Mayor Al Hoyle and Ellijay City Councilmembers discussed possible improvements to the downtown roundabout during a workshop that preceded the council’s last meeting of 2021 Monday, Dec. 20.
Hoyle said he’s been in touch with WLA Studio since one of the Athens architecture firm’s representatives met with the council last June about proposed work to make the roundabout safer and lessen vehicle damage to the traffic circle.
The company is having trouble getting a surveyor, and there are currently high prices for surveying work to be done, noted Hoyle, who said he thinks the project won’t require a new survey as long as it remains in the footprint of the existing roundabout.
“I’ve still got the (original) survey. We will use that survey,” he said.
The square’s lampposts and flagpole have been hit multiple times by vehicles going through the roundabout, Hoyle noted.
“We had another lamppost get hit in the square close to the flagpole. It barely missed the flagpole. We’ve replaced the flagpole three or four times since it was put there. We’ve had to replace the concrete footer. Luckily, no wires yet,” he added.
Hoyle suggested installing a protective apron around the traffic circle’s curbing that could withstand cars accidentally driving up on it, a feature covered by the WLA firm during its presentation.
He also suggested “moving everything in,” referring to fixtures on the square that have been hit repeatedly, and staying in the exact same footprint to keep from having to go through permitting again.
“With that apron, leave a 6 inch curb. Maybe switch it to a granite curb and put it around the outer edge,” Hoyle said. “Move the lampposts in, and move the flagpole in a little tighter. Eliminate the bushes (or) move them in, reduce the number and just have smaller ones. They wouldn’t be right out at the edge like they are currently.”
Councilman Tom Crawford applauded removing the roundabout’s shrubbery, a change he’d previously suggested.
Hoyle said the council has already discussed putting in a new crosswalk, possibly with an elevated speed table, on North Main Street.
“I think we could design the crosswalks, especially if it was a speed table,” he said, adding that the proposed crosswalk could be designed by the Jaeger Company if the council prefers that option.
Crawford asked Police Chief Ed Lacey and Fire Chief Sam West if a raised crosswalk would hinder public safety response times.
“From an overall public safety standpoint, I think the slight amount of increase in response is negligible compared to if we can actually get people to use the crosswalks,” Lacey replied.
Any of the proposed improvements will first have to be brought before the council for vote. Hoyle said he will contact the architecture company to get pricing and designs for some of them so things can move forward.