Cherokee Votes To Prohibit U-Turns on Eagle Drive at W. Putnam Ferry

The Cherokee County Commission on Tuesday voted for staff to move forward with installing a no U-turn sign on a popular thoroughfare in Towne Lake.

Commissioners unanimously approved a request to install no U-turn signs on Eagle Drive at the non-signalized three-way intersection with West Putnam Ferry Road.

The Cherokee County School District had a traffic engineer analyze its traffic flow at the Etowah High School and E.T. Booth Middle School campus. 

The engineer concluded the district should send more traffic from the campus using the western entrance at Etowah, which is a right-in/right-out driveway to Eagle Drive and will only allow people to exit the school heading west on Eagle Drive. 

The county predicts some vehicles will try to head east towards Eagle Drive and use the left-turn lane on Eagle Drive at West Putnam Ferry Road, which is used to access the Aldi grocery store. 

The installation of the no U-turn signs are viewed as a safety precaution, as some residents who live off West Putnam Ferry Road have a hard time making left hand turns onto Eagle Drive. 

To provide a safer way to perform U-turns in the area, the county will install a protected, permissive left-turn arrow at the signalized intersection on Eagle Drive at Rose Creek Drive. 

This will allow U-turns to have a protected phase at an already signalized intersection, meaning it would be safer for motorists trying to head eastbound on Eagle Drive. 

Readers on Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch's Facebook page applauded the change.

"This intersection puts the residents of W. Putnam Ferry Rd in dangerous driving situations each day," said Daina Monroe, adding she didn't think a no U-turn sign will make a difference.

Mandy Gunter Collins added her sister-in-law has been hit once trying to turn from West Putnam Ferry Road onto Eagle Drive.

"I am on the road often and it is very dangerous trying to turn left and even right out of there now with the Aldi open," she added. "I know people would hate to see another light, but something needs to be done. People trying to turn left in or out of the Aldi should be forced to the light at Rose Creek Drive and Eagle Drive."