Large Turnout At Oconee And Morgan County Open House Sessions On U.S. 441 Widening And Bishop Bypass Demonstrate Public Interest

***UGA Sends New Letter Of Opposition***

A total of 269 people attended the two Open House meetings the Georgia Department of Transportation held in the last two weeks on the widening of U.S. 441 and the bypass of Bishop, including 195 at the Open House last week at Oconee Veterans Park.

Attendees at both sessions got a chance to view maps showing the widening plans for the highway from the bypass in Madison to just south of Bishop and from just north of Bishop to the Watkinsville bypass and the truck bypass on the eastern side of Bishop.

Large Crowd Turns Out For GDOT Open House To View And Comment On Three Alternative Routes For SR 15 Truck Bypass Of Watkinsville

***GDOT Does Not Identify A Preference***

More than 300 people turned out at the Oconee County Administrative Building on Thursday to get close-up views of the three routes the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is offering as alternatives for a truck bypass linking SR 15 with U.S. 441 south of Watkinsville.

The crowd started gathering at 4:30 for the 5 p.m. opening of the key exhibits in the Commission Chambers of the Administrative Building, and GDOT officials opened the doors to the Chambers 15 minutes early to accommodate the crowd.

GDOT Moving Forward With Plans For Widening Of U.S. 441 Along Existing Route And With Truck Bypass Of Bishop

***Design Of Bypass Not Finalized***

The Georgia Department of Transportation has decided to move forward with the planned widening of U.S. 441 to four lanes along the existing route from Madison to Bishop.

It also is proceeding with plans for a truck bypass of Bishop, calling it the “more appealing alternative for localized traffic in the area.”

Citizens At April 16 GDOT Open House Will See Three Alternative Routes For SR 15 Truck Bypass Of Watkinsville

***Plans Differ In Location, Length, Cost***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has identified three routes for the planned SR 15 truck bypass of Watkinsville that it will present at its Public Information Open House (PIOH) scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. on April 16 at the Oconee County Administrative Building, 7635 Macon Highway, north of Watkinsville.

Listed as a First Alternative is a 1.76 mile route that is just south of the city limits of Watkinsville, involves 11 parcels, does not require the displacement of any structure, and has an estimated cost of $22.2 million.

GDOT Announces Public Meetings On U.S. 441 Widening and Bishop Bypass

***Maps Unchanged***

The Georgia Department of Transportation has scheduled two meetings in March to give the public the opportunity to review plans for the widening of U.S. 441 from Madison to Watkinsville.

The plans the public will review are the same as those presented by GDOT last year and include the close-in, two-lane truck bypass on the east side of Bishop.

Large Crowd Turns Out To View Maps Of Current Route Of U.S. 441 In South Of Oconee County

No Future Route Presented

A large crowd turned out at an Open House tonight (Tuesday) to review maps of the current route of U.S. 441 as it passes through Oconee County south of Watkinsville and take advantage of opportunities to give the Georgia Department of Transportation input on its proposed widening of the route.

About 50 people, including 20 representatives of GDOT and its consultants, were in the room at the Community Center in Veterans Park 10 minutes before the Open House was scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

Citizen Group Makes Case For A Route For Bishop Bypass In Southern Oconee County

Open House Announced

About 90 people turned out on Wednesday night at the Thomas Cotton Gin on Greensboro Highway south of Watkinsville to eat a barbeque dinner and learn about the potential impact of possible routes for a bypass of U.S. 441 around Bishop.

The centerpiece of the evening's presentation was a map produced by the Georgia Department of Transportation showing two different routes for a bypass around the eastern side of Bishop.

GDOT Has Sent Letters To Property Owners South Of Watkinsville Asking For Location Of Septic Tanks As Part Of SR 15 Bypass Planning

***Little Detail About Route Available***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has sent letters to property owners between SR 15 and U.S. 441 south of Watkinsville telling them that survey work will begin soon for the design of a truck bypass of Watkinsville for SR 15.

Property owners are told they must allow access to the surveyors and are asked to complete a sketch showing where their septic tanks are located.

Extension Of Permit For Apalachee River Intake, Detailed Plans For Bishop Bypass On Meeting Agendas For Tuesday

***University Remains Opposed To Bypass***

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted a 15-year extension to the Walton County Water and Sewer Authority for its permit to build an intake facility on the Apalachee River for its Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir.

The extension is contingent on approval of related permits issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, and the Regional Reservoir Management Board and the Water and Sewer Authority will meet at 1 p.m tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Historic Courthouse in Monroe to discuss these permits.

Georgia Transportation Department Poised To Select Close-In Alternative For SR 15 Truck Bypass Of Watkinsville

***Details To Be Released At Future Public Information Open House***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is considering a route just south of the city limits of Watkinsville as the recommended alternative for a truck bypass linking SR 15 with U.S. 441 to reduce traffic along Main Street inside the city.

