meantime, construction will continue in off-peak hours -- including in the evenings -- in an attempt to complete the project as quickly as possible.

According to the Community Development Director Cleatus Phillips, "The city looked at several different construction phasing options in attempt to keep the intersection open to traffic. However, after considering all options, we felt that proper detours and alternative routes would be better than the traffic delays which would result by attempting to leave the intersection open during construction."

There will be detour routes and signs posted to direct drivers away from the intersection closure.

"We ask that drivers make their plans accordingly," said Phillips.

The Newnan City Council voted 4-3 in April to move forward with a roundabout as a way to alleviate traffic woes at the intersection. Construction began on the roundabout on June 23.

The Greison Trail Project is funded by the 1997 Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax funds, impact fees and private developer contributions. The total cost is just over $520,828. The project contractor is Southeastern Site Development of Newnan.

Construction is expected to last until early November.