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This could have waited until the Walton Way construction work was done. There is enough congestion as it is without having to deal with this at the same time!!!
More roadwork at Medical College of Georgia Hospital will shut down a lane on Harper Street.
As part of a planned renovation and expansion of the hospital's emergency department, one lane of traffic has been shifted into the median along Harper Street near the construction, said MCG Hospital spokeswoman Denise Parrish. This leaves one lane of traffic each way but eliminates the center turning lane for the duration of the 10-month project.
"There's still two lanes operating," said Ms. Parrish. "That's the bottom line."
To mitigate any traffic problems, Ms. Parrish said the hospital will have signs and officers directing during peak times. The hospital will also be providing free valet service for patients.
The work is the second large traffic shift that MCG Hospital's patients and employees have had to contend with in the past month.
On July 27, work crews from the Georgia Department of Transportation shut down Walton Way from New Bailie Street to 13th Street as part of the extension of St. Sebastian Way.
Detours for the closure have funneled drivers into the city's medical center, increasing the traffic on the small two-lane roads that crisscross the complex.
"It's not ideal, certainly," said Rich Bias, senior vice president for the ambulatory and network services at MCG Hospital. "The four-month shutdown on Walton (Way), as far as this project goes, could have been at a better time. But each party has to deal with the construction schedules they've had."
The lane closure should not disrupt Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center traffic because drivers can use the center lane section that's not closed to turn into their parking lots, Mr. Bias said.
"I really don't think it is going to be any worse than it is right now" Mr. Bias said. "It's just confusing because of the detours we've got working."
Janice Kennedy, spokeswoman for the VA Center, said patients can still access parking from Harper Street but when exiting can no longer turn left onto the road.
VA patients should also allow extra time to get to appointments because of the congestion, she said.
Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3338 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
This could have waited until the Walton Way construction work was done. There is enough congestion as it is without having to deal with this at the same time!!!
As of today, the road has not been closed down like described. I have been told that the city has changed their mind on the closing of the land and taken back their permission. I do not see why the Walton Way project should stop this closing. It is two seperate paths of travel.
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