GDOT’s Oct. 19^th public hearing on the Hwy. 5 Improvement and McCaysville Truck Bypass began at 4 pm.  By 5:30, GDOT already had a count of 354 attendees and the hearing still had two and one-half hours to go.  GDOT did not give any formal announcements during the public hearing.  Its role was to explain the project and listen to people’s reactions.  To explain the project, GDOT placed five large scale maps of the roads’ routes throughout West Fannin Elementary School gymnasium.  It also gave a handout containing GDOT contact numbers, project information and route maps to attendees. Altogether, GDOT brought 17 staff connected to the project to listen to the public and answer questions. GDOT also collected written comments and attendee’s verbal comments.

FetchYourNews caught up with various attendees – homeowners, elected officials and GDOT employees – to hear their comments about the Hwy. 5 project.  To read specifics about the project, please see accompanying article “GDOT Unveils Hwy. 5 Improvement Project”.

Fannin Residents

Joyce Mitchell (yellow) and Laney Mason (grey)

Joyce Mitchell – Mitchell came to find out information for herself and her son.  Mitchell lives in Epworth and travels Hwy. 5 nearly every day.  Mitchell’s son has a home on Blue Ridge Drive.  Mitchell said it will be nice to have the highway widened because there is a real need.  Her concerns are over what property will be purchased and how close the road will be to her son’s front door.  Mitchell  also commented that the satellite images GDOT is using for maps are too old because they don’t show buildings like Dollar General and Nicholson Tire.

John and Laney Mason – John Mason came with two ideas in mind.  He is not pro- or anti-road; he just doesn’t want to be “hoo-dooed” by the government during road construction.  The Mason’s bought property between the Insurance Mart and Abernathy’s Furniture two years ago for $200,000.  Mason wants to make sure they can get their money’s worth out of the property.  Laney Mason has a slightly different take on the construction.  She enjoys watching the wildlife – deer, bears, coyotes and beautiful rabbits when she sits on the front porch to her house.  She wonders how road construction will affect how the animals show up at her house.

Sam and Donna Walker

Sam and Donna Walker – The Walkers live off George Curtis Rd.  Sam Walker is the owner of Alpha Surveying Group.  His work requires him to travel north and south on Hwy. 5 all the time.  Walker said that the highway improvement, especially the McCaysville/Copperhill bypass, will free up travel time.  Walker is waiting until GDOT has its firm and actual plans before commenting on how Hwy. 5 improvements will affect his daily life.

Elected Officials

Post-Commissioner Larry Joe Sosebee and House Speaker David Ralston

Larry Jo Sosebee, Post-Two Commissioner – “As soon as we break dirt, I’ll believe it.  I remember my parents talking about it (Hwy. 5 widening).”

House Speaker David Ralston – “It’s not a matter of me wanting to get the project for the district.  There has been community interest in this for over 25 years,” said Ralston.  He reiterated what GDOT was telling all attendees, that the current route design is a proposal and not a definite plan. The definite plan will be the outcome of public comments and future hearings.

FetchYourNews asked Ralston about adding a stoplight to the intersection of Tom Boyd Road and Hwy. 5.  Safety concerns about this intersection have been brought up in Board of Commissioners meetings this year.  Ralston said he supports the request for a stoplight at Tom Boyd Road and has expressed this to GDOT and asked them to make a consideration for the Tom Boyd Hwy. 5 intersection.

State Senator Steve Gooch and Chair-Elect Stan Helton

State Senator Steve Gooch – Gooch has been hearing about Hwy. 5 since before he was a State Senator.  Gooch served on the State Transportation Board which oversees GDOT and state-wide road improvements before becoming State Senator.  Gooch said that the Hwy. 5 project is primarily safety improvement which will also have a positive impact on jobs and businesses in the community.  Gooch continued that Hwy. 5 is one of the busiest routes in the county and needs intersection improvements along the way.  Gooch encouraged residents to give GDOT information about the roads’ route because residents have information about specifics, like graveyards or intersection improvements, that GDOT doesn’t have.

Board of Commissioners Chair-Elect Stan Helton – Helton would also like to see a light at Tom Boyd Road.  He recounted passing through the intersection one day and seeing the look of “sheer terror” on a mother’s face as she, with her young child strapped in the car seat in back, was trying to turn onto Hwy. 5.

Georgia Department of Transportation

Mohamed Arafa

Mohamed Arafa, GDOT Public Relations Manager for the Hwy. 5 project – Over and over again Arafa stated that nothing has been set in stone. GDOT really wants public involvement in the planning process and public involvement makes a big difference in a project’s outcome because “Fannin residents are the best to express what serves them better.”  Arafa added, “GDOT strongly believes that the project belongs to the public.

The Hwy. 5 project serves two purposes, to enhance safety and support Georgia’s economy said Arafa. Speaking about the McCaysville Truck Bypass, Arafa said that most of the trucks that currently go through McCaysville is not for McCaysville, it is for destinations beyond McCaysville.  The bypass will ease congestion within McCaysville and make the city safer for pedestrians.

Arafa emphasized that GDOT wants to minimize impact of roads on social resources, like community integrity and historic locations, and natural resources, like trout streams, noise level and air quality.  Each transportation project conducts environmental studies about these concerns and welcomes the public’s input about environmental impact said Arafa.

Nicole Law

Nicole Law, GDOT Project Manager for Hwy. 5 Improvement and McCaysville Truck Bypass – Law will be overseeing the project both from her office in Atlanta and on the ground in Fannin County.  Her responsibility is to keep the project moving and on schedule.  Law says that GDOT will be communicating general information about the project timeline and property purchases through its website.  Residents can contact Law at 404-631-1723.

Law said that she and GDOT won’t be able to give any specifics about property purchase until a year or more from now.  Property owners will be informed through letters and phone calls. Law’s phone

Aaron Burgess, GDOT Environmental Analyst for the Hwy. 5 project – Burgess is responsible for putting together a synopsis of the ecology, history, archeology, cultural assessment, air quality and noise impact for areas affected by the project.  Burgess said that residents who are concerned about the routes’ passage through historic property or other environmental concerns should contact him.  Burgess’ phone number is 404-631-1159.

At this time, no other public hearings are scheduled.  After the public comment period closes, GDOT will compile comments and GDOT’s answers to the comments.  Then, Law will determine if and when more public hearings will be held.

A large scale map of the project is on display at Fannin County Chamber of Commerce.  There is not any map on display at the Fannin County Court House or McCaysville City Hall. To view the map online, go to  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.

There are two ways you can make public comments. One, go to  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.  The comment option appears in small green letters above the project details.  You can also send comments by mail.  Address comments to

Mr. Eric Duff, State Environmental Administrator

Georgia Department of Transportation

Office of Environmental Services

16th Floor

One Georgia Center

600 West Peachtree Street, N.W.

Atlanta, GA 30308

FetchYourNews will give an analysis of the comments and GDOT’s response when those become available. GDOT believes this will be by mid-November.