A major phase of the South Pinetree Boulevard improvement project is scheduled to begin this week. Contractors will initiate work on a roundabout at the intersection of South Pinetree Boulevard and Magnolia Street beginning Monday, September 27th. City staff says that this phase of construction is projected to last five weeks.
According to Todd Powell, City Engineer, work will be conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. “The roundabout is a key component of the South Pinetree Boulevard project,” Powell said. “This stage of the project will include center island construction, asphalt roadway demolition, and new roadway construction.”
The work will require a temporary road closure for both westbound and eastbound traffic along South Pinetree Boulevard at the Magnolia Street intersection while the construction is completed. “During construction, only local traffic will be allowed along this corridor of South Pinetree Boulevard to the Magnolia Street intersection,” said Powell. “A detour for passenger cars and trucks will be provided along Fletcher, Augusta, and Orange Streets. This detour is not available for freight transfer trucks, who should be using the truck route along the 319 Bypass.” Travelers in this area are encouraged to use caution while using the detour, prepare for potential traffic delays, or select an alternate route.
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, roundabouts provide a reduced speed environment that offers substantial safety advantages and excellent performance in terms of traffic flow. “The GDOT Roundabout Design Guide tells us that roundabouts are environmentally friendly, reduce wear and tear on brakes, allow vehicles to use less gas, and are safer for pedestrians crossing the road,” said Powell. “The roundabout was a major factor in the approval of funding provided by GDOT for this project.”
“As the South Pinetree Boulevard improvement project enters this critical phase, we ask citizens to be mindful of their speed while traveling through the detours,” said Powell. “We are excited about the major enhancements this project will provide to the portion of the corridor stretching from West Jackson Street to Old Monticello Road.”
For more information about this project, please call the City of Thomasville’s Engineering Department at 229-227-7009.