TDK extension limbo frustrating for Seabaugh

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh is expressing frustration over the status of the extension of TDK Boulevard in Peachtree City across Line Creek to link Coweta and Fayette counties.

“The road should have already been done,” Seabaugh said this week, noting the road’s potential to alleviate traffic between Fayette and Coweta in addition to helping businesses in Peachtree City. “It’s sad there’s had to be so much effort put into a little road.”

Seabaugh said he hopes the Peachtree City Council approves funding for a conceptual engineering plan for the road, perhaps at its Jan. 6 meeting, which once completed will show how much more money is needed for the project.

That, in turn, will allow the Federal Aviation Administration to be contacted for any possible grant money that could be used for the TDK extension project, Seabaugh noted.

Several City Council members have expressed opposition to spending any more money on the TDK extension, however, so Seabaugh’s wish may be a difficult sell.

Privately, officials from Fayette and Coweta counties accuse Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown of stonewalling the TDK extension. Brown says that’s not the case, he just doesn’t want to kick more money into the project.

The city is on the hook for the project’s engineering fees and land acquisition costs while Fayette County will be responsible for construction of the road on the Fayette side, according to a contract between the two agencies signed in 2003.

The new engineering, estimated to cost $38,800, is necessary because the road’s current path is designed to travel through the runway safety area for Falcon Field. The FAA wants the route to be redesigned so it runs around the safety area, which is actually off the airport’s property.

A poll of industries in the city’s industrial park would show “overwhelming support” for having the TDK extension to create another avenue for out-of-county employees to drive to work, Seabaugh said.

“We’re trying to use all our resources so we can get this done,” he added.


		Friday, Dec. 24, 2004