Construction has begun on a passing lane on U.S. Highway 78 at the intersection with Arnoldsville Road that will give vehicles traveling east room to pass those turning left. The projected cost is $134,156.50 and is funded by the state.
Work started on March 20 and should be completed by the end of June, a Georgia Department of Transportation spokesman said.
Construction crews are laying rocks, and will begin paving and striking the road.
“Like always, though, if people are approaching the work area and they see workers out there, they need to slow down and give them space,” said Will Volk, a GDOT spokesman.
This “quick response project” aims to improve the flow of traffic and promote safety by preventing backups, he said.
Volk said GDOT identified the need for the project based on crashes along that stretch. There were 14 accidents at the intersection from 2019-2023, according to GDOT.
GDOT traffic count data shows elevated traffic along U.S. 78 at the intersection with Arnoldsville Road.
The annual average daily traffic count was around 9,950 vehicles in 2023, which increased to 11,600 after driving through downtown Crawford.