
Henry County began collecting road impact fees on new construction earlier this year. Now, the first project paid for by road impact fees will undergo design work.
What intersection will road impact fees be going towards first? Arguably the most-requested intersection within the county: Jonesboro Road at Willow Lane. The timing could not be sooner with a new school and residential development coming to the area. In addition, the county will be looking at Jodeco Road and Oak Grove.
Jonesboro Road at Willow Lane
The need for improvements at Jonesboro Road and Willow Lane has been a perennial topic for some time. Often, residents inquire about adding a left-hand turn signal on Willow Lane. Because this change would negatively affect traffic flow on Jonesboro Road, it is not feasible without first other improvements. Adding dual northbound left-hand turn lanes seems like the starting point for any improvements.
To determine the exact needs for the intersection and prepare construction plans, the county will be hiring Croy Engineering of Marietta. They will also be looking at Jodeco and Oak Grove. The project costs for each intersection are as follows:
- Jonesboro Road at Willow Lane – $79,000
- Jodeco Road at Oak Grove – $60,500
Henry County approved hiring Croy Engineering at the August 1 board meeting. Each project has an estimated timeframe of 120 days to complete design. This would be complete towards the end of the year.
Depending on the engineer’s recommendations, the improvements may require right of way acquisition. Acquiring right of way for an intersection project typically takes up to twelve months. Finally, the county would look towards construction. When residents could see road work will depend on right of way needs, and funding availability.
Road Impact Fees
In February, Henry County began collecting transportation impact fees for the first time. These fees are paid by new building in unincorporated Henry County. They help mitigate the impact caused by new construction. Some other impact fee categories include parks and public safety.
Impact fees are paid by all types of construction. This includes housing, retail and industrial. The road impact fee is slightly under $1,400 per new housing unit. The rate varies for commercial uses based on their square footage. Please know only new construction in unincorporated areas pay fees to the county. Each city has a separate impact fee rate structure.
Featured image shows Jonesboro Road at Willow Lane. Google photo.
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