Geneva County Drivers: SR-52 and CR-73 Intersection Becomes Temporary Three-Way Stop Wednesday During Construction

GENEVA COUNTY, Ala. — Drivers who travel State Route 52 in Geneva County will need to plan for a new stop beginning this week.

Starting Wednesday, Oct. 28, the intersection of State Route 52 and County Road 73 will temporarily become a three-way stop while construction continues in the area. Transportation officials say the change is meant to protect people working and driving in the work zone.

What is changing

Right now, traffic on SR-52 does not stop at the intersection, while traffic on CR-73 must stop. Under the temporary pattern, SR-52 traffic will also be required to stop, creating a three-way stop.

The temporary three-way stop is expected to be in place by the end of the day Wednesday and will remain until a later date, when the current construction phase ends.

Paving first

To prepare for the new traffic pattern, crews will pave the intersection on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Wednesday, Oct. 28. Drivers should expect workers and equipment in the area on both days and may encounter brief delays.

What comes after

When this phase of construction is complete, traffic will shift onto new eastbound lanes and SR-52 will return to free-flowing traffic, meaning drivers on the state route will no longer be required to stop at CR-73.

Officials have not announced a specific date for that shift.

Why the temporary stop matters

Changes in a familiar traffic pattern can catch drivers off guard, especially on a route where they are used to driving through an intersection without stopping. Drivers who travel SR-52 every day should be especially alert during the first days of the new pattern, when other motorists may not yet be expecting the change.

At a three-way stop, every approaching driver must come to a complete stop. The general rule is that the first vehicle to arrive and stop is the first to proceed. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left should yield to the driver on the right. Drivers should also watch for vehicles turning across their path and for construction workers and equipment near the intersection.

Work zone safety tips

Work zones bring narrowed lanes, shifting traffic patterns and workers close to moving vehicles. Transportation safety officials recommend these steps:

• Slow down and obey posted work zone speed limits.
• Watch for new signs, cones, barrels and flaggers.
• Put away your phone and stay focused on the road.
• Leave extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead.
• Expect the unexpected, including stopped traffic and equipment entering the roadway.
• Allow extra travel time while construction continues.

Alabama law increases penalties for certain traffic violations committed in work zones when workers are present, and drivers can face fines for speeding in a construction zone.

About the area

Geneva County is in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama, along the Florida state line. SR-52 is one of the main east-west routes through the county and carries local traffic as well as drivers traveling between communities in the Wiregrass.

Key facts

• Location: Intersection of State Route 52 and County Road 73, Geneva County
• Paving: Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Wednesday, Oct. 28
• New pattern: Temporary three-way stop in place by the end of the day Wednesday, Oct. 28
• Currently: SR-52 traffic does not stop; CR-73 traffic stops
• Later: Traffic will shift to new eastbound lanes, and SR-52 will return to free-flowing traffic