New Avondale Estates traffic-calming project draws criticism from residents

AVONDALE ESTATES, Ga. - City leaders in Avondale Estates are trying something new to slow down traffic on neighborhood streets.

A temporary traffic-calming project city leaders hoped would slow drivers down and deter them from using those streets to avoid ongoing construction has drawn criticism from some residents.

"It’s unusual," resident Kathy Duprey told FOX 5.

Mayor Jonathan Elmore says added stop bars and signs, painted lines to make streets feel narrower, and white wave delineators installed to act as dedicated bike lanes are all part of the traffic-calming measures that went up on South Avondale and Kensington Roads in mid-December.

"It’s in anticipation of cars cutting through the neighborhood due to construction on U.S. Route 278. It’s also to address speeding that our citizens have complained about for years. They don’t want their kids playing near the street. They don’t want to walk near the street," Elmore said.

Resident Kathy Duprey tells FOX 5 she believes what’s in place now has made it difficult for drivers to follow, and she’s concerned the changes may be more confusing than anything.

"Some of the white lines to direct traffic around some intersections are overextended to the point that it looks like there’s only one lane and there are actually two lanes at an intersection," Duprey explained.

Other residents shared concerns about the potential for accidents and the placement of stop signs at intersections during the city’s commission meeting on Dec. 11.

On Wednesday, board members held a work session to get feedback from the public and discuss solutions.

"This is a family neighborhood, and we want to keep people safe. They understand that. They just don’t quite like some of the particulars, but we’re gonna work that out," Elmore told FOX 5. 

While the mayor says the addition of stop signs has been well-received so far, some of the wave delineators and painted bulb-outs on Kensington at the Covington Highway intersection have already been removed for safety reasons, according to the city’s latest project update from Dec. 18. 

"Our intention is to improve safety," he stated.

Elmore says they’ll know more once they get the results of traffic studies the city has conducted in those areas.

During the meeting, City Manager Patrick Bryant said data they’ve been collecting on traffic patterns should be ready by Jan. 13. The city commission will discuss this again at its next meeting on Jan. 22.