The City is looking to improve safety and alleviate congestion in the southern portion of Birmingham Highway. And we want to hear from our citizens first before finalizing any productive plans.

To that end, all are invited to Community Place (the building next to City Hall at 2006 Heritage Walk) from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, for an open-door open house.

Those who have spent time driving on a weekday morning or mid-afternoon around State Route 372 near Milton High School, Northwestern Middle School, and Crabapple Crossing Elementary School know it is not always ideal. Traffic can get backed up (including to the Heritage Walk roundabout) to the frustration of drivers, while young walkers and bikers can face challenges safely reaching where they need to go. When it’s rainy or the weather is otherwise miserable, the traffic situation can get that much worse. Relieving congestion can also make it easier for firefighters, ambulance drivers, and police officers to respond promptly to emergencies.

For all these reasons, the City has made it a priority to see what can be done to make things better. Birmingham Highway is a State Route, giving the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) the ultimate control over the road and its future. We appreciate that GDOT has recognized these challenges and entrusted the City of Milton to take the lead in proposing improvements.

Earlier this year, the City used drones and other means to collect data on vehicular and pedestrian traffic in this area. This information, as well as other observations over the years, informed the “concept layout” seen at the bottom of this post. This layout remains very much preliminary, as citizens’ feedback could lead to changes, and there will be further coordination with Fulton County Schools. And ultimately, GDOT must review and approve the final version.

The September 18 open house is happening before the concept is finalized – a necessary step before design proceeds and any construction contract can be approved and work can begin. People can drop-in anytime in the two-hour window to view the concept up close, ask questions, and share their thoughts directly with project team members.

They can also learn more and pass along their opinions at www.miltonga.gov/BirminghamHighway. Scroll to the bottom of that page to see, and complete, the feedback submission form.

Especially if you can’t make the upcoming public outreach event, questions about this project can be directed to Rob Dell-Ross of Milton’s Public Works Department at robert.dell-ross@miltonga.gov.