Roundabout proposal at busy Savannah intersection gets warm response

Jennifer Rachlin was one of the first to turn up at the open house the Chatham County engineering department hosted this week to introduce to the public plans for a new roundabout at the intersection of LaRoche, Jasmine and Livingston Avenues.

Standing in front one of three large exhibits showing the proposed location for the new, five-leg roundabout, the right-of-way planned for purchase and the direction of traffic, Rachlin peppered the nearest county representative with questions - how much would the project cost? Would the county regularly maintain the new roundabout? How long would it take?

The project's manager, Jeremy Mitchler, a civil engineer with the Chatham County engineering department, responded effortlessly. The roundabout, proposed to replace the existing traffic signals at the intersection of the three streets, is estimated to cost between $400,000 and $600,000, he said.

Once constructed, it will be up to Chatham County Public Works to maintain the feature and the surrounding vegetation.

Mitchler said that once construction begins, which could be as early as next year, it could take about six months to complete.

Rachlin seemed convinced.

"It seems fine," she said. "I think improvements are always a good idea."

Rachlin's acceptance of the proposal was echoed by several others who arrived at the open house during the first hour Tuesday.

Tommy Odom, who owns commercial property adjacent to the intersection, says the project will require a small section of right-of-way to be shaved off his land, but he doesn't mind. Some day, Odom said, he'd like to build something new on the property beyond what exists there today. Having a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing intersection could only help in that effort, he said.

Although Odom initially thought the improvement project unnecessary - he said he's seen only one fender bender at the intersection during the entire length of the time he's owned property there - he said he was coming away from the open house this week in support of the project.

Chatham County Commissioner Tony Center, who represents the area designated for the improvement project, said Tuesday he was pleased with the response from most of those he spoke with at the open house. It was a very different reaction from the crowds at open houses for other roundabout projects, he said, where residents packed the room and spoke adamantly against the concept.

That's not to say everyone was on board with the newest proposal this week.

Nathan and Penny Stone, who live near the LaRoche/Jasmine intersection, said they feared that installing a roundabout in the area would only encourage the county to construct more of these features in other areas.

"The purpose is somewhat unclear," Nathan Stone said. "We're skeptical. The economy of such a structure is questionable."

Assistant County Engineer Suzanne Cooler said Tuesday that the purpose of the project was to provide operational safety improvements.

"It'll improve the flow, as well as safety," she said.

Cooler said Chatham County will pay for the intersection improvement using funds set aside in the special purpose local option sales tax collected from 2008 to 2014.

Chatham County originally budgeted $11.6 million in SPLOST V for road improvements in the unincorporated county, an amount that was eventually reduced after collections came in at less than anticipated.

More information about Chatham County's LaRoche/Jasmine intersection improvement project can be found online at http://engineering.chathamcounty.org.