The 54-74 intersection.  New drivers fear it, seasoned drivers dislike it, and other drivers of varying persuasions take seemingly more time-consuming alternate routes to avoid sitting in this intersection.  At least one citizen has been heard referring to it as “the black hole.”  As we all know, this area is one of the main- if not the main- traffic hubs of Peachtree City, acting as one of the city’s primary connectors to Fairburn, Fayetteville, and Sharpsburg (and, by extension, Coweta County as a whole).  This effect is exacerbated by the fact that the intersection is located right next to multiple major shopping centers.  If nothing else, this intersection unites all Fayette County residents- young and old, conservative and liberal, pickleball-player and pickleball-hater- in mutual dislike.  But this may be about to change.

Upcoming improvements to the intersection will include displaced left-hand turn lanes, intended relieve left hand congestion at the signal.  Cars turning left off of 74 onto 54 will do so before they ever reach the light.  Representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOT) state that the intersection should be completed by the summer of 2026- barely over a year’s time.

According to an official press release from the Department of Transportation, a utility company has been pacing traffic over the past few days while they work on relocating utility lines for the project.  The intersection has been reduced to one lane going towards Coweta County, but according to department contact Gina Snider, “The current flagging lane closure is due to necessary utility relocation work and will last today until 10 am- 1 pm. If there is weather today and they don’t complete it will be the same tomorrow. However we think they will be complete today as everything seems to be on schedule.” 

Will this be the end of the greatest traffic congestion in Peachtree City?  Only time will tell.  What we do know is that it will be a drastic change, and one that will take getting used to, but the Department of Transportation is confident that it will reduce wait times and improve the flow of traffic in Fayette County.For further details on the project, check out the official project page on the DOT’s websit4e: https://sr-54-sr-74-updates-0013726-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/!