SANDY SPRINGS, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The city of Sandy Springs and many of its residents say the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Spalding Drive is a major problem.
"Congestion and safety issues have been a problem for a long time," said Bryant Poole, the assistant city manager for the city of Sandy Springs.
"Cars don't stop at the stop sign, it's difficult to go left and right when people aren't stopping and at night I hear a lot of crashes," said Jody Nathan, who lives in the area.
City officials said there have been 17 accidents at the intersection over the last three years.
"There are curvatures in the road, there is a hill and the combination of both are contributing to problems at this intersection," Poole said.
City engineers have proposed several different plans to address the problem, but they have been widely criticized by many homeowners.
"They had a roundabout, they had all kinds of things that weren't going to work," said Frank Doherty, an area resident.
Three public meetings later, the city came up with a tentative plan and artist renderings of the changes.
"By having a traffic signal there it will help control and mitigate the congestion in the area and improve it. By lowering the grade of the road and improving the intersection, that will increase sight distance and safety," Poole said.
Although some homeowners like the plan, others remain unconvinced.
"It seems to make sense. It seems like the least work to be done with the current plan," Nathan said.
"I think it is going to make more trouble for a year than it's worth," said Rita Tuvlin, who lives in the area.
The city hopes to begin construction in early 2013 and finish 15 months later.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