Consultants for GDOT have considered and rejected a route inside the limits.

GDOT To Provide Update On U.S. 441 Widening On Tuesday At Oconee County Veterans Park

Expand Sounding Board

Bruce Anderson Jr., Georgia Department of Transportation project manager for the widening of U.S. 441 and Bishop Bypass, has called a meeting for Tuesday to provide an update of work on the highway project.

The meeting is scheduled for from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Community Center in Oconee Veterans Park, 3500A Hog Mountain Road.

Oconee County Provides Virtual Link To GDOT Stakeholders Meeting On Proposed Truck Bypass Linking SR 15 With U.S. 441

***Called Meeting Of Commission Announced***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners is treating the previously scheduled stakeholders meeting with Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) representatives to discuss a proposed truck bypass of SR 15 as a called meeting of the Commission.

That means at least a quorum of the commissioners--three members–is expected to attend and discuss official business. By state law, such a meeting must be open to the public.

Public Hearing On Comprehensive Plan Update On Agenda For Board of Commissioners Meeting On Tuesday

***Fees Charged For School Sports Facilities Also To Be Considered***

In preparing the five-year update to the county’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan, the Oconee County planning staff has conducted 11 focus groups, with five to 10 participants each.

The staff held a Kick Off Meeting at the June Town Hall Meeting, another Kick Off Meeting Public Hearing in July, and a Future Land Use charette in December of 2022.

Oconee County Board of Commissioners Chair Says State Of County Is Strong, Recommends Avoiding Major Road Construction Sites

***Offers Updates On Dawson Park***

Oconee County Commission Chair John Daniell waited until about 12 minutes into his 40-minute-long State of the County address on Wednesday to talk about what he said he knew his audience was most interested in hearing: his annual transportation project update.

Daniell reviewed the status of 11 Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) projects in the county and eight county funded projects.

Oconee County Commission Votes To Request That GDOT Delay Decision On Truck Bypass Linking SR 15 And U.S. 441

***Board Asks For Consideration Of Route Inside City***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night officially and unanimously asked the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to slow down its planning for a truck route linking SR 15 and U.S. 441 south of Watkinsville.

The request came in the form of a resolution passed by the Board after a crowd of a just more than 100 gathered in the Commission Chamber of the county Administrative Building in anticipation of Board action on GDOT’s stated plans for a bypass.

Three Candidates For Oconee Commission Want That Body To Play A Strong Role In U.S. 441 Widening

GDOT Meeting Scheduled

The three candidates for Post II on the Oconee County Board of Commissioners want the Board to play a strong role in representing citizen concerns to the Georgia Department of Transportation as it plans for the widening of U.S. 441 in the south of the county and a bypass of Bishop.

In separate interviews, each candidate called for the Commission to play a stronger role than it is playing a present.

Oconee County Commission Approves Car Dealership; GDOT Provides More Reassurances On U.S. 441 Widening

Budget Approved As Well

Oconee County Commissioners approved a rezone request last night for a complex of auto dealerships on SR 316 at Virgil Langford Road after a public hearing lasting 115 minutes.

The vote was 2-1, with Commissioners Jim Luke and William “Bubber” Wilkes in favor of the rezone of the nearly 30 acres, and Commissioner Mark Saxon opposed.

Plans For Restaurant In Bishop On Hold Because Of Septic System Expenses

Fundraising Underway

Plans are on hold for a restaurant in the center of Bishop as the resident of the historic Seymour D. Fambrough house seeks funds for a $75,000 commercial septic system to accommodate the development.

Blyth Biggs, who is living with his family on the second floor of the Victorian-era, Queen Anne style building at 4851 Macon Highway, is seeking community support to finance the required septic system.

Georgia Transportation Department Data Base Shows Decrease In Volume Of Traffic Passing Through Center Of Watkinsville

***Volume Drop May Not Mirror Congestion***

Based on data gathered by the Georgia Department of Transportation as part of its Traffic Monitoring Program, the volume of traffic flowing through downtown Watkinsville on Main Street decreased from 2019 through 2024, the most recent year for which counts are available.

This is true based on actual counts from a monitoring location at the center of Watkinsville and on projections from those counts.

Oconee Town Hall Meeting Provides Answers To Questions On Costco Opening, Truck Traffic Ordinance, Tennis And Pickleball Courts

***Small Number of Questioners***

Costco is on schedule for an opening this fall.

Funding from the current Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) should be sufficient to begin construction of eight new tennis courts at Oconee Veterans Park by Fiscal Year 2025.

The existing tennis courts at Herman C. Michael will be converted to pickleball courts when new tennis courts are opened at Veterans Park.