Gateway Project Causes Traffic Concerns

The new construction site (photo by Valeria Sistrunk)

Construction began this week, and pretty soon there will be one more building added to the busy streets of Tallahassee.  It’s called The Gateway Project, and the highly anticipated 50,000 square foot building will be on the corner of Monroe and Tennessee Street.  The once vacant lot, cluttered with litter and signs, will soon be transformed into a Walgreens.

In a statement released by The City of Tallahassee, site plans for construction were approved on April 23, 2009.  This will be the first time in years residents in the area will have a store, within walking distance, to buy food, supplies and prescription drugs.

Although there is much anticipation for the new Walgreen, some residents are concerned about the affects construction will have on the already busy intersection. 

Tom Payne, who works for Traffic Mobility Management in the Public Works Division, said he doesn’t expect a big change in traffic.  “The construction itself really shouldn’t have that much of an impact, other than the fact that there will be trucks going in and out carrying supplies in,” said Payne, “They’ve already torn the building down, so the demolition’s already been done.”

Payne also predicts that once the construction is finished and excitement about the new building dies down, traffic should go back to normal.

As of now, only time will tell what affects the Gateway Project will have on traffic in the area.  The project is expected to be complete by the spring of 2014.