Officials angered by DOT comments on Antioch Road/515 intersection

Ralph O. Dennis

Contributing writer

The Nelson City Council approved a new seal for the city at their called meeting Thursday, August 15. 

The old seal that had a depiction of the marble quarry in the center is gone. The new seal will have a depiction of two men facing each other with tools in their hands prying apart two blocks of marble. In the background is a mountain. This seal is more related to the “mill” in Nelson than the quarry in Tate. The council also adopted new signage for the city limits and the buildings.

photo/Angela Reinhardt

     The extended curb in the foreground, part of a larger GDOT project that brings new traffic signals and mast arms to two Jasper intersections, has made right-hand turns at this corner more difficult for larger vehicles. 

        Motorists in Jasper have likely noticed construction along Highway 53 Business at the intersections of Main Street and Sammy McGhee Blvd. where the Georgia Department of Transportation is installing new traffic signals and poles. 

The new mast arms will eliminate overhead wires at those intersections and, according to city leaders, create a more unified and appealing aesthetic in Jasper. Although the project is an initiative of GDOT, city leaders chose to pay additional fees to upgrade the mast arms.

       See full story in this week's print or online editions. 

GDOT responds to citizen concerns

Several RCUTs have already been installed and proven to be effective in 

reducing crashes at the intersections 

Photo/Angela Reinhardt

Work is still underway at the Highway 515/Antioch Road intersection, but should be wrapping up soon. 

Changes to Highway 515 at Antioch Church Road are 90 percent complete. The Georgia Department of Transportation anticipates the project will significantly reduce the number of crashes at that intersection. 

The state-funded project will bring an RCUT (also called a “U-Turn,” or “J-Turn) to the intersection. The design will change how traffic from a minor roadway (in this case Antioch Church Road) crosses a major highway (Highway 515). Antioch Road traffic will have to make a right-hand turn on the highway and use a U-turn located further down the highway to fully cross the

L to R: Tony Young, asst. superintendent; Rick Jasperse, state representative; Dr. Carlton Wilson, superintendent; Jennifer Halko, principal; Sonia Chapman, Ag Ed teacher; Tucker Green, board chairman; Donna Enis, board member; Tim Baisden, director of CTAE; Angela Kretschmar, assistant principal.

By Destini Shope

Director of Community Engagement

Pickens County Schools

Several members of the community, local dignitaries, Mrs. Phelps’ second grade students, kindergarten teachers and students, along with school and district leaders, gathered at the revived gazebo in the outdoor agriculture area of Hill City Elementary to kick-off the pilot agriculture program. The program at Hill City is one of 20 across the state. This year’s kindergarten students are the first to have agriculture education offered from their kindergarten through 12th grade school career.