County officials are working towards using SPLOST funds to erect four traffic lights on state highways in Fayette.

At last week’s meeting the Fayette County Commission approved a $925,000 bid for the work from R.J. Haynie&Associates, which was the low bidder on the project.

Haynie will also add turn lanes and other improvements at the intersections, which include:

• Ga. Highway 85 and Corinth Road;

• Ga. Highway 74 and Sandy Creek Road;

• Ga. Highway 54 and Ebenezer Road/Brittany Way; and

• Ga. Highway 92 and Gingercake Road.

Work is estimated to begin in January and will be finished within 18 months, officials said.

There is a snag with the light at Hwy. 74 and Sandy Creek Road since it has not been approved by the Georgia Department of Transportation, which wants to do its own traffic study first, officials said.

County Attorney Scott Bennett said the contract for the work, which must also be approved later by the commission, would include a provision in case the Hwy. 74 light does not get DOT approval. That way the county wouldn’t be on the hook for a service it didn’t receive, Bennett indicated.

Even if that signal isn’t approved, the intersection will still be improved with new turn lanes, county staff indicated.

In other business, the commission voted unanimously to select Allen McCullough as the county’s new director of public safety, replacing Jack Krakeel who was named county administrator two weeks ago.

McCullough has long been a deputy chief in the county fire and emergency department.