School Board Blocks County Plans For Roundabouts On Malcom Bridge

The Oconee County Board of Education on Monday refused to grant the county the rights of way and easements for construction of roundabouts at the two entrances to Malcom Bridge Middle School.

The inaction is an attempt by the Board of Education to thwart the efforts by the county Board of Commissioners to build the roundabouts.

The county Board of Commissioners has responsibility for the county’s roads leading up to the school entrances, and the Board of Education has responsibility for those parts of the entrances on school system property.

The Board of Commissioners had proposed the roundabouts in response to traffic congestion, especially at the school entrances, and in anticipation of new traffic resulting from a shopping center in design stages opposite the Middle School between Malcom Bridge Road and Lenru Road.

Board of Education member Wayne Bagley said at the meeting on Monday that the roundabouts aren’t needed and may make the traffic problems at the school entrances worse rather than better.

The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night is scheduled to discuss the Malcom Bridge Road roundabouts in light of the refusal of the Board of Education to grant the land and construction easements for two of the three planned roundabouts on Malcom Bridge Road.

For details of the story, with a video of the Board of Education meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations.