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Peach County commission working to find solution for railroad traffic

The Peach County commission and the city say they have found a possible solution to traffic in downtown Fort Valley

FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Driving through downtown Fort Valley, there is a chance you could get caught at one of three railroad crossings. 

The city and Peach County Commission are working to find a solution for one of those crossings.

"You've got the combination of switching station, Highway 96, Highway 341, the intersection in Fort Valley where you have Highway 49 so you got all that happening within a quarter-mile stretch," County Commissioner Wade Yoder said.

They are working with the owner of 101 Oakland Heights Parkway to purchase the land, tear down the home, and make more lanes for cars to go around stopped trains. 

Only problem is the house just sold, so now they have to work with a new owner. 

"Highway 341 North traffic would be able to go right up over the overpass, 341 south traffic would be detoured at the overpass to come up where you see the white van is," Yoder said.

One of the businesses impacted by the traffic jam downtown was Peach County Motors. 

The traffic downtown was a factor owner Shannon Moye considered when moving his shop to a location away from the intersection.

"Not only you got a small parking lot a little bit, but it's hard to get in when the train is blocking stalls. Can't get in, can't get out of the parking lot," Moye said.

Since the move, Moye says business has been booming more than usual.

"Our business has basically doubled, and we've only been here two months," Moye said.

Yoder says he wrote a letter to the new land owner this week. He says he wants to try and work out this agreement sooner rather than later. He has yet to hear back.

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