State Route 81 widening phase II looking at 2024 design start

In fall 2021, Henry County applied for federal funds to assist in project costs for the second phase of widening state route 81. The county recently learned those funds will tentatively come in fiscal year 2024 to start project design.

State Route 81 widening phase II extends between Bethany Road and Keys Ferry Road. Phase I is also in the planning stages between Postmaster Drive and Bethany Road. Together, the two projects represent nearly $100 million dollars in anticipated infrastructure investment.

2024 Design Start

Roadway projects have three major phases: design, right of way acquisition and construction. Traditionally, projects progress through one stage at a time creating lengthy timelines to build major road improvements. For example, a major road widening project can require 7–10 years from the start of design through the end of construction. Any delays can quickly add extra years to this timeline.

Henry County will tentatively receive $1.6 million in federal funds to help with highway 81 phase II project design. Final approval to receive the funds should come from the Atlanta Regional Commission before year end. Federal funds require a 20% local match. The county has $400,000 in SPLOST V to provide the local match.

The funds are in fiscal year 2024. The 2024 design start would place design finishing around 2026 to 2027. The county could then move into right of way acquisition. No funds for right of way are set aside at this time. Future funding opportunities for infrastructure dollars, such as the SPLOST program, will need to include the project.

If there are no major setbacks, then residents could see construction starting on highway 81 phase II around the year 2030.

Highway 81 Phase I

Before phase II happens, the county is also working towards construction on phase I. The first phase extends between downtown McDonough to Bethany Road. The project will include a new roundabout at Postmaster Drive.

Design work started in 2016 for the widening project. The project anticipates to begin buying right of way in spring 2023. Finally, construction is looking at a 2025 start. The project has an estimated two-year build time.

Phase I has total estimated costs between $36–38 million dollars. Funding is from a combination of federal, SPLOST and T-SPLOST dollars.

Featured image shows a map of the state route 81 widening projects. OpenStreetMap photo.