Trucks in the Ponce/Scott Triangle
Decatur Metro | September 12, 2008Two folks have recently written in asking about what’s with all the trucks/equipment in the Ponce/Scott triangle.
Well, having been a victim of redirection in the late night hours, I actually have an answer!
Its all DOT equipment being used to resurface Scott Boulevard in the overnight hours. A letter from the DOT on the city’s website also talks about repaving Ponce from Moreland to N Druid too. I wonder if that’s a separate project, or if they just over-generalized and just called Scott from Ponce to N. Druid, “Ponce”. Because correct me if I’m wrong…Scott is the only state route inside the city limits.
I’m surprised that the DOT can just up and park there too, but maybe its their property or somethin’.
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I know College Avenue (278) is a state route. And I gotta assume the current owners of the triangle property are getting a nice little overnight parking stipend…
Ooohh…a parking stipend! Maybe they’d like to park on MY lawn!?
Hope they don’t kill too much of the parched grass…
You were correct. The project involves Scott Boulevard from Decatur east to N. Druid Hills and not Ponce de Leon as it splits and enters the City of Decatur. The triangle is actually owned by DeKalb County.
Thanks, Decatur Metro, for checking this out. I have an eagle-eye view of the heavy equipment from my dining room window. I hope the work doesn’t take too long. I guess roads need maintenance and they have to put the equipment somewhere. It would probably be more accurate to say the work is being performed on Highway 78, which runs along Ponce and Scott.
Department of Transportation
State of Georgia
No. 2 Capitol Square, S.W.
Dear Community Partner,
I am pleased to advise you of an upcoming resurfacing project planned in your area. The Georgia Department of Transportation will resurface and restripe both northbound and southbound lanes for 5.7 miles of Ponce de Leon Avenue starting at Moreland Avenue and ending at North Druid Hills Road.
This maintenance work is necessary due to the wear and tear caused by heavy traffic on this corridor. Approximately 31,000 motorists use this road daily.
Preliminary work on the project began July 17. Within the next week, you will see heavier roadwork equipment move in. Work on this project will take place on Sundays through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. This work schedule during non-peak travel is set to minimize the impact on traffic. Georgia DOT contractors will complete the work in 2-mile segments and will not work on weekends or holidays. The project is scheduled to be complete by early fall. For additional information, please contact Rick Parham in our Division of Communications at 404-631-1829.
It is important for motorists to use caution when traveling through a work zone. Signs will be posted alerting drivers of the work zone area. Please note that speed limits in a work zone are reduced and enforced. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone.
We appreciate you, our Community Partners, for your efforts to help us disseminate this information to your employees, members, customers and neighbors. Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this or any other construction project on interstates and state routes. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures and delays due to inclement weather. Callers can also transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www511ga.org.
The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment. For general information on the Georgia DOT, please visit our Web site (www.dot.ga.gov).
Sincerely,
Bryant Poole
Metro Atlanta District Engineer
My recollection is that it wasn’t that long ago that the City of Atlanta portion of Ponce was resurfaced. It was when they dug up the old granite gutters and reset them with new granite and I think installed lamp posts and trees too thru the Olmstead Parkway section. It looks like DOT is going to resurface that whole section once more. I really am surprised because that section of road seemed to be very nice and smooth. I am wondering what are the criteria that the DOT uses for when a highway or road needs to be resurfaced?
“Because correct me if I’m wrong…Scott is the only state route inside the city limits.”
Clairemont/Commerce/S Candler is State Route 155.
I agree with tpreed…compared to many other “state roads” within our county, Ponce is in good shape.
Yeah, good point Tpreed. They just repaved Ponce a couple years ago when they widened it a foot or so over by the Olmsted parks. So then why is the DOT repaving a perfectly good road when they’ve already over-committed statewide to the tune of $3 billion?
Maybe we don’t have the whole story…or maybe the DOT doesn’t like to use the proper street names, since they’ve already referred to Scott as “Ponce between Moreland and N. Druid”. Or maybe they’re just living up to their name as a poorly run state agency.
The Georgia DOT has long been a welfare agency for the road builders.