Georgia Department of Transportation’s plan to widen Highway 44 continues to progress in Greene County.
The Greene County Board of Commissioners approved a GDOT maintenance agreement for roundabout and median landscaping expenses during its June 10 meeting.
Plans would include implementing roundabouts on Linger Longer Road, Carey Station Road, Airabella Boulevard, Merchant Street, and Carriage Lane. GDOT’s agreement would require Greene County to be responsible for landscaping all five Highway 44 roundabouts.
According to GDOT’s website, the roundabouts will be implemented during Phase Three of the SR44 Widening Project, which is scheduled to take place in FY27.
During the meeting, Interim County Manager Amanda Smith said, “There is still uncertainty regarding the Carriage Lane and Airabella Boulevard roundabouts.”
The two roundabouts remained in the discussion because it “was easier [for GDOT] to include the roundabouts in the original plans and pull them out later, versus adding them back at a later date.
“This agreement was included on the May agenda but failed due to a 2-2 vote (with one commissioner absent),” Smith said.
Smith also mentioned that the lack of approval for the maintenance agreement would result in GDOT proceeding to install concrete roundabouts rather than landscaped ones.
GDOT’s maintenance agreement was a central discussion point in last Tuesday’s meeting, and many attendees spoke before the board regarding their concerns. Many citizens disagreed with GDOT’s plan to install concrete roundabouts.
“Part of my appeal what I like about the community is that each community takes care of their entrance,” resident Patrick Kozma said. “So to me, concrete [roundabouts] do not make sense, and it’s not harmonious to our community.”
Kozma also discussed his concerns regarding GDOT’s preference for establishing the roundabout and median design plans.
“If we go in and decide on landscaping, they give suggestions as to what the landscaping is, but in part of their agreement, we have to give them advance notice when we’re going to landscape, but we can’t disrupt traffic,” Kozma said. “So, my main question is, why is there a hurry to get this [agreement] done right now?”
Greene BOC Chairman Gary Usry responded to Kozma’s concern, explaining that government projects take a long time to complete.
“As far as why we are in a hurry, nothing happens fast in government,” Usry said. “So, even though it seems like deciding on what type of vegetation would be simple, I’m sure that it’s not going to be very easy to come up with a solution.”
Smith also responded to Kozma’s concern regarding the timeline of the maintenance agreement.
“The rush gets to the design; [GDOT] is in the design phase right now, so they need to know if they are designing for concrete medians and roundabouts or are they planning for landscape,” Smith said. “That’s the rush on getting the design process done now, but as far as what landscaping is being chosen, all that comes later.”
In other business on June 10, the BOC:
• approved zoning request for Jesse and Kay Copelan.
“The applicant seeks rezoning for 22.5 acres on Club Drive to amend the zoning from A1 to B1,” Smith said.
The rezoning request allows the Copelans to construct more office and medical properties on the plot and install more parking areas.
• approved three preliminary plats for Oconee Land Development Co., LLC, totaling 103.94 acres. The construction is set to take place for Hardin North, Forest Ridge, and Village at Reynolds Landing developments.
• approved a preliminary and final plat request for Dell Law Firm and PC for Harbor Club on Lake Oconee (14.14 acres).
• approved the abandonment of a portion of Trimble Ridge Road that is used as a U.S. Forestry segment.
• approved an amendment to increase the amount for easement acquisition services.