Cobb DOT, School Board To Work Together to Make Improvements to Road Outside of Wheeler High

Two students were injured while crossing Holt Road last month, Crosswalk and other changes proposed

Weeks after two high school students were hit by a car outside of Wheeler High School, Cobb DOT engineers and School District officials have worked together to plan safety improvements.  The two groups met this week to compare notes and come up with a working plan.

The incident happened on Holt Road just outside of the high school.  The plan of action includes;

• Installing a “rectangular rapid flashing beacon” device at the crosswalk, which would include a raised median providing a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road.  This is similar to a pedestrian crossing currently in place on Lower Roswell Road just outside of the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center.
• Relocating the crosswalk away from a nearby side street and combine it with another crosswalk north of the current location.
• Close an exit from a parking lot across from the high school near the crosswalk.
• Install updated signage warning of the pedestrian crossing.
• Upgrade street lighting in the vicinity of the relocated crosswalk.

Both groups will work together to pay for the safety improvements.  Cobb DOT will obtain quotes and work on a schedule.

Cobb DOT had planned a pedestrian survey on Holt Road before the incident happened.  They installed cameras and other devices and are still studying the results.

Cobb DOT engineers say if the old East Cobb Middle School site across from Wheeler High becomes an elementary school, further safety improvements will be needed.

Police cited the 73-year-old driver involved in the incident, the two Wheeler High students are expected to recover.