The Georgia Department of Transportation has posted on its website revised maps for two sections of the controversial widening of Georgia Highway 44, including the Putnam County stretch from Harmony Road to the Lake Oconee bridge. But don’t expect any big surprises.
The overall project will widen the existing two-lane road to four lanes from Harmony/Old Phoenix Road to just north of Interstate 20 in Greene County. Sidewalks and bike lanes are added in some areas along the 10.8-mile stretch. The bridges will be widened using staged construction.
The new design drawings update the 2019 plans. They were the result of a 2018 traffic study showing an average 11,000 to 15,900 cars and trucks use the road each day, which is considered unacceptable by DOT, especially considering population growth forecasts.
The only major change for Putnam County in the DOT’s latest design is already visible. The new traffic light at Scott Road was approved by the DOT and funded by the county following public and political pressure.
The new maps also detail the other major change in response to public criticism. At Linger Longer Road, by the Publix shopping center, the traffic signals will come down and a multilane roundabout will be built.
A layman’s review of the maps appears to show that minor modifications, such as right of ways, drainage, water lines and crosswalks are also noted in the new plans.
In 2021, a DOT estimate put the ultimate cost of the project at about $150 million including moving utilities and right of way acquisition.
The plan has been in the works for decades. It’s been shelved, sliced, diced and redesigned but to some Lake Country residents, it should just go away or start over again.
“They (DOT) have a chance to make this a showcase for the state of Georgia,” Greg Hawkins, co-owner of the Silver Moon restaurant told The Eatonton Messenger on Monday. He is also one of the leaders of SaveMy44, a group that opposes DOT plans for the road from construction disruption to truck traffic to impact on local business.
“We’re in the process of meeting with government officials and attorneys,” he said, “and we’re actually going to get all the property owners along the road for a meeting to understand what their position is. We don’t need to have three years of one lane construction. Most of the people on 44 right now, won’t be in business. And the biggest tax dollar producer for Putnam County is this road from Harmony to the lake. It’s a big deal.”
Early in the process, the Silver Moon was informed that the proposed right of way would require their building to be demolished.
Monday, DOT spokesperson Kyle Collins told The Eatonton Messenger that right of way negotiations are still going on and that building a retaining wall “is the only viable alternative to reduce impacts to Silver Moon.”
Ginger Ryser says there’s a bigger problem. She also co-owns the Silver Moon and is with the SaveMy44 group. DOT’s plan to build medians in the road will require their customers to make U-turns to get to the restaurant and many businesses along Highway 44 will have the same problem, she said.
“Our goal is to get a complete redesign on a 25-year-old plan,” Ryser said. “While we’re not demanding our plans, there are certainly a lot of healthy suggestions for a plan that would be looking forward 20 years instead of back 20 years.”
The group supports putting roundabouts at four intersections and using wide turn lanes instead of medians.
DOT last held a public meeting on the project in January 2019. During COVID, they conducted an online survey of local residents and reported getting 261 respondents with about half opposed to the project and the others supportive or uncommitted. SaveMy44 was formed and turned in a petition with 2,100 signatures opposing the DOT plans.
At the time, DOT let it be known there would be no more chances for feedback. But, the new design plans might not be final.
Right of way negotiations with the owners of some 210 parcels of land are currently underway and, as a result, Collins said other changes may be required.
“The layouts are not meant to be an exact representation of the final project,” Collins said.“The layouts are general for public viewing.”
Public pressure and politics might result in yet further delays. In the meantime, the updated design plans are available on the DOT website at www.dot.ga.gov. Information about the SaveMy44 group can be found at www.SaveMy44. com.