COVINGTON, Ga. - Newton County Transportation Department Director Chester Clegg proposed three transportation projects to submit for the Transportation Improvement Program Project Solicitation during the Wednesday, Aug. 21 Newton County Board of Commissioners meeting.
The Transportation Improvement Project, or TIP, a federal financial grant conducted by the Atlanta Regional Commission, grants funds to the "highest-priority" projects, according to the ARC website.
"There's no guarantee that any of them will get funded," Clegg told the Newton County BOC.
Newton County BOC voted 3-0-1 to approve the three proposed transportation projects for grant consideration:
Realignment of Access Road and Crowell Road
The realignment with separation of traffic signals will occur at the intersections at I-20, Crowell Road/Almon Road and Access Road/Iris Drive as they "do not function efficiently," according to the Newton County BOC resolution. The realignment is currently in the TIP; however, the current project is only fully funded for the preliminary engineering phase.
The project cost estimated $5,456,956.
The grant agreement for federal funding, if awarded, will require the county to match 20% of the total project cost - estimated at $1,091,391 for utilities, right of way and construction phases - and will be funded by the county's 2011 and 2017 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST.
Widening of Brown Bridge Road
Brown Bridge Road, located between Salem Road and Jack Neely Road, is "congest" and in need a widening, from two lanes to three lanes, according to the Newton County BOC resolution. The widening project will include curb and gutter, sidewalks and drainage.
The project cost estimated $8.5 million.
The grant agreement for federal funding, if awarded, will require the county to match 20% of the total project cost - estimated $1.7 million - and will be funded by the county's 2017 SPLOST. There is a possibility for funding in 2021 for the widening of Jack Neely Road to Crowell Road, if Brown Bridge Road is widened.
Replacement of Bridge on Dial Mill Road at Little Haynes Creek
The bridge, located on Dial Mill Road at Little Haynes Creek, is "structurally deficient and in need of replacement," according to the Newton County BOC resolution. As of Tuesday, Aug. 21, the bridge is maxed at seven tons, as set by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The project cost estimated $3 million.
The grant agreement for federal funding, if awarded, will require the county to match 20% of the total project cost - estimated $600,000 - and will be funded by the county's 2017 SPLOST.
District 4 Commissioner J.C. Henderson abstained from voting on the approval of the proposed projects, stating that "there's not enough information to make a sound decision." District 2 Commissioner Demond Mason was absent from the meeting.
