State Route 81 and McDonough Parkway headline SPLOST V recommendations in districts I and III

Photo of SPLOST V committee at February 7 meeting
SPLOST V committee chair Clayton Carte speaks during Thursday’s meeting. (Henry Herald photo/ Joe Adgie)

The SPLOST V committee met last week at Heritage Senior Center in McDonough to discuss recommendations for commission districts I and III. The most significant transportation projects proposed within the districts are widening state route 81 in Ola and completing the McDonough Parkway bypass around the town square.

The committee is in its final round of meetings before recommending the full project list to the board of commissioners. Projects listed below are recommendations only and subject to change prior to the BOC approving the final list.

The SPLOST V program is estimated to collect $220 million over six years if approved, from which Henry County would receive $165 million for use on capital projects. The remaining 25% is split among the four cities. The amount that each commission district will receive to fund projects is not yet concrete depending on the ongoing discussion about building a convention center within the county.

At the committee’s first meeting of the year, the cost of all proposed projects within district I was valued at over $60 million dollars to implement. Commissioner Wilson and the district representative on the committee, Tom Israel, have trimmed that list to $18,891,185.31 in proposed projects.

Project Cost Estimate Notes
Major Transportation Projects
SR 81 Widening (Phase I, Postmaster to Bethany) $4,013,777.35 Local match for ROW and Construction, Joint project with district III
SR 81 Widening (Phase II, Bethany to Keys Ferry) $200,000.00 Design Only, Joint project with district III
McDonough Parkway (SR 20 to Henry Connector) $3,908,969.54 Construction, Continuation from SPLOST IV
South Ola Road extension at SR 81 $1,591,764.35 Joint project with district III
Intersection Improvements
Bill Gardner Parkway at Lester Mill Road $250,000.00 Design Only
Racetrack Road at Iris Lake & Travis Drive Joint project with district III, not presently included within district I list
Dirt Road Projects
Peeksville Road (Bridge to Old Jackson) $4,087,674.08 Right of Way and Construction, Continuation from SPLOST IV
Burg Road (County Line to Peeksville) $4,054,000.00
Sandy Ridge Road (Keys Ferry to Stallsworth) $110,000.00 Design Only
Resurfacing, Surface Treatment, and Widening $500,000.00
Total $18,891,185.31

The project list for district III totals $22,476,603.84 following revisions made during the most recent meeting. Further edits are expected as projects are dropped from consideration or cost estimates updated to reflect contributions from either district IV projects or city of McDonough projects.

Project Cost Estimate Notes
Capital Projects
North Ola Park improvements $450,000.00 Land acquisition south of Ola Elementary School
Heritage Senior Center expansion $850,000.00 Additional building for new exercise equipment
Major Transportation Projects
SR 81 Widening (Phase I, Postmaster to Bethany) $4,013,777.35 Local match for ROW and Construction, Joint project with district III
SR 81 Widening (Phase II, Bethany to Keys Ferry) $200,000.00 Design Only, Joint project with district III
East Lake Road improvements (SR 155 to Airline Road) $495,000.00 Design Only, Joint project with district IV
McDonough Parkway (SR 42 to SR 155) $8,000,000.00 Construction, Continuation from SPLOST IV
Airline Road extension to SR 81 $300,000.00 Design Only
South Ola Road extension at SR 81 $1,591,764.35 Joint project with district I
Snapping Shoals Road improvements $825,000.00 Design Only
Intersection Improvements
East Lake Road at Elliot Road $250,000.00 Design Only, Joint project with district IV
East Lake Road at Airline Road $1,279,835.42 Joint project with district IV
East Lake Road at Rowan Drive $250,000.00 Design Only, Joint project with district IV
Racetrack Road at Iris Lake & Travis Drive $1,156,226.72 Joint project with district I
Bridges Road at Willow Lane $250,000.00 Design Only
SR 20 at Turner Church Road $2,065,000.00
North Ola Road at Snapping Shoals Road $250,000.00 Design Only
Airline Road at McGarity Road $250,000.00 Design Only
$22,476,603.84

All district project lists will be revisited at the committee’s final meeting on March 21 before presenting the full list of recommendations to the board of commissioners. Public feedback on the proposed projects is welcome either by attending SPLOST committee meetings or contacting members of the committee.

The committee’s next meeting will occur on Thursday, February 28, at Timber Ridge Elementary starting at 6:30 pm. The meeting will discuss project recommendations for commission districts II and IV.

About Clayton 1746 Articles
Clayton Carte is the founder and owner of The Henry Reporter. He founded the site in 2017 to highlight transportation projects. Over time, he began covering other topics like new development so residents can best know what’s happening in our community.

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