Henry County has released the bid for the Rock Quarry Road widening project. Contractors have until April 23 to submit their bids. Construction could begin as soon as this summer.
The Rock Quarry Road widening project extends from Eagles Landing Parkway to SR 138 in Stockbridge.
Rock Quarry Road Construction Bids
Henry County started design work in 2017 on Rock Quarry Road. Right of way acquisition started in 2020. They have received federal funds for various stages of the project on several occasions. Those funds came in 2023, 2021, 2017, and 2015. Before that, the county built a bridge over the railroad in 2012. The bridge was built with four lanes to support a future road widening project. With all of this said, the construction bid for Rock Quarry Road is a long time coming.
Henry County is accepting construction bids for the Rock Quarry Road widening until Wednesday, April 23. Afterward, the county will consider awarding a bid to the lowest bidder. The county’s approval could happen as soon as May 2025. Construction would then start around July or August. The selected contractor will have 2.5 years to complete the project once they start work. That is tentatively around the end of 2027.
Construction is being funded by federal funds and Henry County T-SPLOST dollars. The county is set to receive $20.4 million in federal funds for construction. The county will contribute an estimated $17 million from T-SPLOST. The final cost will be based on the contractor’s bid amount.
Federal funds previously contributed to right of way acquisition and design costs. The county received $6.8 million from the federal government for those phases. About $2 million in local money also contributed. The local dollars came from SPLOST IV and SPLOST V. The aforementioned bridge over the railroad back in 2012 was a SPLOST III project.
About the Project
The Rock Quarry Road widening project extends for a distance of 2.61 miles. It runs from Eagles Landing Parkway to SR 42 / 138 / North Henry Blvd in Stockbridge. Right now, the road is a two-lane road. The project will widen the road to have four travel lanes, a center median, and turn lanes. There will also be a 10′ wide multiuse path and a 5′ wide sidewalk on either side of the road.
The project will add a new traffic signal at Rock Quarry Road and Hospital Drive. This will better serve Piedmont Henry Hospital. The hospital has a new patient tower under construction. The East Tower is scheduled to open in August 2026. In addition, the existing signals at Banks Road and North Henry Blvd will remain.
The contractor will remove the temporary signal at Red Oak Road. Instead, a restricted crossing U-turn (R-Cut) will take its place. Other R-cuts will be throughout the roadway corridor as well. The R-cut restricts motorists on the side street to right turns only onto the main four-lane road. A U-turn opportunity is then available for motorists to U-turn back in the other direction. The R-cut is a proven safety countermeasure, according to the Federal Highway Administration, reducing crashes and crash severity. Georgia DOT has embraced the design in practically all of its present-day road widening projects.
Featured image shows Rock Quarry Road at Hospital Drive. Google Streetview photo.
