News 12 at 11 o'clock / September 8, 2010

AUGUSTA---A street in downtown Augusta that's almost as old as the city itself could be closed off, if MCG's president has his way.

With all the upcoming expansions, Dr. Ricardo Azziz wants to shut down Laney Walker Boulevard. He says it is a tragedy waiting to happen.

Back in March 2008, MCG graduate student Dr. Ji Cheng was struck and killed by a bus while walking to her morning class. Dr. Azziz says he wants to do all he can to keep something like that from happening again.

"We've already had one tragedy," he said. "We don't want to have any more tragedies."

Azziz talked about making changes and about his five-year plan at a forum for faculty and staff today. Changes include possibly closing off a part of Laney Walker Boulevard that cuts through the campus.

"Actually reduce or interrupt the thru traffic through that area is the goal," he said. "Now whether the mechanism is closure or the mechanism is other strategies is up the city. My concern is when we open the new dental school in the next few months, when we will have increased danger to our students, and the probability of having an accident is going to be higher."

Leroy Wilson uses Laney Walker for many of his trips. He says he's not convinced changing the street is the right thing to do. While he commends Dr. Azziz for his concern, he believes the college president is moving too fast.

"That's the way I go. It would be an inconvenience to me," Wilson said. I"m concerned about student safety too, but so far it's worked out the way it's been."

Wilson says he hopes Dr. Azziz will wait a while before making quick changes.

"I don't think he's been here six months, so how can you have a complete study of what's going on?" said Wilson.

Staff doctors like Dr. Jack Yu says they're hoping the city will listen and agree with MCG.

"It would be safer. I think it would be a wonderful thing to have," Dr. Yu said.

"The city of Augusta does deserve to have a large health sciences campus that looks like a campus, acts like a campus, and is safe to our students and faculty," said Dr. Azziz.

Back in 2008 when the graduate student was killed, MCG police officers and the sheriff's department began working together to crack down on the speeders through the area. Some say the problem still exists.

Dr. Azziz made mention of the idea of closing the streets earlier in the week at the Augusta Commission meeting. However, the city's Engineering Department will have to get involved to see if closing the street is even feasible.The final decision is up to the Commission.