The metropolitan transportation planning organization that has responsibility for Oconee County is in the final stage of modifying its documents to reflect the addition of $1.9 million in right of way funds for construction of the new interchange at SR 316 and the Oconee Connector.
The new money brings to $3.4 million the amount for right of way and preliminary engineering of the multi-grade interchange in the current Fiscal Year 2025. Of that, $2.8 million is federal funding.
Public comment on the proposed change in the MACORTS Transportation Improvement Program ends on July 29, with initial approval of the change scheduled for the MACORTS Technical Coordinating Committee meeting on July 31.
The Policy Committee of MACORTS is scheduled to take final action on the changes on Aug. 14.
The Policy Committee on July 10 already approved the modification of the Transportation Improvement Program to reflect the addition of nearly $4 million in new right of way money for the planned Jimmy Daniell Road multi-grade intersection.
Most of that money is federal as well.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) lists construction of these two full interchanges as well as a flyover of Virgil Langford Road of SR 316 for 2025.
The GDOT Letting Schedule through December of this year, however, does not list any of these three projects, though it does list four other projects in Oconee County.
Bundled Projects
At its June 12 meeting, the Policy Committee of MACORTS approved modifications to its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to reflect the bundling of the Jimmy Daniell Road, Virgil Langford Road, and Oconee Connector interchange projects into a single project.
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GDOT Visualization Of Connector Intersection |
At the request of GDOT, the Policy Committee modified the 2024-2027 TIP by zeroing out most of the future costs for Virgil Langford Road and the Oconee Connector in favor of increased funding for Jimmy Daniell Road.
The projects will be let as a single bundle, so the movement of money will not affect the actual work on the interchanges.
The total listed cost of the three projects increased from $151. 1 million to $205.5 million. The first construction funding is scheduled for 2025.
Because federal funds are involved in the three projects, these changes had to be incorporated into the MACORTS planning documents before GDOT can spend the federal dollars. A public comment period was required before those changes could be made.
MACORTS (Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study) is one of 16 federally mandated metropolitan planning organizations in Georgia and has responsibility for projects in the northern half of Oconee County as well as all of Clarke County and parts of Madison County.
The increased funding for right of way acquisition for the Oconee Connector also requires acceptance of public comment, which can be offered until the July 29 deadline.
The increased funding for the Jimmy Daniell Road interchange did not require public comment, MACORTS Planner Robert Walker told the Policy Committee at its July 10 meeting, because “it is under the threshold” for percentage of increase.
May 21 GDOT Memo
GDOT has placed on its web site an Interoffice Memo dated April 21 of this year from the Office Of Design Policy And Support describing the three bundled projects at Jimmy Daniell Road, Virgil Langford Road, and the Oconee Connector.
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GDOT Visualization Of Jimmy Daniell Intersection Looking Toward Atlanta |
The purpose of the project is to convert the intersection of SR 316 at Jimmy Daniell Road “to an interchange,” to convert the intersection of SR 316 at Virgil Langford Road to “a grade separation with no return access,” and to convert the intersection of SR 316 and the Oconee Connector “to an interchange,” according to the memo.
“The proposed typical section for ...Jimmy Daniell Road calls for two 12-foot travel lanes with a raised median on roundabout approaches to the interchanges ramp terminals,” the statement reads.
“The outside shoulder utilizes both rural and urban sections,” according to the statement. “Urban shoulders with sidewalk will be constructed from Vend Drive to Meriweather Drive.”
“The proposed typical section for ...Virgil Langford Road calls for two 12-foot travel lanes with a 12-foot flush median for left turns. Urban shoulders with sidewalk will be constructed within the project limits and tie to existing,” the memo reads.
“The proposed typical Section for ...Oconee Connector calls for four 12-foot travel lanes, a 20-foot to 32-foot raised median, and two four-foot bike lanes. Urban shoulders with sidewalk will be constructed with in the project limits and tie to existing,” it reads.
“Auxiliary lanes will be constructed along SR 316 between” Jimmy Daniell Road and the Oconee Connector “to enhance the weaving movements between the two interchanges,” according to the document.
“There may be a need for off-site detours to facilitate ramp construction, and temporary lane closures or reduced turn lengths for construction of bridges,” according to the document. “The anticipated construction duration is approximately 48 months.”
Bidding Schedule
The bidding schedule on the GDOT web site does not list the SR 316 bundle of projects, but it does list four projects in Oconee County.
The schedule only runs through the end of the year.
Bidding is scheduled for a replacement bridge over Barber Creek on Clotfelter Road for this month. Estimated cost is $3 million.
Bids are scheduled to be let in September for a roundabout on SR 53 (Hog Mountain Road) at Snows Mill Road/Rocky Branch Road. Cost also is estimated at $3 million.
In November GDOT is scheduled to let bids for the replacement bridge on SR 186 (High Shoals Road) at the Apalachee River in North High Shoals. That cost is estimated at $7 million.
Also in November, GDOT is set to let bids for resurfacing and maintenance of U.S. 78 from the Walton County line to SR 316 in Oconee County. Cost is estimated at $7 million.
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