Avalon’s elected officials continue discussion of New Road, tonight

As previously reported, the City of Avalon continues to work on how to enforce a 120-day moratorium, adopted in May, that prohibits public traffic on New Road.

The Avalon City Commission will hold a meeting tonight, at 7:30 p.m., to discuss both old and new business regarding New Road.

At the last Avalon City Commission meeting, in June, City Commissioner Clint Craven said the commission as a group were working on getting signage to put at the intersection of New Road and Tower Road informing the motorists that the road is temporarily blocked and the reason for it.

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 Commissioner Roger Craven, ever since the completion of Hwy 17, New Road has become a cut-through for Gumlog Road motorists and trucks wanting to make a left onto the new 17.

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 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, and poses a safety issue to motorists and residents.

Again, the meeting will be held tonight, at 7:30 p.m. at the Avalon City Hall, located on the corner of Hwy 17 and Sisk Road.