VALDOSTA —
New traffic signals on Old Clyattville Road will hopefully stop motorists so that employees of the Langdale Company can cross the road safely.
The signals went operational this week, and there have already been several near misses as drivers become accustomed to them.
“We’ve had issues out there for some time, and the Langdale Company was very concerned about their employees walking across the road, and driving forklifts back and forth,” said Lowndes County Manager Joe Pritchard.
According to Pritchard, the Langdale Company paid for all the costs of the signals and the county assisted in supervising the design and installation on the county road.
“This was a great public/ private partnership,” Pritchard said.
Jim Hickman, the technical director for Langdale Forest Products, said the company has its manufacturing functions on one side of Old Clyattville Road, and the employee parking lot, along with the lumber shipping and maintenance areas, are on the opposite side.
“We estimated that there are 1,500 trips across the road every week. We have more than 200 employees walking back and forth to work, and our forklift drivers moving back and forth every day. About 20 percent of the traffic is log trucks that make that same trip from one side to the other daily, and they don’t have the ability to stop quickly,” he said.
Hickman said he could only remember one accident on the road, which happened several years ago and resulted in injuries, but said the near misses were occurring almost daily.
The speed limit on Old Clyattville Road is 30 miles per hour in that stretch, but not all drivers adhere to the speed limit.
The two cross walks are located a short distance apart at the two driveways.
Employees and vehicles trigger the signal lights located at each, which turn red for several seconds so traffic will stop and they can cross safely.
For the next few weeks, there will also be a flashing sign warning motorists of the new traffic signals.
Top News
Related Photos
-
A new set of traffic lights on Old Clyattville Road is designed to make crossing for Langdale employees much safer. Brandon Powers / VDT
Discussion
New signals in place
Company hopes traffic lights improve safety
-
-
Several Republicans weigh challenge to Barrow
Now that Rep. John Barrow has turned down a campaign for the U.S. Senate, the challenge ahead for the Deep South’s last white Democratic congressman will be to defy the odds a second time by winning re-election in an eastern Georgia district that was drawn to ensure his defeat.
-
‘Trek’ does $70.6M but falls short of studio hopes
“Star Trek: Into Darkness” has warped its way to a $70.6 million domestic launch from Friday to Sunday, though it’s not setting any light-speed records with a debut that’s lower than the studio’s expectations.
-
Syrian troops push into strategic rebel-held town
Syrian troops pushed into a rebel-held town near the Lebanese border on Sunday, fighting house-to-house and bombing from the air as President Bashar Assad tried to strengthen his grip on a strategic strip of land running from the capital to the Mediterranean coast.
-
Taylor Swift wins 8 trophies at Billboard Awards
Another day, another domination for Taylor Swift: She was the red hot winner at the Billboard Music Awards.
-
Tornadoes level homes in Okla., 21 injured
One of several tornadoes that touched down Sunday in Oklahoma turned homes in a trailer park near Oklahoma City into splinters and rubble and sent frightened residents along a 100-mile corridor scurrying for shelter.
-
Ticket for record Powerball jackpot sold in Florida town
Some lucky person walked into a Publix supermarket in suburban Florida over the past few days and bought a ticket now worth an estimated $590.5 million — the highest Powerball jackpot in history.
-
Today in History for Monday, May 20, 2013
Today is Monday, May 20, the 140th day of 2013. There are 225 days left in the year.
-
Official: Broken rail eyed in Conn. train crash
The commuter train derailment and collision that left dozens injured outside New York City was not the result of foul play, officials said Saturday, but a fractured section of rail is being studied to determine if it is connected to the accident.
-
FBI searches apartment in ricin letter case
Authorities in hazardous materials suits searched a downtown Spokane apartment Saturday, investigating the recent discovery of a pair of letters containing the deadly poison ricin.
-
Up to 60 injured after car drives into Va. parade
An elderly driver plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Saturday parade in a small Virginia mountain town and investigators were looking into whether he suffered a medical emergency before the accident.
- More Top News Headlines
-
