WRENS, Ga. (WFXG) - Construction began Monday on a project aimed at improving safety at a very dangerous Jefferson County intersection.

Due to the high volume of crashes at the intersection, Georgia Department of Transportation's long-term solution is a roundabout. In the meantime, a reduced conflict u-turn will serve as an interim solution.

However, those who live nearby worry this temporary solution could do more harm than good.

“We've got two ambulances in the county and one’s out here two or three times a week,“ Lenny Hobbs says.

FOX54 first told you back in April about residents like Lenny Hobbs voicing safety concerns surrounding the intersection of Highway 88 and 296, just outside of Wrens.

“We either need a roundabout or...blinking red lights, stop ahead," he says. "Simple, less expensive tax payer dollars, $200,000 vs. $25,000.“

But, Georgia DOT says construction on a roundabout is still several years away and they can't afford to wait that long.

“We do have those rumble strips down there, we’ve got the flashing lights, multiple stop ahead signs on 296," Will Volk, District 2 Communications Specialist, says. "But, we’re at the point now where we have to do more, we can’t just wait for that roundabout to be completed.“

In the meantime, work has started on a reduced conflict u-turn designed to prevent vehicles traveling on 296 from turning left or going straight through the intersection. Instead, all vehicles will turning right on to SR 540 with the option to make a safe u-turn a short distance away. Vehicles traveling on SR 540 can still turn left onto either direction of SR 296 utilizing a new concrete median.

“I’ve been in the grading and paving business for over 30 years and this has got to be the dumbest DOT explanation of a project I have ever seen," Hobbs says. "It makes entirely no sense.“

Georgia DOT believes the RCUT design should make it safer for drivers.

“Rcuts are proven to work," Volk says. "There’s a federal highway administration study that actually says in intersections like this, it cuts down severe crashes by more than 50%. So, we believe it’s going to be a great solution in the interim here.“

But, Hobbs fears there will still be high speed collisions. “I hate to say it but, I just see cars running under 18 wheelers constantly. And I hope it doesn’t happen, I hope nobody gets hurt.“

Georgia DOT is reminding those traveling in the area to expect temporary lane closures near the intersection. Weather permitting, construction should be complete by August 2024.

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