Several conversations have taken place between local government officials and state elected officials about better safeguarding the motoring public along North Columbia Street in front of the Milledgeville Mall.
The talks have stretched out for decades, according to state Sen. Rick Williams (R-Milledgeville) who has personally been involved in the project for the past seven years.
“This goes back into the 1980s as far as talks go,” Williams said. “I began working on this myself when I first became a state representative several years ago and I’ve been involved in every since.”
Talks neither materialized nor produced the necessary funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to get another traffic signal installed in the area.
Williams said when he was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, he knew that trying to get a new traffic signal in that area was going to be one of his main priorities.
“I knew right away this was something that was needed to help reduce fatalities and serious vehicle crashes in this area,” Williams said. “I’ve seen some of the tragic accidents that have happened in this area over the years. My mother even had an accident here many years ago trying to get out of the mall.”
He said he never wavered in following through with a traffic signal in that area.
“A traffic signal has been needed in that area for many, many years, and I was determined to do everything I could do to see that it became a reality,” Williams said, noting since becoming state senator that he also had the support of State Rep. Ken Vance (R-Milledgeville).
The days, months, and years of talks of making such happen have ended.
A temporary traffic signal is now being installed along North Columbia Street in front of Mattress Firm and the driveway that…
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