Future improvements to Howard Road at Ga. 365 are being reviewed by Georgia Department of Transportation officials in Atlanta, and permits for the work could come in early August, officials said.

“Once we get the approved permits ... it will take approximately 30 days for the work to be completed,” said Terrica Oglesby, spokeswoman for RaceTrac.

The convenience store chain is working with the city of Gainesville and the DOT on the project, which was developed after an April 28 crash that resulted in the death of Anna Hermansen of Clayton.

In June, Gainesville police charged Martha Chatman, 45, of Lula, with vehicular homicide in the second degree and a stop sign violation, said Cpl. Kevin Holbrook, police spokesman.

Teri Pope, a DOT spokeswoman, said “installation and any required construction will be coordinated between RaceTrac and Gainesville. Once that work is finished, GDOT (will) inspect it and conduct testing just prior to signal activation.”

Oglesby said plans also call for “flashing beacon lights as you approach the intersection to warn people of the upcoming new light.

“There will also be some modifications to existing striping in the intersection to allow for the new crosswalk striping,” she added. “Crosswalks and pedestrian crossing signals will be installed along with the traffic light.”

The caution light that flashes over a sign that says “signal ahead” will resemble one that’s at Ga. 365 and White Sulphur Road, Pope said.

Public outcry over the intersection took place right after the accident, including a written appeal by the Hall County Board of Commissioners that the DOT make improvements there.

In that letter, the commissioners cited 14 crashes in that area in 2012.

Gov. Nathan Deal’s Chief of Staff Chris Riley and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Harris Blackwood also expressed concerns about the intersection to DOT Commissioner Keith Golden.

RaceTrac, which sits at that intersection, jumped quickly into the discussion.

“The safety of our guests and team members is very important to us, so we strongly support the installation of a traffic light,” said RaceTrac’s Cindy Erfurt, engineering project manager.

Wrecks have continued in that area, including one on June 8 in which a passenger car and a pickup were involved and one person was trapped.

Traffic was backed up for more than a mile while the person was removed.