Loganville Takes Next Step Toward Safer Travel on Highway 78 |
Council’s 5–1 vote opens discussions with GDOT about medians, turn lanes and a possible new traffic signal. |
Turning left along one of Loganville’s busiest shopping corridors can mean waiting for an opening across several lanes of traffic. City leaders are now moving forward with discussions that could change how drivers enter and exit businesses along that stretch of U.S. Highway 78.
At its Sept. 10 meeting, the Loganville City Council voted 5–1 to formally pursue discussions with the Georgia Department of Transportation about safety improvements between Logan Drive and C.S. Floyd Road, according to reporting by Jim Thompson of The Walton Tribune, published by Monroe Local.
The vote advances the planning process. It does not establish a final road design or a construction start date.
The stretch under consideration serves restaurants, grocery stores and other retailers. Council discussions focused on reducing the risks associated with left turns across multiple lanes while improving access to those businesses.
Among the possibilities are a raised concrete median, designated left-turn lanes and a new traffic signal at the shopping center anchored by Publix. Changes to shopping-center parking lots and connections between businesses could help direct drivers toward the proposed signal, giving them a controlled location to turn left.
Councilman Bill DuVall, who chairs the council’s Transportation and Public Utilities committees, urged the city to keep the project moving. He said the corridor is already on GDOT’s list of potential projects, but continued inaction could put its place on that list at risk.
One possible arrangement would have Loganville pay for preliminary engineering work, with the state potentially funding construction. That approach remains a possibility rather than a confirmed funding commitment. DuVall also noted that GDOT had recommended a raised median during a 2019 review of the corridor.
The discussion highlighted a central challenge: reducing dangerous turning movements while preserving access for emergency vehicles.
Police Chief Dick Lowry supported efforts to limit left turns out of businesses, saying fewer of those movements would help reduce crashes. He acknowledged that a raised median could affect emergency response routes, while emphasizing that responders would still reach people needing help.
Councilman Wes Johnson, a captain with Walton County Fire and Rescue, cast the dissenting vote. His concerns included the effect a median and another traffic signal could have on emergency traffic. He also pointed to residential growth in Gwinnett County as a source of additional vehicles on an already busy highway.
Councilwoman Melanie Long questioned how much control Loganville would retain over the eventual design. DuVall said cooperation with GDOT would require a memorandum of understanding between the city and the state agency.
For residents and business owners, the decision marks an early step in a process that could eventually reshape access along the corridor. Details about turning locations, parking-lot connections and emergency access still need to be worked through.
Changes will not happen immediately. DuVall cautioned that construction could take as long as two years to begin once a project proposal is in place. |
34 Comments
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I wish there was better communication about when these changes might actually happen. Feels up in the air.
Anything that makes it safer for my kids to drive on 78, I support. Too many close calls already.
Remember when that part of 78 was quiet? Those days are gone with all this growth.
Why not try left-turn arrows before turning the road upside down?
Good idea to have a plan but please don’t overcomplicate things. Sometimes simple is best.
Sounds like a headache for someone on a fixed income. Gas isn’t getting cheaper with more traffic jams.
You raise a valid concern, traffic congestion and its impact on costs were part of the council’s discussion, and city leaders are looking for solutions that balance safety with access.
If it takes two more years, will those stores still hang in there? Foot traffic could drop if people can’t turn in easy.
I’ve seen a ton of fender benders by Taco Bell there. It’s about safety, not just convenience.
If they add a light, it should be timed right. Some in town take forever to turn green.
Great point, if a new traffic signal is added, proper timing will be essential to keep things moving smoothly along the corridor.
Glad to hear Melanie Long is asking questions. Loganville needs a say, not just the state.
Another median just means more drivers cutting through the parking lots. Watch out for that!
Hope small shops don’t get hurt by this. It can’t just be about Publix and Kroger.
Bill DuVall is right. If we wait, we’ll never get on GDOT’s list. Keep it moving!
Thanks for weighing in, Councilman DuVall stressed the importance of moving quickly so Loganville doesn’t lose its spot on GDOT’s project list.
Left turns are the worst but I don’t want to have to drive a mile to make a U-turn either!
Don’t mess up the parking lot connections. It already gets blocked up around Chick-fil-A.
Absolutely, improving parking lot flow and making sure connections aren’t blocked is on the agenda as part of the planning process.
Charity L.Totally agree. That whole stretch between Chick-fil-A and Publix gets chaotic as it is. Hope the city talks to business owners before making changes.
I live nearby and more apartments are coming. It’s only going to get busier. Planning ahead is smart.
You’re right, with more residential growth expected, planning ahead now should help address increasing traffic challenges along Highway 78.
Didn’t GDOT suggest changes years ago? Why is it taking so long?
Two years just to get started? Guess I’ll keep dodging traffic for a while.
We hear you, DuVall cautioned that it could take up to two years after approval just to break ground, so any changes will take time to roll out.
My son works at Publix. I worry about him leaving late and having to deal with crazy traffic. A new light is a good idea.
Glad Chief Lowry is looking out for safety, but what about business access? Seems like some stores could get cut off.
I avoid shopping there because getting back on 78 is a nightmare. Maybe this will help.
Hope they think about emergency vehicles. We don’t need to make those response times worse.
Emergency access is definitely part of the conversation. Both the Police Chief and Councilman Johnson emphasized the need to keep response times as quick as possible during these discussions.
Another traffic light? Feels like all we do is sit at red lights now.
So tired of nearly getting hit trying to make a left near Ingles. Raised median sounds good to me.
Safety at left turns is a major focus, and a raised median is one option under consideration to help prevent those close calls.
It's about time they did something about that stretch. I dread trying to get out of Walmart during rush hour.