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.
The Second Alternative follows a more southerly route, is 2.74 miles in length, involves 22 parcels, requires the potential displacement of three structures, and has an estimated cost of $29.8 million.
The Third Alternative is roughly parallel to the Second Alternative but just slightly further south for most of its routing, is 2.92 miles in length, involves 17 parcels, does not require the displacement of any structure, and has an estimated cost of $29.6 million.
None of the three routes to be presented to the public at the meeting on April 16 follows an existing roadway, so all will require crossing undeveloped farmland south of Watkinsville.
Both Alternative Two and Alternative Three cross through the middle of a large tract of land owned by Joyce C. Hardigree and her family trusts on the east side of Old Bishop Road.
Alternative Route One crosses land owned by the Thomas Orchard Inc. on both sides of Old Bishop Road.
Alternative One leaves SR 15 just south of the Watkinsville city limits at property owned by Benjamin and Paula Hansford and connects with U.S. 441 where South Main Street joins that road, while Alternatives Two and Three leave SR 15 at Flat Rock Road and reach U.S. 441 between a mile and two miles south of the South Main Street intersection with U.S. 441.
PIOH Announcement
The GDOT announcement of the Public Information Open House, on the county web site, says that GDOT is holding the PIOH “for a proposed project to relieve traffic congestion in downtown Watkinsville and enhance connectivity” for truck traffic between US 441 and SR 15/Greensboro Highway.
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| Three Alternatives Shown (Click To Enlarge) |
The project was initiated by former State Rep. Marcus Wiedower at the request of Watkinsville city officials.
According to GDOT, the PIOH has been scheduled because it “is seeking feedback about a proposed solution to provide an alternate route around the city of Watkinsville.”
Those who attend the PIOH on April 16 can expect to see the three plans displayed on easels at various places in the room. GDOT representatives should be in attendance to answer questions.
Generally, at a PIOH, there is no formal presentation.
GDOT is seeking community input on the three proposals, either at that meeting or online.
A fourth option is labeled the “no build alternative.”
It is possible GDOT will reveal its preferred Alternative at the meeting.
Alternative One
GDOT posted detailed plans for each of the alternatives on a project web site late last week.
All three alternatives are for two-lane roads.
Alternative One is in one sense the simplest of the three plans, beginning with a roundabout on SR 15, intersecting with Colham Ferry Road with a roundabout north of Bell Lake, and intersecting with U.S. 441 and South Main Street with a roundabout.
The intersection with Old Bishop Road would have stop signs on both sides of that road, but not on the bypass itself.
Alternative One has two potential stream crossings, compared with thee on each of the other alternatives.
None of the plans cross wetlands, but Alternative One impacts three existing lakes or ponds, in one case quite extensively.
Stream mitigations costs are highest for Alternative One at $1.6 million, versus $1.5 million for Alternative Two and $1.4 million for Alternative Three.
Alternatives Two And Three
GDOT released two linked sheets for both Alternative Two and Alternative Three.
Alternative Two begins with a roundabout at Flat Rock Road, crosses Colham Ferry Road on the northern edge of the Breedlove Farm, cuts through the northern quarter of the Hardigree property and intersections in a roundabout on U.S. 441.
The intersection with Old Bishop Road is at a two-way stop.
Alternative Three also begins with a roundabout at Flat Rock Road, cuts through the top of the Breedlove property and intersects with Colham Ferry Road in a roundabout, and crosses nearly through the middle of the Hardigree property before intersecting with U.S. 441 in a roundabout.
The intersection with Old Bishop Road is a two-way stop.
Other Details Released
GDOT sent letters to property owners dated March 13, 2025, stating that “Field surveys are scheduled to begin soon in the vicinity of your property for the purpose of gathering the information necessary to design the below referenced project.”
GDOT subsequently released two designs that GDOT Program Manager Bruce Anderson said were presented to a stakeholder meeting with local officials and GDOT personnel in June 2023.
Alternative One followed Green Ferry Road from SR 15 to Colham Ferry Road.
Alternative Two resembles in a rough fashion the current Alternative Two.
Supplementary documents on the GDOT site show $8.9 million authorized for the SR 15 Watkinsville bypass.
Scoping was budgeted in 2022 at $500,000, and engineering was budgeted at $2.5 million in 2024.
No right of way or constructions dates are shown.
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