Page 37 - Fayette County NCG

City Updates

Woolsey Woolsey’s other major activity is the awarded a $300,000 matching grant for
Woolsey bills itself as a place “where start of restoration work on the historic the project.
life is slower and simpler.” The tiny Woolsey Church. Another cooperative Once finished, the historic structure will
municipality is proud to be the smallest effort, the town is working with Friends of serve as a community and cultural center.
and quietest town in Fayette County. It’s Historic Woolsey, Inc., a registered non- It will be available for use by all the Fayette
also the second-oldest city in Fayette,
profit managing the effort. The Fayette County community, not just Woolsey,
Fayetteville being the oldest. Maintaining
County Development Authority (FCDA) Laggis said.
its rural charm is important, but projects
and progress are afoot.
Mayor Gary Laggis was elected in
1988, making “long-term mayor” an
apt description. He shared news of a
transportation project in the works for
Woolsey. Funded by SPLOST (special
purpose local options sales tax dollars),
the Town of Woolsey – in cooperation with
Fayette County and Croy Engineering – is
working on a traffic solution that will mean
“a good bit of change right in the heart of
town,” Laggis said.
Because of car accidents and traffic
issues, the intersection of Hwy. 92 and
Hampton Road will get a much-needed
upgrade. During morning and evening
rush hours, traffic backs up at the
dog-leg where Hampton Road North
meets Hwy. 92, and then, near the
Chevron convenience store, where
Hampton Road South goes toward
Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The county will work with the Georgia
Department of Transportation (GDOT),
as Hwy. 92 is a state highway. Already
approved by county commissioners,
pre-construction steps are in progress
including right-of-way purchases.
The construction start date is to be
determined but, at completion, that
intersection will feature a new single-lane
roundabout with a southbound bypass
lane. There will also be a new, left-turn
traffic signal where the town hall is at Hwy.
92 and Hampton Road.
Laggis said when the idea was first
mentioned years ago, the community
response was “Do we really need a
roundabout in downtown Woolsey?”
Traffic has gotten so bad, Laggis said he
now hears, “When are we going to get
that roundabout?”
“We’re excited about it,” the mayor said.
“Do we want it? No, but we need it.”

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