A construction crew creates an additional lane at the intersection of Alabama state Route 165 and 101st Airborne Division Road in Fort Mitchell Feb. 6. The project aims to reduce traffic backups by creating a separate right turn lane and merge lane o...

FORT BENNING, Ga., (Feb. 11, 2015) -- Those commuting through the back gate headed to Fort Mitchell, Alabama, will soon have relief from traffic backup as the Directorate of Public Works continues to widen the intersection at Alabama state Route 165 and 101st Airborne Division Road.

"Presently, 101st Airborne Division Road has only one lane for traffic exiting Fort Benning. The result is a significant backup of traffic exiting Fort Benning from 101st Airborne Division Road onto state Route 165 during the peak hour in the afternoon," said Doug Saylor, chief of the Engineering Design Branch for DPW. "Constructing two lanes to separate the left and right turning traffic will reduce the delay caused by the backup, thereby reducing driver anxiety and tendency for taking high risk turns."

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of February, will create a separate right-turn lane on 101st Airborne Division Road, along with a separate acceleration lane on state Route 165 and a separate merge lane on 101st Airborne Division Road. The merge lane will allow traffic turning left from southbound state Route 165 onto 101st Airborne Division Road without waiting for the right turning traffic coming from northbound state Route 165, he said.

Saylor said there is also significant backup of left turning traffic on southbound state Route 165 to east bound 101st Airborne Division Road during the morning peak hours due to traffic waiting from the opposite direction turning right onto 101st Airborne Division Road. Although northbound state Route 165 has a separate deceleration lane, both the left turning and right turning traffic must share one lane on 101st Airborne Division Road.

Members of the community expressed concerns about traffic backup at the intersection during a virtual town hall, hosted by the garrison commander in October.

Saylor said drivers should continue to travel with caution during the construction.

"Motorists must be mindful and drive slowly, safely and be prepared to stop," he said. "After construction, drivers should find turning movements flowing more smoothly with the addition of turning and merge lanes. But as always, drivers are reminded that those in the main traffic lanes have the right of way."