Residents describe rollover crash at Route 53 intersection; commissioners say roundabout design is nearly complete

Residents told the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 25 about a serious crash at the intersection near Route 53, Malcolm Bridge and Ray’s Church Road and asked the county to act to prevent future collisions. Board staff responded that a roundabout design is already in progress and that the state Department of Transportation is expected to advertise the project in the second quarter of next year.

In public comment, Jane Amos said the intersection has ‘‘always’’ been the site of accidents and introduced neighbors who were recently in a large crash. Lynn Merrill, who said she was T‑boned on Nov. 11, described being trapped when her SUV rolled onto its roof, thanked Good Samaritans for rescuing her and said she ‘‘was traumatized.’’ Lynn Merrill told the board she feared the car might catch fire and described medical checks on the scene.

Resident Alan Merrill outlined the broader costs of recurring crashes, estimating roughly $100,000 in property damage from the single recent accident and urging the board to consider the cost to redesign the intersection to prevent similar incidents in the future. ‘‘In just a property damage accident, there's about $100,000 that happened in a matter of a few seconds,’’ he said.

Staff response: The chair and county staff said the county has already been working with the state on a roundabout at the site, that right of way has been secured, and that the old store and barn adjacent to the site will be removed to prepare for construction. The chair said the Department of Transportation ‘‘expects to let that project in the second quarter of next year,’’ indicating advertising and procurement would occur in spring.

What’s next: Staff are continuing design work and right-of-way preparations. Residents urged the commissioners to expedite construction and to keep the public informed about timelines and safety planning.