County Seeking Approval for Traffic Signal at Jim Moore and Hwy. 124

District 3 Commissioner Tommy Hunter is well aware of the traffic issue at the intersection of Jim Moore Road and Braselton Highway (Hwy. 124).

During his campaign, Hunter went door-to-door in Hamilton Mill and met with numerous residents who expressed concern about the heavily trafficked intersection.

Now, thanks to a funding realignment, Hunter is optimistic relief is on the way in the form of a traffic light, which will help residents safely exit the subdivision and turn across busy Braselton Highway.

"It'll be there soon," he said.

You might also be interested in reading:

• County: Transit Fares Should Cover a Third of Operating Costs
• I-85 HOT Lane Revenue Falls Short
• New Georgia Vehicle 'Title Tax' Takes Effect in March 2013

Hamilton Mill residents have long maintained that a traffic light should govern the intersection of Braselton Highway and Jim Moore Road not only for the safety of those exiting the subdivision, but also for the safety of those who use Duncan Creek Park.

In 2010, 13-year-old Dakota Wilson of Auburn was killed while attempting to cross Braselton Highway at Jim Moore Road. Park visitors frequently crossed the busy five-lane section of roadway to reach the convenience store at the corner of Jim Moore Road. Three months after Wilson's death, the to direct pedestrian traffic one block north to the intersection of Braselton Highway and Pine Road, which is governed by a traffic light.

Now, more than two years after the completion of the fence, the long-awaited traffic light may finally be installed.

In an email to Dacula Patch, Gwinnett County Traffic Engineering and Planning Division Director Charles Bailey said the light installation project was one of the "shovel-ready" projects for which the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners reallocated Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds during the Jan. 15 commission meeting.

"We are currently working with and will be submitting plans to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to obtain the necessary permits and approval for the installation of a traffic signal," Bailey wrote.  Braselton Highway is a state route any additions or changes must be approved and permitted by GDOT, he explained. 

According to Bailey, if the project is approved and permitted, work could begin in summer 2013. 

Will this project help traffic in the Hamilton Mill area? Let us know in the comments.