Avalon City Officials Stalled on Enforcing New Road Moratorium

The City of Avalon continues to work on how it will enforce a moratorium on public traffic on New Road.

Avalon City Commissioner Clint Craven said Tuesday, the commission as a group is working on getting signage to put at the intersection of New Rd and Tower Rd informing motorists that the road is temporarily blocked and the reason for it.

The commission voted May 21st to approve a four-month moratorium on the use of New Rd by the general public.

During the moratorium only those who live on New Road between Tower Road and the new Highway 17, also known as the Currahee Parkway, will be allowed to use it.

Avalon took possession of New Road, in May of 2017, from the County to try and resolve the problem of increased traffic.

According to Avalon city officials, motorists began using New Road shortly after the new Highway 17 opened because Georgia DOT crews put up barriers at the intersection of 17 and Gumlog Road preventing left turns or traveling across to Old Highway 17.

When lake visitors and others learned they could make a left turn onto the Currahee Parkway from New Road, word quickly spread and traffic on the little rural road increased dramatically.

Last year, a traffic study ordered by the Stephens County Commission found that over a 3-day period there were 600 vehicles using New Road as a cut through to the Currahee Parkway.

On one day alone that included 44 18-wheelers.

Avalon City attorney John Dickerson said New Road wasn’t equipped to handle that kind of traffic.

During the moratorium, City officials are hoping to work with G-DOT engineers to develop a plan to stop the heavy traffic.