Commissioners amend county speed zones; state highways remain subject to GDOT approval
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Summary
Burke County commissioners approved changes to local speed zone regulations including making 4 Points Road 45 mph along its length; county staff and the attorney clarified that speed changes on state highways must be implemented by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).
Burke County commissioners approved the second reading of Ordinance 25-2, amending the county’s speed zone regulations, and added language to allow the county ordinance to mirror any future GDOT reductions on state highways.
At the meeting the chair proposed setting the entire length of 4 Points Road from Story Mill to Old Waynesboro Road to 45 mph and asked that the change be placed on the record. “I had several calls asking if we could reduce that and just make it 45 on the whole road,” the chair said during the second reading. Commissioners also discussed a request to reduce a section near Ashton Village where a Dollar General is being built; staff and the attorney noted that portion is a state highway and the county cannot unilaterally change a state-owned route.
County legal counsel recommended language that would make the county ordinance take effect locally “if and when” GDOT lowers the posted speed on a state route, so that the county would not need to run a second reading if GDOT changed a speed on its roads. “It would go into effect your local ordinance would mirror if they make that change, but it wouldn’t happen until they do that,” the attorney said.
Commissioner Braswell moved to adopt the ordinance with amendments to mirror any GDOT speed reductions; Commissioner Lively seconded. The motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.
The ordinance also includes school-zone restrictions (45 mph during school drop-off and pickup hours), specified speed changes on several county roads, and a provision that any county section currently posted at 55 mph will remain until GDOT lowers it. Commissioners said they had contacted GDOT about specific state-highway segments and will readdress local regulation if GDOT lowers the speed.
The county recorded the second reading and approved the ordinance with the stated amendments; staff will prepare final ordinance text consistent with GDOT outcomes.