One of Gilmer’s most frustrating intersections may soon receive a much-needed transformation.
The section of First Ave. between Georgia Highway 515 and River Street has long been frustrating for anyone in a car.
“If we think it’s confusing, it’s 10 times more confusing to [people from out of town],” Public Safety Director for East Ellijay Larry Callahan said.
Known to some locals as “Malfunction Junction,” this section sees Industrial Boulevard, Highway 515, River Street and First Ave. meet.
It also has a poorly placed left turn lane that requires drivers to merge one lane right just to go straight.
If that sounds confusing, it’s harder to drive it than to describe it.
The intersection is near the highway, so it falls under the control of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), Callahan said.
In an email to Gilmer Director of Public Works Ryan Steingruber, GDOT State Environmental Administrator Eric Duff announced the state’s plans for the intersection.
According to the email, the GDOT plans to construct a single lane roundabout at the intersection of First Ave. at Industrial Boulevard.
They would also provide a northbound right bypass lane to connect Industrial Boulevard and convert the intersection between SR 515 and First Ave. into a right-turn only intersection with a light, or an “RCUT.”
After making an initial right turn, drivers would use a new U-turn lane to continue straight on First Ave. or take a left.
This traffic design decreases the numbers of accidents and improves traffic flow, according to the GDOT’s website.
The GDOT is still analyzing how this project would impact the environment and looking for community input, Duff’s letter said.
“We would like to be certain that communities are recognized and given the opportunity to fully participate and provide meaningful input in the project development process,” the email reads.
The GDOT’s plan will likely be subject to change.
“It’s such a preliminary phase at this point that I’m not sure what their design actually entails,” Callahan said.
Surprisingly, this difficult intersection doesn’t cause many accidents, he said.
People tend to drive cautiously on it, he said. And when accidents do happen, they tend to be minor fender benders.
“It’s more of an inconvenience issue than an accident issue,” he said. “Accidents that we do have generally are just minor.”
Nevertheless, it’s high time someone fixed the problem, he said.
“Traffic is so thick and congested,” Callahan said.
“Malfunction Junction” is one of the most important connections between East Ellijay and Ellijay.
Any roadwork on it will likely cause major delays.
“It’s almost like a sore tooth,” Callahan said. “Something needs to be done, but it’s really going to hurt to try to fix it.”