To the editor:

To the person who commented Sunday in My Two Cents regarding TSPLOST and the lack of “fatalities” at the intersection of County Line and Old Macon Road in Orchard Hill.

From the Griffin Daily News, April 10, 2008. Mary Johnson, 65, was killed as she attempted to cross over Old Macon Road from County Line. One fatality is one too many.

Since that time, a number of accidents have taken place.

Two separate accidents have involved personal acquaintances. One involved our son’s sixth grade teacher, and the other sent a teenager to Grady via life-flight on the night of her senior prom in May 2010. We see wreckage from other accidents at this intersection on a regular basis.

The police have recommended controls at this intersection. In addition, in 2009, a study with the Georgia DOT was done. Mike England, traffic engineer, states “our study conclusions were that a multi-way stop installation was recommended for this intersection.” The Orchard Hill mayor and the Spalding County offices were sent letters informing them of this decision.

We have seen the proposed costs for these modifications — $960,000. For two stop signs? We were under the impression that each stop sign, similar to those on South Sixth Street and County Line, costs approximately $1,800. Other improvements may need to be made, but blinking stops signs have made our travels on South 6th Street and County Line Road much safer, and less stressful. We ask for the same at County Line and Old Macon Road



Jim and Trish Barlow

Griffin