POOLER, Ga. () — The Pooler City Council approved a $19.3 million contract to expand the lanes of a busy road Tuesday.

Quacco Road will be expanded from Blue Moon Crossing to Canal Bank Road to four lanes. 

City leaders said more lanes of traffic will help alleviate congestion near the businesses there. 

City Manager Heath Lloyd said residents have been asking for infrastructure improvements and the council is delivering. 

The approval came as protestors have been circulating a petition asking the city to slow down rezoning for commercial use, even calling for a six-month moratorium on new commercial development. 

Protestors gathered outside the Pooler City Council meeting Thursday, voicing their concerns over development in their communities. 

“We do realize that not all development is going to be paused,” Pooler Community Organizer Trish Brown said. “Pooler is a great area, that’s why we moved here. But making sure we have things like libraries and arts scenes and things that the residents are going to enjoy versus just putting restaurants and shopping centers here to appease tourists.”

Organizers said they have gathered more than 100 signatures and hope to gain more support.