Local & State Headlines

DOT set for ramp changes

• New exits from U.S. Highway 19 onto Moultrie Road should be open Thursday.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — Motorists exiting U.S. Highway 19 onto Moultrie Road will have new exits to take, thanks to Department of Transportation changes to the intersection’s on- and off-ramps.

The $6 million project means that motorists getting onto Georgia Highway 133 (or Moultrie Road) will have only two exits for west- and eastbound traffic instead of four, DOT Spokesman Craig Solomon said.

“We’ve got a weave situation down there where you’ve got on-ramps and off-ramps using the same lane,” he said. “So you’ve got cars trying to get to the right to get on their ramp and you’ve got cars” trying to merge into traffic at the same time from an off-ramp.

Exits 1A and 1B off of U.S. 19 will be permanently closed beginning Thursday, he said. There will be one exit for northbound and one exit for southbound traffic exiting onto Moultrie Road heading east or west, he said.

“It’s a cloverleaf interchange. Back when this intersection was built, this was the best design for that space,” he said. “We’re just changing the design to make it easier and better control the traffic out there.”

As part of the redesigned intersection, the DOT has installed traffic signals where the exits connect with Moultrie Road. These signals have been operating as flashing yellow lights since May 29, Solomon said.

The lights will begin operating as regular stop-and-go signals Thursday, he said.

One-day detour routes will be created as part of the transition to the new ramps, Soloman said. The DOT will also mill and resurface the roads as part of the project. The project has been in progress for about 10 months, Solomon said.

Motorists can call 511 or visit http://www.511ga.org for free updates on interstate or state routes.

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