MACON, Ga. — Over the years, Gray Highway has earned a reputation as one of Macon-Bibb's deadliest roads.
Now, the county is trying to make it a safer place for drivers and pedestrians.
Daniel Garrett is a project coordinator for McLeRoy, Inc. who's heading up the project.
"We're gonna be installing concrete medians from North Avenue to Boulevard. This is due to the fact that so many vehicular accidents with cross traffic," Garrett said.
Many people recognize Gray Highway for its constant turn lane that runs down the center. That lane is staying, but now it's going to have three medianettes added.
"It's hopefully going to make the traveling public more safe. And help ease the traffic flow throughout Gray Highway," Garrett said.
His team started construction Monday morning, and they expect to wrap up by 3:00 p.m. on Friday. While they're working, they'll have multiple lanes closed on both sides of Gray Highway.
At the Dunkin' on Gray Highway, employees have a front row view to the construction.
"After watching it, as they were doing it, you can tell it's slowed down traffic by a lot," Shift Supervisor Ja'ana White said.
Because multiple lanes of traffic are closed this week due to construction, she said it's taking customers longer to get to the store- but it hasn't stopped them.
"People are still gonna come get their coffee. We get customers not even just in Macon, but Jones County and all, cause some of them don't have a Dunkin' where they at," White said.
She said one of the problems of Gray Highway is the lack of crosswalks. And because of that, she said she's seen people cross at all hours of the day and night.
"There's been a few times when some people try to go across the street and they almost get hit, cause the cars and then the trucks are zooming past," White said.
She hopes it helps protect people from cars coming at them, even if it'll take longer for drivers to come and go. She said if it even saves one life, it would be worth it.
Construction crews will be working from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Garrett said they hope to wrap up at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. He said to take a detour if you can, and expect delays this week.