GDOT Unveils Hwy. 5 Improvement Project

On Oct. 19^th, GDOT held a public hearing for the Hwy. 5/McCaysville.  Neither GDOT nor other elected officials gave formal comments about the project.  In face to face discussions, the first words that came out of every GDOT official’s mouth was, “These are preliminary plans” and “GDOT is open to public comment.” To learn what elected officials, Fannin residents and the GDOT was saying at the meeting, please read accompanying article “Local Residents, Elected Officials and GDOT Comment on Hwy. 5 Improvement Project.”

Below is a summary of project details that were presented at the public hearing.  A large-scale map of the plans will be on display at the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce.

The basics of the Hwy. 5 project that GDOT laid out are as follows.

The project is divided into two sections: Hwy. 5 widening which is under the project number Pl#621340 and the McCaysville Truck Bypass which is under the number Pl#320490.  You can view maps at http://www.dot.ga.gov/PS/Public/PublicOutreach.  Once on the page, search projects by county, choose Fannin County, click on SR 5 Improvements and McCaysville Truck Bypass.  There are several maps.  One shows road width, one the entire project and one concentrates more on the bypass.  You can also make public comments through this site.

Nicole Law is GDOT’s project manager for Hwy. 5 Improvement/McCaysville TruckBypass  project.  Her phone number is 404-631-1723.

Hwy. 5 Widening

• Hwy. 5 widening has two different dimensions. From the Walmart/Home Depot stoplight to just south of Kyle Road, Hwy. 5 will be 80 feet across, divided into two 12’ outside lanes, two 11’ inside lanes, one 14’ center turn lane and 10’ shoulders on either side of the road.
• From just south of Kyle Road to just north of Spring Hill Circle, Hwy. 5 will be 58 feet across, with two 12’ lanes, one 14’ center turn lane and 10’ shoulders on either side.
• GDOT is still surveying the specifics of the road.
• Right-of-way purchase begins in June 2017.
• Construction will begin in September 2019.
• Currently, there is no timeline for the different stages of construction or project completion date. These will become available once DOT has awarded the construction bid.

McCaysville Bypass

• The bypass begins .85 miles south of McCaysville city limits and continues for three miles. The road immediately veers west and then continues crossing over Old Epworth Road, intersecting Kingstown Road, crossing Fightingtown Creek at the state line, crossing the Ocoee River west of mine rail yard and joining Tennessee State Route 68 at approximately Grassy Creek Road.  (Scroll below article to see a close-up of the bypass route and comparison with satellite image of the area.)
• The bypass will have three bridges: at Old Epworth Road, Fightingtown Creek and Ocoee River.
• The by-pass will be 44 feet across, with two 12’ lanes and 10’ shoulders on either side.
• Currently, there is no timeline for the different stages of construction or project completion date. These will become available once DOT has awarded the construction bid.

Costs

• The total cost of the project is $41,123,136.86.
• $2,653,208.25 has been spent from 1998 through 2016 on preliminary road design and engineering.
• $7,605,000 is budgeted for right-of-way purchases.
• $30,864,928.61 is budgeted for construction of both projects.

Impact on Communities, Environment and Cultural Heritage

GDOT considers the impact its projects have on community life in areas like the geographical integrity of neighborhoods, road noise increase, negative environmental consequences and historical and cultural preservation. GDOT has assigned Aaron Burgess to be the environmental analyst for this project.  His contact number is 404-631-1159.

Public Comment

• Public Comment is open until Nov. 1^,
• You can comment on-line at http://www.dot.ga.gov/PS/Public/PublicOutreach (scroll above for specific directions) or by mail at:

Mr. Eric Duff, State Environmental Administrator

Georgia Department of Transportation

Office of Environmental Services

16^th Floor

One Georgia Center

600 West Peachtree Street, N.W.

Atlanta, GA 30308

• The compilation of public comments and DOT’s responses to those comments should be available by mid-November. FetchYourNews will provide an analysis of those when it becomes available.

Future Public Hearings

• DOT will provide information about future public hearings after public comments are compiled and reviewed.

 

McCaysville Truck Bypass