DOT to talk widening, bypass July 30

The DOT is taking input July 30 at Madison County High School on its proposal to widen 10.8 miles of Hwy. 29 — including a 6.5-mile bypass of Danielsville on the western edge.

Including right-of-way purchases, the project would cost $126 million.
“We’re talking over 10 miles of four-lane divided highway here,” Georgia DOT spokesperson Teri Pope said.

The open house is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the MCHS cafeteria. Georgia DOT engineers will be available to discuss the proposed project, but no formal presentation is planned.

The project is divided into two phases, but Pope said that both are considered “long-range.” Neither has funding attached.

“Both projects don’t have money or years allocated to them,” Pope said.

The Hwy. 29 widening in Madison County would start where the four-lane section now ends — near the intersection of Fortson Store Road — and extend north of Danielsville to the intersection of Wildcat Bridge Road.

The first segment, a 4.3-mile four-lane widening from the intersection of Fortson Store Road to Diamond Hill, will follow the existing roadway, but construction will “correct geometry” on the hilly, windy road along the way.

“What we’re going to do is flatten out the hill and straighten out the curve,” Pope said.

That would change the highway significantly in some spots — up to 1,000 feet from the existing roadway — Pope said.

“So we want folks who live along this section of Hwy. 29 to please come look at it and see where the proposal is,” Pope said.

The second phase is a 6.5-mile, four-lane bypass of Danielsville on the western edge, feeding back into Hwy. 29 at Irwin Kirk Road.

“This project will improve the traffic flow through the area by creating additional lanes for vehicles and building the Danielsville bypass around the western side of town,” DOT District Engineer Russell McMurry said in a press release. “Please come see the plans and let us know what you think.”

The first portion of the widening project would require 125 parcels of land, totaling $27.4 million in right-of-way costs. Construction will cost $20.6 million.

Construction of the bypass will cost $55.4 million. Seventy-five parcels of land are required, costing the DOT $22.6 million.

The proposed widening will also provide 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, separated by a 32-foot, grassed median. Plans include 10-foot outside shoulders.

Those unable to attend the public hearing can view the plans and leave comments on the Georgia DOT website at dot.ga.gov. Click on “information center,” then “public outreach,” and “Madison County.”

Citizens may also mail comments to Glenn Bowman, Georgia DOT, 3993 Aviation Circle, Atlanta, Ga., 30336.

Comments, which must be received by Aug. 13, will be considered in the final project design.

HWY. 72 WIDENING COULD RESUME IN 2012

The widening of a 2.6-mile stretch of Hwy. 72 from the intersection from Hwy. 172 to western edge of Comer is proposed for 2012, according to Pope.

“Again, that is proposed and could change depending on our funding situation,” she said.

The construction cost of this phase is $13.2 million, and the DOT must buy $3.6 million worth of right-of-way.

Those purchases have been suspended, however, due to a “value engineering study” that must be done on the project, Pope said. The DOT has bought just eight of 50 parcels needed for this leg of the project.

No money is attached to the project now, but the plan is to have that funding by 2012.

There’s no timeline for the next phase of the project, a 9.3-mile stretch to the Elbert County line — including a four-lane by-pass of Comer and Carlton — costing $49.9 million.

Pope says the DOT has bought 23 of 29 right-of-way parcels needed for that leg of the project.