The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has announced that it will convert the intersection of State Route 37 and Thigpen Trail in Colquitt County to a four-way stop. This change is intended to improve safety at the location.
A project to install a roundabout at this intersection remains in development, with bidding expected to open in the summer of 2026. In the meantime, GDOT is taking interim measures by implementing the four-way stop following reports of crashes at the site.
GDOT workers are scheduled to be on site Tuesday, August 12, weather permitting. The work is expected to be completed within one day. Motorists are advised to slow down when approaching the area and allow crews space to work safely.
For drivers on SR 37, who previously did not have a stop requirement at this intersection, there will be several new features: three sets of rumble strips as vehicles approach; double advanced warning signs with flashing amber beacons; and double stop signs with flashing red beacons. On Thigpen Trail, new 48-inch diameter stop signs with mounted flashing red beacons will also be installed.
“Stop signs are a tool, but they rely on drivers to slow down as they approach the intersection and obey the stop signs,” said Traffic Engineer Randy Rathburn.
The department provided a reminder for motorists about four-way stops: vehicles arriving first proceed first; if multiple vehicles arrive simultaneously, those on the right have the right of way.
The Georgia Department of Transportation states its commitment “to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment.”
