August 18, 2008, News 12 at 11 o'clock

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- A stop sign on the side of the interstate is not something drivers are used to seeing but motorist in Augusta who travel I-20 will have to get used to the idea.

A new stop sign went up over the weekend near the Walton Way Extention exit and some drivers say merging into traffic from the ramp is dangerous.

Some drivers say it is hard pulling out into traffic from a complete stop instead of building up speed and merging onto the interstate.

Instead of an acceleration lane to merge onto I-20 from the exit 197 off ramp -construction project managers says the safest option is the stop signs instead of the acceleration lane. It may be the safest option for merging according to Project Manager Sam Stutt, but it is not necessarily the easiest for some drivers. Drivers are finding the new stop sign heading eastbounda tough one to manuever.

"The reason you have stop signs out there now instead of the yield signs is we no longer have acceleration lanes, " say Stutt. "Once you do away with acceleration lanes you have to put them in a stop mode and that's using a stop sign."

While an acceleration lane provides more time to get out into traffic, it is not an option in this construction zone.

Stutt says its important for all to understand that during the planning process the most important factor is safety, but drivers have to do thier part

"Obey the speed limit and watch for the people who are trying to merge It is tight and there are no shoulders to pull off on."

Drivers can expect to see those stop signs up for at least another couple of months. The stop signs will come down, but the project is not expected to completed until 2010.