ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Dozens of people attended a town hall meeting Tuesday, June 3 to discuss an intersection that some residents say needs changes following several deadly car accidents.

The most recent accident claimed the life of 20-year-old Alicia Cunningham on May 21.

The intersection is Liberty Expressway Southeast and Nelms Road in Albany. Officials said Cunningham was attempting to cross Liberty Expressway on Nelms Road when she failed to yield and was struck by a dump truck.

As of now, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has proposed making the intersection a R-cut design, meaning drivers would no longer be able to cross.

Residents spoke out at the town hall meeting Tuesday saying that doesn’t work for them.

“You’re not only getting in front of those same trucks that come down South, you’ve [also] got to get into the left lane to make a U-turn,” one resident said. “So instead of having the accidents at Nelms road, you’re going to have a headache at Mike’s or 600 feet down the road.”

Another resident said, “All of these GDOT studies and this and that — All you need is a light. It’s not about what GDOT wants, it’s what everybody in here wants.”

Some said they are worried that the surrounding streets that have homes with young children will see heavy traffic if the proposed R-cut design is put into place.

“I’m not going to talk to you about big trucks coming through and cutting over, I’m going to talk about all of these hundreds of people that live back here that are going to cut down my side road where my children are playing in the yard,” one resident said. “What are we going to do for that? And don’t tell me until that’s a problem. Because if my children get run over in the street, we’re going to have a big problem!”

District 6 County Commissioner Anthony Jones said he has been in contact with GDOT officials who told him they are working to implement the new design as early as next year.

Commissioner Jones said he’s also reached out to Governor Brian Kemp’s office, the Georgia Governor’s Office or Highway Safety and other state leaders.

“When we have a problem, we need to find a solution. So I will continue to work and do what I can,” Commissioner Jones said. “I promise I won’t be working behind the scenes without keeping you and dragging you along the way with me.”

Commissioner Jones said he invited GDOT to the town hall meeting, but they did not attend.

In the last three years, there have been 24 crashes reported at the intersection.

Residents said if they can’t get a traffic light, reducing the speed limit could help as well.

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