State will align it with stop light in 2007

Commuters in Senoia may be overjoyed to hear there has been substantial progress in realigning Rockaway Road with an existing stop light on Ga. Highway 74 in Peachtree City.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has offered to include that road construction along with the four-lane widening of Hwy. 74 south from Cooper Lighting to Ga. Highway 85. That project has been moved up to start in 2007 rather than 2009.

State Rep. Billy Horne, who represents Senoia, said he was pleased with the news that two years had been shaved off the time line for the widening project and the realignment of Rockaway.

Realigning Rockaway will help Senoia residents, particularly the many who commute through Peachtree City on the way to their jobs, Horne said.

It is not uncommon during morning and evening commuting times for numerous cars to back up on Rockaway waiting to make left turns onto Hwy. 74 north.

Horne added that he was appreciative of the DOT, because with so many people wanting their road projects in the hopper, the job is difficult.

“Even though they were very busy, they found time to listen to me and [state Sen.] Ronnie [Chance],” Horne said.

Although Peachtree City had set aside the realignment of Rockaway Road for funding from the transportation sales tax, the road would have cost $576,000 for design and construction, not including the cost of right of way acquisition.

If the project is handled by the DOT, the city’s only cost will be in staff time.

The widening of Hwy. 74 south in Peachtree City will also include another phase for four-laning the road from Cooper Lighting up to Ga. Highway 54. That is seen as critical for trucks coming from industries in the area which depend on having quick access to I-85.

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