The Alachua County Public Works Department is hosting a workshop to discuss changes to accommodate Gainesville drivers and pedestrians.
The meeting will take place Thursday at the Southwest Advocacy Group Resource Center at 5:30 p.m. The department is considering a $2.7 million plan that would affect a stretch of SW 61st Street and SW 20th Avenue near the Linton Oaks housing development.
The intersection experiences heavy traffic and has been the site of several accidents, and there are neither sidewalks nor pedestrian crosswalks. The proposal would put a signal at the intersection, add left- and right-turn lanes on SW 61st Street, widen SW 20th Avenue to four lanes, and add sidewalks and crosswalks to ensure pedestrians' safety.
Local residents like Fred Watson would like to see the proposal alleviate traffic. Watson said the current traffic pattern keeps people from getting to work on time.
"A lot of times the bus is behind schedule and people are late going to work," he said.
The project will be brought before the County Commission Tuesday for right-of-way acquisition approval and for bidding.
George Pappas edited this story online.