Does Sandy Springs Turn Signal Benefit East Cobb Commuters?

The good news is change appears to be coming at the Johnson Ferry/River Valley Road intersection, according to Sandy Springs City Councilman Chip Collins.

Patch has learned how frustrated Amberidge community residents have been about the intersection which is surprisingly, not that busy. That fact only adds to their frustration.

“Rightly or wrongly, a lot of people think it was done primarily for the benefit of the Cobb County commuters,” said David Bailey, former president of Amberidge Homeowners Association. “I believe they were putting pressure on Sandy Springs to widen the road.” 

The Georgia Department of Transportation widened Johnson Ferry Road and recently enhanced the intersection by putting in two left turn lanes and signals into the Amberidge neighborhood. The turn is located just past the Abernathy Arts Center. 

East Cobb commuters can breeze through the intersection pretty easily. Sandy Springs motorists heading to Cobb can also drive smoothly through the intersection on a green light while Amberidge residents making a left onto River Valley Road have to sit for unusually long periods of time at the red turn signal. Oftentimes the oncoming traffic that they would cross over from Cobb is nil. 

“That is what infuriates people because you can see [ahead] literally for almost half a mile…not a single car in sight [other than rush hour],” Bailey said.

Frustrated motorists sometimes drive through the red turn signal or drive ahead and make a U-turn.

Another issue: The two River Valley turn lanes ultimately converge with East Cobb motorists who elect to turn right onto River Valley Road. Almost immediately after the turn onto River Valley, the two lanes become one.

“A lot of the residents were under the impression that one of the overriding goals was to take pressure off of River Valley…It’s a major cut through for people getting off I-285 and Riverside…,” Bailey said.

Councilman Chip Collins said, GDOT was looking 20 years into the future when they enhanced the intersection.  “The issue is do we need two left turn lanes,” he said. “Public Works said probably not.  They are strongly looking at removing one of the left turn lanes.” 

A single turn lane would allow free left turns that would not be held up by a left turn arrow signal, he said. Turn arrow signals are required for two left turn lanes.

Collins said he expects the intersection to be re-worked in the next few weeks, after GDOT turns the intersection over to the City of Sandy Springs.