Thursday, April 25, 2019

News 12 at 6 o'clock/NBC at 7

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- A 5-year long project on Windsor Spring Road has finally come to an end. Windsor Spring Road now has 4 lanes from Tobacco Road all the way to Hephzibah.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office says this is one of their busier intersections. They've responded to 77 crashes here since the beginning of 2018.

Now you can see where the work started to make Windsor Spring Road four lanes and G-DOT says that should make things a lot safer.

State House Representative Gloria Frazier has watched south Augusta grow, with more new homes and more cars using these roads.

“I was house number 16 and now we have over 1600 homes there so you can imagine how the traffic is now," said Frazier.

For the last 20 years, she's worked with G-DOT to widen Windsor Spring Road and today that mission is complete. Windsor Spring Road is now 4 lanes, all the way to Hephzibah, making the drive safer.

“Going from 2 lanes during some of those busy times you're able to separate those left turners, where you're not having folks run into the back of each other," said Frazier.

G-DOT says not only will the extra lanes help, but medians will also make a difference.

“You've got median cuts where they're needed so that’s just gonna funnel and channel that traffic flow where it needs to go in the safest possible angle and also the safest possible directions we definitely think it will reduce crashes,” said Frazier.

And a few more additions make it safer for pedestrians too.

“Also redoing and realigning the intersections as well and adding some traffic signals in certain locations, redoing bridges, also have the multiuse trail so just a lot not only for cars but also pedestrians and bicyclists that make this community a lot safer," said Frazier.

It's a project that's been a long time coming and one Frazier hopes brings growth.

“This is just absolutely amazing, we have waited for this for so long because we know the growth potential here on the south side and so we want to be a part of that," said Frazier.

This intersection and more down Windsor Spring Road are also tied into the traffic management center, so the city will be watching them, adjusting traffic lights if needed and emergency vehicles can notify them if they are coming this way. They can also turn the lights green to make their response time faster.