The Georgia Department of Transportation is looking at the intersection of Hwy. 9 and Dawson Forest Road as another possible roundabout site.

Last month, DOT officials asked the Dawson County Board of Commissioners to pay energy charges associated with lighting and maintain the landscape if DOT decides to upgrade the intersection.

The busy intersection is one of several across the state DOT is considering for roundabouts. Earlier this year, DOT approached the county about a possible roundabout at Hwy. 53 and Elliott Family Parkway.

Roundabouts, like the one at the crossing of Dawson Forest and Lumpkin Campground roads, are popular alternatives for busy intersections because they allow traffic to continuously flow and typically require less land acquisition to construct.

Maj. Greg Rowan, of the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, said the crossing at Hwy. 9 and Dawson Forest is one of the busiest intersections in the county and one that has potential to be extremely dangerous.

“The schools definitely add an increase in traffic with parents taking their kids to and from school and the school buses, the potential for wrecks is definitely high,” he said.

The intersection is near Riverview Elementary School, as well as Riverview Middle School.

Since 2008, there have been 22 traffic wrecks at the crossing, resulting in several injuries.

Rowan said the number of wrecks doubled in 2010, the year Riverview Elementary School opened.