Planning is underway for a major, multi-phase $8.5 million road construction and improvement project involving U.S. Highway 84 and County Farm, Knox, New School and Owen Roads.
Jill Nagel, district communications officer with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) said last week preliminary engineering and planning is now underway on the project.
Nagel said the DOT anticipates putting the project out for bid next year in 2024.
Plans call for three intersection improvements along U.S. Highway 84 between County Farm Road and Owens Crossing.
A new road, Shiloh Road Extension, would be constructed from U.S. Highway 84, across to County Farm Road behind the United Market to tie in with the existing intersection of County Farm Road and Shiloh Road.
A second northbound lane would be constructed on County Farm Road from Shiloh Road to the entrance driveway of Pierce County Middle School.
In additional phases, the project would add a center two-way left-turn lane to U.S. Highway 84 between County Farm Road and Knox Road and an additional turn lane at New School Road/Owens Road.
Due to its proximity to both the high school and middle school and United Market and a soon to open Dollar General store the area features high traffic flow. All three areas have been the site of 60 accidents and two fatalities in recent years.
The improvements would improve traffic flow and safety at these intersections by separating turning traffic from the higher speed through traffic on U.S. Highway 84.
The project will be funded as part of the Transportation Investment Act (TIA).
The Southern Georgia Region, including Pierce and 17 other counties in the area, approved a 10-year one percent sales tax to fund regional and local transportation improvements. The Southern Georgia Region passed the sales tax in 2018.
TIA projects are funded using the regional sales tax.
