The Fayette Citizen-News Page

Wednesday, November 6, 2002

Hwy. 54 widening could begin next summer

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The much-anticipated widening of Ga. Highway 54 west in Peachtree City from two to four lanes will begin some time after bids are opened in June, according to state Department of Transportation officials.

Right-of-way acquisition is already underway for the project, but the start date could fluctuate depending on the contractor selected to handle the project, officials said.

The highway will be widened from the intersection of Ga. Highway 74 all the way past the Peachtree City limits to the intersection of Doctor Fisher Road in Coweta County. It will likely take from two to two-and-a-half years, according to Tom Queen, a district planning and programming engineer for the DOT.

The project involves replacement of the bridge over the CSX railroad track and the widening the bridge over Line Creek heading into Coweta County, Queen said.

Considering the heavy traffic in the area, it's likely the CSX bridge will remain open while a new bridge is built, he added.

"Typically we don't try to reduce the number of through lanes in a construction area," Queen said. "Especially in that area because there's so much traffic."

The stretch of highway has a significant amount of traffic in the mornings and evenings as well as during noon time, Queen said. But once the widening project is finished, motorists will notice a difference, he added.

"Once it's completed, it sure will be appreciated," Queen said.

The design includes a raised grassy median that will be 44 feet wide, which will allow the city to install landscaping. Also included are five-foot-wide sidewalks on either side of the road along with the associated curb and gutter work.

The sidewalk south of the highway will be funded by the DOT while the sidewalk to the north will be funded by the Liveable Centers Initiative program the city participates in with the Atlanta Regional Commission, said Mike Davidson, design group manager for the DOT.

The project includes deceleration right turn lanes for some intersections. Left turn lanes will also be provided at the median openings for Wynnmeade Parkway, Line Creek Drive, Planterra Way, Huddleston Drive and at the entrance to The Avenue at Peachtree City and The Marketplace commercial areas, Davidson said.