Peach Tree Times

Drivers in Dougherty and Lee counties will soon have a new route option with the opening of the Westover Boulevard Extension. The extension, which connects North Westover Boulevard near Albany Mall to Ledo Road, is set to open on Tuesday, March 4. This development includes Albany's first roundabout at the intersection of the Boulevard and the extension.

The Westover Boulevard Extension aims to alleviate congestion and reduce crash frequency on Nottingham Way, previously the sole corridor between north Albany and Ledo Road. A local Metropolitan Planning Organization study in the early 2000s recommended constructing an alternate route near Nottingham Way.

Unlike Nottingham Way, which crosses over US 82/State Route (SR) 520/Liberty Expressway, traffic on the new extension will travel underneath it. This necessitated building two bridges on the Expressway. Temporary lanes were used during construction to avoid detours until traffic could be shifted back onto the Expressway after bridge completion.

In 2015, while developing this project, Albany City Commission decided to build a roundabout at North Westover Boulevard and the extension as a safer alternative than signals for controlling traffic. This decision was based on information from Georgia Department of Transportation.

According to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), roundabouts significantly reduce severe crashes compared to intersections with stop signs or traffic signals due to fewer conflict points among vehicles. Traffic moves in one direction at slower speeds in roundabouts, minimizing severe injuries from potential crashes while maintaining efficient flow.

Navigating a roundabout involves simple rules: vehicles inside have right of way without stopping; drivers entering should yield by looking left before safely proceeding into it. More information about roundabouts can be found at https://www.dot.ga.gov/GDOT/pages/Roundabouts.aspx.

Construction of this approximately $25 million Georgia DOT project began in fall 2022 and includes preliminary engineering costs along with right-of-way purchases plus construction expenses managed by Oxford Construction Co.

Georgia Department of Transportation remains committed towards providing safe transportation systems supporting both state economy alongside citizen welfare/environmental sensitivity.