Greenville city leaders think it’s about time Augusta Street went on a diet.
🚘 Improving traffic safety on Augusta Street ➡️ On Sunday, crews worked overnight to create a "road diet" by re-striping a one-mile section between Augusta Place and Crystal Avenue, reducing Augusta from four lanes to three. pic.twitter.com/p88BHII5d6
— City of Greenville (@CityGreenville) March 22, 2022
However, that won’t include a trip to the gym. Phase 1 of the plan is to reduce Augusta Street from four lanes to three between Augusta Place and Crystal Avenue. The idea is to create two lanes of traffic going in either direction and a center lane for turning left without blocking traffic. The center lane will also create a place for cars turning left from side roads to wait before merging into Augusta traffic. Work begins the night of March 21 between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. and lane closures will be required, the city said. The project should take five to seven nights to complete, the city said.
City leaders believe the project will increase safety by lowering speeds and improving sight distance for vehicles turning off side roads. The project came from public input meetings last summer and fall, with more than 100 residents providing input. Residents suggested the road diet by about 2-1 over the next most popular idea, a roundabout.
Phase 2 is under consideration and could include a full streetscape project. That would include installation of multi-use paths, access management improvements, landscaping, utility underground work, repaving and traffic signal upgrades. The design could come as early as the first quarter of 2022 and begin construction in the third quarter of 2023.
