A traffic signal could be in place at the intersection of Roberson Mill Road-Highway 441 Bypass & Garrett Way as soon as October, according to officials with the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The GDOT is currently in the middle of a $630,433.80 intersection improvement project at that location that will result in an upgrade of water and sewer pipes, a partial sidewalk for pedestrians and a traffic light that would all assist with the large amount of traffic which flows through the intersection each day, GDOT spokesman Mark D. McKinnon said.

“The contractor, Fowler Precast, started pipe work March 25,” McKinnon wrote in an e-mail to The Union-Recorder.

“I can tell you that a signal is included in the Roberson Mill Road/Garrett Way intersection improvement project. The project completion date is Oct. 31.”

When a light is placed at the intersection it will make the third traffic light in an estimated mile and a half of roadway.

A traffic light already exists by the Milledgeville Mall and the Roberson Mill Road and North Columbia Street intersection, while another traffic signal is active at the Highway 22 and Roberson Mill/U.S. Highway 441 bypass.

The Garrett Way and Roberson Mill Road intersection has been a hot topic of discussion in the community for the past few years as accidents have increased in frequency at the site and more and more drivers have exhibited risky behavior when attempting to turn left from Garrett Way at the location.

Milledgeville resident Anthony Scott passes through the intersection almost daily.

The intersection has the potential for safety risks and accidents without a light, according to Scott.

“I think a light at the intersection will be helpful. I think it’ll help with some of the backup at Garrett Way and will make the intersection safer,” Scott said.

His observation is valid — at any given time of day, an average of three to four cars can be viewed in the left turn lane of Garrett Way waiting for cross-traffic from the Highway 441-Roberson Mill northbound lanes to clear while at the same time keeping a careful eye on the traffic moving southbound from the direction of North Columbia Street and the Milledgeville Mall.

If a traffic signal is eventually implemented to assist with the flow of traffic, drivers could experience shorter wait times and less tension behind the wheel while businesses in the area could see a change in the amount of traffic and customers coming to their locations.

The Garrett Way/Roberson Mill Road intersection includes two gas stations, a restaurant, a paint store and a Dollar General store, among others.

While few were willing to give a comment on the record regarding the possibilities a traffic signal could bring, an employee of Fishing Creek Outfitters, which overlooks a driveway that bleeds into Roberson Mill Road, did provide his thoughts on how the business could see a difference if the flow of traffic was changed near the intersection.

“I’m glad to see a light will be going there. I’ve seen a lot of accidents at that location,” Fishing Creek employee John Cannon said. “I think it will help our business in the long run. It can be hard to get in and leave our driveway sometimes, especially when traffic is heavy during the day.”